A Selected Chronology of Sardis

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Iron Age, 1200–586 B.C.E.
1200–680 B.C.E.	Heraklid Dynasty; Sardis is an agricultural town
680–547 B.C.E.	Mermnad Dynasty Sardis incorporated into Lydian Empire Sardis center of worship of goddess Cybele
560–547 B.C.E.	Reign of King Croesus Height of Lydian power and wealth Cybele’s altar overlooks Croesus’ gold refinery
547 B.C.E.	Croesus attacks Persia Earliest mention of Jews at Sardis (Obadiah 20)
Persian Period, 586–332 B.C.E.
547 B.C.E.	Conquest of Sardis by Cyrus the Great
490 and 480 B.C.E.	Sardis is staging area for invasions of Greece
334 B.C.E.	Sardis surrenders to Alexander the Great
Hellenistic Period, 332–37 B.C.E.
323–190 B.C.E.	Sardis governmental center for Seleucid Empire
300 B.C.E.	Temple of Artemis begun
220 B.C.E.	Governor of Sardis, Achaeus, revolts against King Antiochus III
214 B.C.E.	Sardis beseiged, captured and punished Antiochus III settles 2,000 loyal Jewish families from Babylon in Asia Minor>
Roman Period, 37 B.C.E.–312 C.E.
17 C.E.	Sardis is rebuilt after disastrous earthquake Construction begun on civil basilica Christianity gains strength at Sardis (Revelation 20)
211/212 C.E.	Bath-gymnasium complex dedicated Jewish community uses the civil basilica as a synagogue
Byzantine Period, 312–1453 C.E.
250–300 C.E.	Wars and plague in Anatolia Defensive wall built at Sardis
350–400 C.E.	Architectural renewal at Sardis
400 C.E.	Byzantine shops built
540 C.E.	Persecution of pagans in Lydia Sardis declines, but remains a provincial center
640 C.E.	Sardis is destroyed and never rebuilt as a city

A Selected Chronology of Sardis

Iron Age, 1200–586 B.C.E.

Persian Period, 586–332 B.C.E.

Hellenistic Period, 332–37 B.C.E.

Roman Period, 37 B.C.E.–312 C.E.

Byzantine Period, 312–1453 C.E.