The city of Sardis was beautiful and known for its brilliant past and troubled present (called Sart today). It was located 33 miles SE of Thyatira and 50 miles E of Smyrna. It was one city in two locations. One old city atop Mount Tmolus (1,500 feet high) and the newer city at the foot of Mount Tmolus. This made it an impregnable fortress except when its defenders became smug and negligent (as the church follows as well).