Region: West Asia · Coordinates: 38.488, 28.040 · 20 events
| Year | Source | Account |
|---|---|---|
| 590 BC | Plutarch's Parallel Lives | Solon meets Croesus (chronologically doubtful, but accepted as tradition) tradition |
| 547 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Croesus returns to Sardis and disbands his mercenaries tradition |
| 546 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Cyrus marches into Lydia; fearing the Lydian cavalry, he follows Harpagus' advice and places camels at the front tradition |
| 546 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Cyrus besieges Sardis; after fourteen days he climbs up an unguarded corner of the acropolis and takes the city tradition |
| 546 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Croesus reigned for fourteen years; after a fourteen-day siege he brought down his great empire, as the oracle had foretold tradition |
| 545 BC | Herodotus, Histories | As soon as Cyrus leaves, Pactyes leads the Lydians in revolt against Tabalus and besieges the acropolis of Sardis tradition |
| 498 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Athenian, Eretrian and Ionian troops pass through Ephesus and burn Sardis |
| 496 BC | Herodotus, Histories | Histiaeus comes to Sardis, is discovered by Artaphernes, and flees to the sea at night |
| 411 BC | Xenophon, Hellenica | Tissaphernes seizes Alcibiades and imprisons him at Sardis. Thirty days later Alcibiades escapes by night and flees to Clazomenae. |
| 407 BC | Plutarch's Parallel Lives | At Sardis he meets Cyrus, accuses Tissaphernes and asks for support |
| 401 BC | Xenophon, Anabasis (March of the Ten Thousand) | Cyrus recalls the army besieging Miletus and invites the Milesian exiles to join the expedition; they gather under arms at Sardis. |
| 395 BC | Xenophon, Hellenica | Near the river Pactolus, not far from Sardis, Agesilaus defeats the Persian cavalry and takes their camp. |
| 395 BC | Xenophon, Hellenica | Because Tissaphernes is at Sardis, Persia suspects betrayal; the king sends Tithraustes with orders for his execution. |
| 334 BC | Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander | Seventy stadia before Sardis he received the surrender of Mithrenes, commander of the citadel, and of the leading men; he allowed the Lydians their old laws and ordered a temple of Zeus to be built on the hill. |
| 215 BC | Polybius, Histories | The long siege of Sardis continues |
| 214 BC | Polybius, Histories | Lagoras and his men infiltrate the citadel and seize Sardis |
| 213 BC | Polybius, Histories | The Cretan Bolis approaches, pretending to rescue Achaeus |
| 190 BC | Polybius, Histories | From Sardis he sends envoys to Prusias of Bithynia |
| 190 BC | Polybius, Histories | After the victory the Romans take over Sardis and Zeuxis and Antipater negotiate peace |
| AD 17 | Tacitus, Annals and Histories | Twelve famous cities of Asia collapse in a night earthquake (including Sardis) |