Traces of the Assyrian Empire Found on Massive Defensive Wall in Sardis Ancient City
It was determined that the massive fortification wall dating back to 600 BC in the ancient city of Sardis, Manisa, used the fired brick technique, which was unknown in Anatolia at that time.
It has been revealed that the 20-meter-wide massive fortification wall in the ancient city of Sardis, located in the Salihli district of Manisa, bears traces of the Assyrians, the collapsed superpower of Mesopotamia.
The Mysterious Structure in the Ancient City of Sardis
The ancient city of Sardis, located in the Salihli district of Manisa and serving as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom, which first minted and used money in history, is home to a historical structure that will reshape Anatolian and world history.
The massive fortification wall found in the ancient city, with a current height of 12 meters and a width of 20 meters, is thought to bear traces belonging to the Assyrians, the collapsed superpower of Mesopotamia.
The Fall of the Assyrian Empire and Migration
The construction date of the wall, determined to have been built in the 600s BC, coincides with the collapse period of the Assyrian Empire, one of the most powerful empires in Mesopotamia.
It is estimated that the surviving masters of the Assyrians, whose capital was destroyed by the attacks of the Scythians, Medes, and Babylonians, fled to Sardis and were under the protection of the Lydians.
The Secret of the Fired Brick Technique
The strongest evidence strengthening the claim that Assyrian masons took refuge in the Lydian Kingdom is the use of fired brick alongside mudbrick in the architectural structure of the wall.
This technique, which was unknown in any structure in Anatolia in the 600s BC, stands out for being unique to Mesopotamia and the Assyrians.
Efforts to Protect the Historical Heritage
Although the Lydian Kingdom was destroyed by the Persians in 547 BC, the structure has survived to the present day and has been placed under protection because it faces the danger of erosion if left exposed.
Within the scope of the project, a millimetric map of the wall was created, and a new surface began to be built in front of the original structure using exact replicas produced in the laboratory.
Evaluations by Experts
Prof. Nicholas Cahill, Head of the Sardis Ancient City Excavations, stated that there is no other example of this wall in Anatolia and that the structure was built during the reigns of King Croesus and his father Alyattes.
Cahill stated that the collapse period of the Assyrians coincides with the beginning of this construction in Lydia, and that the fired brick technology confirms this.