Lydian Empire
(Text by Duane R. Hurst © 2013)
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LYDIA LINKS: Significant Event: First to Make Coins Artemis Temple at Ephesus Main Cities: Ephesus; Sardis; Smyrna Time: 1000-546 BC Language: Lydian Personage: Alyattes; Croesus; Lydus; Tabalus Religion: Lydian Gods Related Country: Turkey Brief History: I have included only a few items concerning the history of this empire. A good source for more details can be found on Wikipedia or in history books. |
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HISTORICAL NOTES:
This empire originally emerged after collapse of the Hittites in the 12th century BC. Sardis was capital of Maeonia, which the ancient historian, Herodotus, claimed was changed to Lydia. He also stated King Alyattes minted the first coins--made of electrum (an alloy of gold and silver). Kings of Lydia captured cities and lands along the Aegean Sea. Croesus succeeded to the throne and was famous for great wealth. Circa 550 BC, he paid for construction of the Artemis Temple at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. In 547 BC Croesus besieged and captured Pteria, a city of the extensive Persian empire. This action infuriated king Cyrus the Great, who led an army against the Lydians. A battle in the same year at Pteria resulted in a stalemate, but in December 0f 547 BC Cyrus triumphed at Thymbra and captured Sardis. Lydia became a satrapy until Alexander the Great conquered Persia and annexed Lydia to his empire. |
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© Page Publisher: Duane R. Hurst
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