Sardis Artemis Temple — Pactolus Valley Sanctuary of Artemis
Sardis Artemision · Temple of Artemis at Sardis
Lydian Archaic to Roman (550 BCE – 400 CE)·Lydian to Hellenistic to Roman Sardian·🇹🇷 Manisa Province, Salihli district, Sardis archaeological site on Pactolus valley Artemis terrace, Turkey
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About
About Sardis Artemis Temple — Pactolus Valley Sanctuary of Artemis
Ninth largest Greek temple (100×48 m, 8×17 ionic columns 18.5 m) on the Pactolus gold river terrace at Sardis, Lydian capital of Croesus. Double-colonnaded dipteros remodelled 334 BCE after Alexander, with Lydian altar of Artemis and Hellenistic–Roman gymnasium of synagogue. Harvard–Cornell excavations since 1958. UNESCO tentative 2013.
Why it mattersLargest Lydian Greek temple shows Lydian Hellenization via monumental Artemis
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Lydian altar vs Greek temple sequence still debated
- 02Artemis of Sardis vs Ephesian identity
Theories
- 01Lydian gold wealth financing ionic architecture
- 02Synagogue-gymnasium interfaith city model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 550 BCE Lydian altar; temple 300 BCE Ionic dipteros 334 BCE
- Period
- Lydian Archaic to Roman (550 BCE – 400 CE)
- Culture
- Lydian to Hellenistic to Roman Sardian
- Purpose
- City goddess Artemis with gold-craft Lydian elite
- Abandoned
- c.400 CE Christian closure
- Excavation
- Excavated
550 BCE
Altar under Croesus
334 BCE
Alexander remodels temple
1958
Harvard-Cornell start
On the ground
Structures & features
38.4810° N · 28.0400° E · 85 m · 3 mapped features
- Artemis Temple Crepidomatemple9-step crepidoma with 2 standing ionic columns 18.5 m38.4812° N · 28.0403° E
- Lydian Altar of Artemisaltar7×13 m altar predating temple with Lydian mason marks38.4815° N · 28.0398° E
- Sardis Gymnasium Complexgymnasium120 m gymnasium with synagogue on north side38.4798° N · 28.0410° E
Gallery