Oriented on making people closer

At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Paris from July 6 to 16, 2025, Turkey officially registered its 22nd site: "Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepeler," located in Manisa Province.

Sardis served as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom during the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, evolving into a formidable political hub for the first Iron Age state in the region. The Lydians are renowned for their invention of metallic coinage, their immense wealth, and a distinctive sociocultural model.

The region's fame as one of Asia Minor's wealthiest areas stemmed from the gold deposits in the Pactolus River. The city comprises three principal sections: the acropolis, a fortified center, and adjacent settlements featuring burial mounds.

The upper city includes massive walls and terraces, while the lower section contains mud-brick houses, rock-cut tombs, and a gold refining workshop.

The Bintepeler necropolis, situated north of Sardis, spans an area of 75 square kilometers and contains over 119 tumuli, making it one of the largest in the world.

According to UNESCO criteria, this site possesses exceptional cultural value, reflecting the unique Lydian civilization, its architecture, religion, and social structure.

Sardis is also distinguished by having the largest synagogue of the ancient world and is recognized as one of the seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Archaeological research and heritage preservation projects are ongoing at the Sardis and Bintepeler sites today.

Under the "Museum Under the Stars" program, Sardis has become one of 27 sites in Turkey open for evening visits, offering tourists a unique opportunity to experience the ancient ruins under a different light.

ORIENT

Photo: tga.tr