TREASURES FROM SARDIS

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 10

TREASURES FROM SARDIS

R FLICS •SAVED FROM THU BURNING OF SMYRNA. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art has just received what is described as the “most magnificent material which lias come to the 'United States from Asia Minor." It consists of relics of Sardis—almost miraculously saved in the burning oi Smyrna. These "relics number hundreds, and are packed in fifty-six cases. I hey cover the history of I.OCO years, from the Hittite period" to the Byzantine period. Many of the objects are from the Temple of Artemis. They include the capital from a column 60ft high, an altar, which may he the earliest Christian altar known, found in a church built in the angle of the mined temple ; and there are many fine specimens of Greek and Lydian sculpture, stucco, terracotta, coins, medals, jewellerv, paintings, mirrors, vases, anil household utensils. There is also a stone engraved in the Lydian and Aramaic characters which may serve the purpose that the Rosetta Stone served for Egyptology. Sardis, the modern Sart, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, and one of the Seven Churches of Asia of the Book of Revelation, lies about seventy-six miles east of Smyrna. It was noted for its wealth and commerce at least as early as the sixth century n.c., and long continued a place of importance. Through its market place ran the little stream Pactohis, whoso sands were reputed to contain gold. The last Lydian king was Census, who was overthrown by the Modes, under Cyrus. After many vicissitudes, the city was finally destroyed by Timur in 1402. There is nothing on the- site now but a, small village. Tho ruins are mostly of the Roman and Byzantine periods. The remains of the Temple of Artemis lie on the shore of the sacred Gygaean lake, near the necropolis. Some years ago the Turkish Government conceded the cite of Sardis to an American syndicate, and excavations were begun on behalf of Princeton University by Mr H. (J. Butler.