description Bin Tepe Overview
Bin Tepe is an ancient Lydian cemetery located in the Manisa Province of western Turkey, near the historical capital of Sardis. The site consists of numerous large burial mounds, or tumuli, constructed for the Lydian elite during the 6th and 7th centuries BCE. The most prominent structure is the tumulus traditionally identified as the tomb of King Alyattes, the father of King Croesus. This extensive necropolis provides archaeological data for researchers studying the burial practices of the Lydian Empire.
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Where is the Bin Tepe necropolis located?
Bin Tepe is a massive Lydian tumulus cemetery located near the ancient city of Sardis in western Turkey. The site sits in the fertile Hermus River valley, serving as the royal burial ground for the Lydian kings.
What is the largest tomb at Bin Tepe?
The largest tomb on the site is a giant earthen mound traditionally known as the Tomb of Alyattes. Alyattes was the king of Lydia in the 6th century BCE and the father of the famously wealthy King Croesus.
How big is the Tomb of Alyattes at Bin Tepe?
The tumulus is colossal, measuring roughly 355 meters in diameter and originally standing about 69 meters high. It was built using thousands of heavy stone blocks and is one of the largest burial mounds in the world.
Who excavated the mounds at Bin Tepe?
The site has been explored by various archaeologists, with the most significant early excavations conducted by the Prussian explorer Heinrich Kiepert in the 19th century. Modern surveys of the Lydian site have been carried out by the Archaeological Exploration of Sardis since the mid-20th century.
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