The Lydian Palaces at Sardis in the Light of New Research

Authors : Nicholas CAHİLL

Pages : 11-41

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Publication Date : 2023-07-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The palace of the Lydian kings, and in particular the palace of Croesus, was famous in antiquity, and has been sought by visitors and archaeologists for centuries. Recent excavation in the center of Lydian Sardis allows us to identify a region intermediate between the Acropolis and the lower city as the site of one palatial complex. The steep topography was regularized and expanded through monumental terraces over a period of more than two millennia. Elite architecture and finds give us an impression of the buildings on these terraces in the Lydian period, although systematic salvage and looting have removed most structures. Recent finds include the remains of the Persian sack of Sardis in 547, including human remains and a hoard of Lydian silver coins. A second palatial complex was identified on the Acropolis, perhaps linked to the lower palace through a tunnel. The area of the lower palace has produced a long sequence of monumental occupation, including Early Iron Age and Bronze Age buildings, the earliest occupation remains yet discovered at the city.
Keywords : Lydia, Sardis, Palace, Early Iron Age