The region between the Gediz and Little Menderes rivers in Western Anatolia is called Lydia. In this region, the Lydian State was founded by King Giges in ancient times, with Sard as the center. (700 BC – 546 BC)
Lydia was established in the region between the Gediz and Menderes rivers. Their capital is Sard in Manisa. The Lydians were instrumental in opening the King’s Road, which passed through Sard and extended to Mesopotamia.
They built the famous King’s Road starting from Ephesus to Sard and from there to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians. The royal road led to the development of east-west trade; Trade from different parts of Iran, Mesopotamia and Anatolia to Mediterranean countries has increased.
Dealing with trade made the Lydian country the richest country of the period. The Lydians used money for the first time in history when the developing and increasing trade volume blocked the commercial relationship based on barter. The use of money as a medium of exchange is the greatest contribution of the Lydians in the history of world civilization.
They gave state guarantees to protect the goods of the merchants. Thus, they were the civilization that started insurance for the first time in history. Lydians did not care about the army and formed their army from mercenaries. However, the lack of patriotism in the mercenary system caused their political existence to come to an end in a short time.
Lydia was ruled by royalty. The influence of the Ionians was seen in the Lydian state administration. Besides the king, great merchants and landed nobles also played an important role in the administration. The Lydians did not give due importance to the army. Because of their wealth, they included mercenaries in the army. However, these soldiers, who fought for money, could not be successful in wars because they lacked patriotism. This situation accelerated the destruction of the Lydians.
Religion and Belief
Goddess Cybele was highly respected in Lydia. Lydians are more religious. Their neighbors were under the influence of the Ionians. They worshiped Greek gods such as Cybele, Artemis, Zeus and Apollo. They worshiped the Greek gods. As with the Phrygians, the Lydians were kings and heaping the dead of the nobles in the rooms hidden under the earthen hills (tumulus) they would bury. Lydian tombs of kings Bintepes near their capital Sardis is in the region.
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