Gordion: The Capital Of Phrygian Kingdom!! Today We Were There...Come In Please!

By GKN | GKN | 7 Nov 2020

Hello, my fellow Publish0x'ers.

Today I and my family hit the road to see an ancient site where the place was the capital of the ancient Phrygian Kingdom.

That was Gordion, there. About 4000 years from now It is believed that the legendary Mythologic King Midas had lived there. Maybe much of you already know the story. King Midas is renowned for his ears which resemble that of a donkey and for his touch which transforms into gold whatever it contacts.

Let me tell you the mythological story of King Midas in a quote. However, I want you to know that King Midas is a person who lived in Phrygia in real life. Yes, he was a King or a rich person without magical properties.

King Midas had live in Gordion City and he was the king of Phrygia Kingdom as one of the legendary and mysterious kings in history.

Midas reigned in Gordion City in between 738 and 696 B.C. The most famous story about him was the myth that tells he had donkey ears. He was also an important person in the way that he conducted research studies in his time. So let's hear what is this story about him telling us?

King Midas was requested and approved as a jury for a music competition which was held between Greek God Apollon and Pan. Midas voted for Pan, and the other jury of the competition voted for Apollon. Apollon really got angry with Midas and transformed his ears into the donkey ears justifying that a man who doesn't understand good music deserves donkey ears

This picture that I took is the portrait of King Midas

Midas was in the people with those ears and tried to hide them. Never mentioned anything about them to anyone. But one day, when he went to a hairdresser, the hairdresser realized that his ears were like that of a donkey. But he also couldn't tell this to anyone. But he couldn't wait anymore and he believed he must tell it to somebody. He went to a wellhead and he yelled...

According to the myth; as the time goes by, the well had told it to the waters, the waters told it to the reeds... And by this way, everybody was informed. People began to ridicule and abused Midas. But Midas couldn't bear it anymore and decided to cut his ears. And he did it so. However, he realized that his ears again started to grow up worse like an ivy. Afterwards, he praised the God and asked for help. God forgave him but killed him silently and entombed.

Golden Midas!

The Gold and Midas is another myth about him worth knowing. You may find lots of books, stories, and movies in the name of his ability. Let's see what it is,

Satyros, the comrade of Dionysus, one day, takes a trip to the Phrygia. He fell asleep in the rosary of Midas. And Midas found and lodged him for 10 days. Dionysus was really impressed by this behavior a lot. And told the king that he would do whatever he desires. So Midas wanted from him that he would turn into gold whatever he would like when he touches. Then his wish came true. Midas was content with his situation early on. But it was getting harder to live like this way. Because his meal had been turning into gold as well. He gave up this specialty and asked for help to be as before. Dionysus advised him to have a bath in the river Paktalos. The king did this and recovered.

King Midas and His Model Tomb

Who are Phrygians, Where is Phrygia, and What is Gordion?

Image Source Phrygians came to Anatolia during Aegean Migrations and settled there around 800 B.C. They made their capital city, Gordion near Polatli, Ankara, Turkey. Their kingdom ruled over Middle Anatolia in the period of King Midas. They started a relationship with Lydians and Assyrians. Afterward, they came under the domination of Cimmerians who came to that place from the Caucasus. At one stage, they also entered under the domination of Lydians. Persian Empire ended up in the Phrygian Kingdom.

So How Can We Go If We Would Like to See?

Image Source First, you have to Come to Ankara, Turkey. This museum is located near a county of Ankara called Polatli which is approximately 70 km from Ankara city center. The museum is 29 km far from Polatli city center. If you go towards Polatli from Ankara on the E90/D200 highway, then you should turn to the right 6.5 kilometers before Polatli to the "Karapinar" side. Then follow the signs. The museum is open from 8:30 am till 5:00 pm every day.

Entrance Of The Museum

I've no idea what is written here. But I know the Phrygians lived a Roman Empire Period

This square is 3500 years old with mosaic art. Their artistic skills were so up high.

They put their corpses inside these pots

*Those are the coins they use. Don't forget they lived under the domination of Lydians who invented money!

It is really hard to believe that those people were so keen on pottery art

You can also find an interactive film projector which shows inside the tomb of Midas in detail

You can see various glassware for different applications

Phrygians also had lived during Iron Age. And those are the Ironworks

Fragmentary relief of Matar (The Goddes) in the doorway from the vicinity of Gordion

A skeleton of a Phrygian citizen which is found at the excavations in Gordion

And another one resting in peace

You may find many more of the pots outside of the museum which is used for the tombs

This place is another tomb called tumulus which the wealthy and strong people graved in

Tumulus is a man-made hill where it includes a graveyard inside. A wooden tomb is made and it is covered as a hill with clay and soil. Especially the rich and powerful people such as the kings were put in. They were put in with their very valuable belongings like gold and silver stuff. The biggest tumulus there was the King Midas tumulus. That is the second biggest one all across Europe. You may see more than 100 tumuli around in the vicinity of the village.

This is the entrance corridor of the tumulus of King Midas

At the end of this tunnel, there is the wooden tomb. You feel like you are going through the mazes of the pyramids.

And here it is the tomb of King Midas. But unfortunately, this room is locked up

There is a citadel lying over a hill just 1 km from the museum. That place is the ancient Gordion city center. Archeological excavations are still going on. You can see the whole remnants of the city by following the walking path which is leading tourists around the city. You may also find some information plates periodically placed.