The story of Sardis goes back to around 1400 BCE. For centuries, it stood at the heart of Lydia, a kingdom best known for its wealth and powerful rulers. Among them was King Croesus, whose name became famous for extraordinary riches. Much of Lydia’s wealth came from the gold found in the nearby Pactolus River.​nBut Sardis was more than a city of gold. Its location made it an important crossroads between East and West, bringing together people, goods and ideas from different parts of the ancient world. And its history was shaped by the great powers that rose around it.

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To the west lay the Greek cities of Ionia, along the Aegean coast. After the fall of Assyria, Lydia expanded its influence over these cities. Yet the Lydian rulers admired Greek culture, and relations between the two sides remained largely peaceful. Croesus even helped fund the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which would later become one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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Trade helped bring these cultures closer together. Merchants travelled between Sardis, Mesopotamia and the Greek settlements, carrying not only goods but also beliefs, customs and new ideas. This exchange played a part in the rise of the Ionian cities as important centres of Greek thought and learning around 600 BCE.​ Over time, Sardis would pass through the hands of different rulers and empires, each leaving its mark on the city. As we explore its ancient remains, we'll discover more about the people who lived here, the world they inhabited, and what made Sardis such an important place in the ancient world.

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Jesus' Message of the Faithful in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:1-6)

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As we walk through Sardis, we will discuss the message Jesus gave to the Christians who lived here. When we consider the city's history and the lives of its people, the verses we have read many times will gain even deeper meaning. We will better understand Jesus' promise that he would never "blot out" the name of the faithful from the book of life, and his words in Revelation 20:10 that the devil, the wild beast, and the false prophet "will be tormented day and night forever and ever." We will also consider why Jesus chose the word "tormented," and we will feel the Scriptures come alive in the very place where he sent his message.

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