In the current Turkish province of Manisa is the site of the ancient city of Sardes, founded by the Lydian king Gyges around 660 BC. It is one of the most profuse archaeological zones in the country in material remains, among which are a gym, a synagogue, a Greek theater and a stadium, as well as several temples and later Byzantine ruins.
Archaeologists working at the site recently announced the discovery of remains of military materials and equipment, the dating of which suggests that it was used by the Persian and Lydian armies in the battles that, in 546 BC, ended the kingdom of the famous Croesus (who had none other than Thales of Miletus at his service) at the hands of Cyrus the Great.
Croesus had taken advantage of the conflict between the Medes and the Persians to try to gain ground for Lydia, emboldened by the prophecy of the Oracle of Delphi that had predicted that if he crossed the river Halis he would cause the fall of an empire. And as everyone knows, that's exactly what happened and the Lydian empire fell.
According to Professor Nicholas Dunlop, director of the excavations:
Among the objects found, and which belong to the time of the war between Lydians and Persians, were a shield, a stone seal, and several arrowheads. In addition to ivory objects, kitchen bowls and other objects that are expected to shed light on the collapse of the Lydian civilization after the conquest and sacking of Sardis by the Persians after 14 days of war.
The remains of Sardis were identified in 1426 by Ciríaco de Ancona, the considered father of archeology Italian traveler and collector of antiquities in the service of the Ottoman Empire. He was one of the first to study the ruins, artifacts, and inscriptions of the ancient world.