Sardinians – Places, which are worth seeing

After reaching the intersection with the mosque (near the ruins) we head left, to go to the gymnasium, open at. 8.00 – 17.00, introduction: 0,7 USD, students: 0,35 USD. In this fenced part there was a cultural and entertainment center in Roman times, the center of which was the gymnasium (place of sports games and exercises) along with the adjoining baths. The foundation was established after the earthquake in 17 r., more precisely in I.. then. 3rd c. W 211 r. construction was started by Septimius Sewer, and his sons Caracalla and Geta finished it. The largest part of the complex was a huge peristyle with multi-storey arcades surrounding a marble-paved courtyard on three sides.. Through the propylon in the western wall, meaning big, decorative portal, the athletes were moving from the bar (exercise building, mostly stocks) to the bathhouse, where they could relax after exercise. The columns of the lower arcades represent the Ionian order, and the tops – easier, because Doric (such a storied change of styles is called stacked order). South of the former bar there are ruins of a synagogue, which we can recognize by the mosaic floor. This is one of the better-preserved late ancient synagogues, and scholars say, that it was also the greatest of those times. This proves the great importance of the local Jewish community. The synagogue dates back to the middle of the 3rd century. and it seems, that it was originally a part of the gymnasium, which was later turned into a temple.

Having returned to the road, we can go left to the covered ruins (on the south side of the road) identified as part of a series of shops built here in Byzantine times on the ruins of ancient agota. The current road runs parallel to the ancient so-called. The Royal Route passing through the city center. It was lined with marble and provided with an underground drainage channel (the ruins come from the turn of the I and 11 w.); it was part of the trade route leading from the Aegean coast to Anatolia. Between the gymnasium and the Acropolis (located on the northern slope of Mount Boz Dagi) there was a theater with an adjoining stadium (we'll get there cross-country, through the meadows). There are barely visible foundations to this day. Both buildings already existed in the Hellenistic period, but the surviving ruins come from the time of Emperor Tiberius, that is, they were created as part of the rebuilding of the city after the aforementioned earthquake. The theater was quite big, for it could fit over 15 thousand. viewers, and in turn the stadium was long on 200 m, which was also a great engineering achievement. The Acropolis has been in constant use since the 7th century. p.n.e. to Turkish times. There are miserable remains of Hellenistic walls to see (rebuilt successively by the Romans, Byzantines and Turks) and foundations of several not yet fully identified buildings (it is believed, that Croesus had his palace on the Acropolis).

The most important next to the gymnasium, but a much more majestic monument is the huge temple of Artemis, greek goddess of the hunt, ruler of forests and wild animals. If we're at the Acropolis, we can see and know it perfectly, How to get there. If, however, we did not bother climbing the hill, we have to go back to the intersection with the mosque and turn left (South). After approx. 1 km we come to the ruins of the temple on the left side of the road. The first such building (in honor of Artemis) was established here in the 5th century. p.n.e., but nothing is left of it. The present temple, of course, comes from the period after the great earthquake, that is, from the reign of the Romans. But because of it, that they rebuilt it almost in its original shape, we can imagine, what the Greek prototype looked like. The Hellenistic building was built in 111 w. p.n.e. in the sacred circle (darkness) rectangular in shape (210×200 m). Monumental Ionic columns surrounded the temple (their length was 20, and in width 8), and from the eastern and western façades there were additional rows of four columns. A dozen or so columns additionally supported the vault over the cella (the most important part of the temple housing the altar and the statue of the deity). In Roman times, the cella was divided into two rooms, one of which served the cult of Artemis, and the other to the reigning emperor. The bases on both cult statues have survived to this day. The ruins of a small Byzantine church are adjacent to the temple.

Drive, orientation

We can get to Sardis very easily. From Izmir Bus Terminal (upper level) every hour minibuses depart to Salihli (2 USD, 1,5 time ). The Turkish Sart lies on the Izmir road – Ankara, ok. 10 km before Salihli. You need to buy a ticket to Sart at the station – we pay for 0,3 USD less, but it is not about lower costs, just to show it to the driver, which will drop us off in the right place. If so, let's keep an eye on it, so that the bus does not stop at the first exit signposted Sardis (hence it is much further to the sights, and we have to go there on foot), but on the other. A characteristic point at the intersection is the corner place of Akcan Pide Salon (pide costs just here 0,7 USD). You can see the ruins from here. They are located approx. 700 m and if we have heavy luggage, we can ask the staff from Iokalu Akcan about the possibility of leaving backpacks inside. So that everything goes smoothly, it would be good to order at least one pide there