Lydia

Lydia, country occupying the centre of western Asia Minor, with its capital at Sardis. It contained much natural wealth including gold (see PACTOLUS) and, being traversed by two main routes from the west coast to the interior, it gained wealth from trade and contributed greatly to the material prosperity of western Asia Minor, including the Greek cities. Under the dynasty of the Mermnadae, which was founded by Gyges early in the seventh century BC and ended with Croesus in the middle of the sixth, a Lydian empire was formed, extending north to the Troad and west to the territories of the Greek cities on the coast. It is clear from the poems of Alcaeus and Sappho that Lydia was not regarded as barbarian but enjoyed great esteem as a semi-Hellenic state; it was said to be the first country to use coined money. After Croesus was defeated by the Persian king Cyrus, Lydia became the chief Persian satrapy in the west, and was often a threat to the autonomy of the Greek cities. It was closely connected with Greek history during the classical period. After its conquest by Alexander the Great in 333 BC it was settled by Greek colonists, eventually becoming part of Attalid territory and passing into Roman control in 133 BC with the rest of the Attalid kingdom. Lydia was influenced by and herself influenced Greece. The Lydian language, which seems to be a branch of Indo-European, is found on some inscriptions. Maeonia was an ancient name of Lydia (whence perhaps ‘Maeonidēs’, i.e. Homer).