Civilizatia frigiana
The Phrygians (750 - 650 BC)
Not
much is known about the Phrygians. They were one of the tribes that migrated to
Asia Minor from the Balkans after the destruction of Troia VIIb, circa 1190 BC.
However their civilization and the Phrygian kingdom did not appear in history
until 750 BC. Although they were an Indo-European people they adapted well into
their new homeland and became part of the Asia Minor1 culture.
So
far only two of the Phrygian kings are known. The first one was Gordios and the
second one was his son Midas. Gordios founded the Phrygian kingdom and the city
of Gordion2, which became the kingdom's capital. Gordion is situated where the
Persian "Royal Road" of the Achaemenids crosses Sangarius (Sakarya)3
River, which, according to mythology, gets its name from the River-God of
Phrygia and central Bithynia. The Phrygians settled in the Sakarya (Sangarius)
valley, which is surrounded by the cities Akroinon4, Kotiaion5, and Dorylaeum6.
In the chronicles of Eusebius King Midas was mentioned twice, first rising to
the throne in 738 BC and second his suicide by drinking bull's blood in 695 BC
possibly after the attacks by Cimmerians in circa 695 BC. Midas was also
mentioned in the Assyrian records. King Sargon in his chronicles mentioned him
first in 717 BC and second in 709 BC. He was known as Mita, the king of the
Mushki in the Assyrian records. The Phrygian kingdom survived for a while after
the death of its king Midas. However, it disappeared from history in circa 650
BC, presumably after subsequent Cimmerian attacks. According to another view
though the weakened Phrygian kingdom had lost its sovereignty to the kingdom of
Lydia. Finally, it is annexed into the Persian Empire in 550 BC. Alexander the
Great stopped by in Gordion (333 BC, please see below) during his military
campaign against the Persian king.
Initially
the Phrygians during their migration from the Balkans moved all the way down to
south eastern Anatolia. However, when they lost their strength they moved back
towards Dorylaeum and Akroinon and moved their capital to Gordion away from the
Assyrian threat.
The
Phrygians developed a very high civilization. As opposed to the Hittites,
writing was common outside the royal family (outside palace). The art and
architecture were also highly developed. The Phrygian art was influenced by the
Hittite and Hellene cultures but also had developed its own authentic
character.
In
architecture they were mostly influenced by the western civilizations, carrying
the Balkan and Hellene features. The Phrygians built fortified cities, public
buildings, and monumental graves (tumuli)7. There are 100 known tumuli, out of
which 25 of them were excavated. Their towns were typical in Anatolia,
rectangular in the megaron style. However, they are known as the first people
who cover the floor of the houses with mosaic. Tumulus is basically a grave.
The burial chamber is built with wood. A mound is built on top of this
structure by piling rubble and stones, and covering with soil or clay. The
tumulus that belonged to the king Midas is the tallest and widest, hence the
most impressive one, with a height of 50 m (164 feet) and a diameter of 300 m
(984 feet). The grave chamber in Midas' tumulus had a double-sloping roof
style.
The
Phrygians, like the Urartians, were highly skilled in metallurgy, woodwork, and
ivory carving. Excavations in the Phrygian territories unearthed various
artifacts, such as furniture components, lion, bull, griffin-shaped wood toys,
chariot-shaped bronze toys, and terracotta vessels. Among found were also mugs,
jugs, mixing bowls, omphalos bowls8, buckets, and cauldrons, in addition to
dress pins9, statuettes, statues, reliefs, and frescoes. The main deity of the
Phrygians was the goddess Cybele, who might be related to Kubaba in the Hittite
pantheon.
According
one view the Phrygians alphabet was a modified version of the Greek alphabet.
However, there seems to be some disagreement on this issue. Another view is
that the Phrygians developed their own writing possibly based on the Phoenician
model.
The
Phrygians are known for their legends, not necessarily of their own creation.
According to one legend, originally being a poor peasant, Gordios ties his
oxcart with a knot in the middle of the town and declares that whoever is able
to untie this knot (Gordian knot) will rule rich Asia. The Macedonian,
Alexander, the great, in his quest to conquer Asia and own the riches of the
far East and India comes across this knot during his stay in Gordion before a
war with the Persian empire. When he was told the legend he tries to untie it but
was not successful so being a soldier he withdraws his sword and slices it into
two halves in his frustration and anger. According to one theory this legend is
created by the Greeks to tell that Alexander, The great is destined to conquer
highly envied East.
Another
legend is a funny story. Midas does not obey his gods and is punished by them
for his crime by giving him donkey ears. He hides his donkey ears from everyone
except his barber since he has to have a hair cut. His barber, from fear,
cannot tell anybody what he witnessed so he digs a whole and whispers into it
and then covers it with soil. As the time passes straw grows in this pit and as
the wind blows straws, they leak the secret of the king Midas. Eventually
everyone in the town learns that Midas has donkey ears.
The
Phrygian king Midas was a subject to another legend in the Hellene Mythology.
According to this legend anything the King Midas touches was turning to gold10.
Midas, to get rid of this magical power, takes a bath in Pactolus river11 near
Sardis12 according to wishes of the god Dionysus13 and the magical power is
passed to the river. Since then gold nuggets were found in the banks of the
Pactolus river.
Notes
1. The Asia Minor is also known as
Anatolia. Another name for it is Little Asia.
2. Gordion, Gordium (today's Yassı Höyük).
3. Sangarius or Saggarios (In modern
Turkey: Sakarya) River.
4. Akroinon (in modern Turkey: Afyon).
5. Kotiaion (in modern Turkey: Kütahya).
6. Dorylaeum (in modern Turkey: Eskişehir).
7. monumental graves (Tumuli).
8. Omphalos bowls (phiale).
9. Dress pins (fibulae).
10. Roman writer Ovid in Metamorphoses.
11. Pactolus River (in modern Turkey: Sart
Çayı) is in the Aegean coast of Turkey.
12. Sardis or Sardes.
13. Dionysus or Dionysos.
Sources
1.
"The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations,", prepared by members of
staff at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey.
2.
Akurgal, Ekrem, "Anadolu Kültür Tarihi," TÜBİTAK Popüler Bilim
Kitaplari, April 2008, ISBN 978-975-403-107-2
3.
Hornblower, Simon (Editor) and Spawforth, Antony (Editor), "The Oxford
Classical Dictionary," Third Edition. p642, Oxford University Press.
4.
Sangarius_(mythology)
5.
Saggarios
6.
Sander, Oral, "The Complexity of the Process of Civilization,"
Ancient Anatolia as a Case in Point, The Turkish Yearbook [vol. XVII],
Dergiler, Ankara.
6.
Roller, Lynn E., "The Art of Writing at Gordion", Expedition, Vol.
31, No 1, p 54-61.
[6].
Hunter, Erica, "Anatolia before the Greeks," University of Cambridge.
Further
Reading
1.
Burke, Brendan, Anatolian Origins of the Gordian Knot Legend, American School
of Classical Studies, 54 Souidias, GR 106 76 Athens, Greece,
bburke@ascsa.edu.gr.
2.
Burke, Brendan, II Interpreting the Finds From Gordion, Textile Production at
Gordion, and the Phrygian Economy.
3.
Rives, J.B, Phrygian TalesProgramme in Classical Studies, York University,
Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3 Canada, jrives@yorku.ca, April, 2005.
3.
Young, Rodney S., "The Gordion Tomb," Fall 1958, Expedition.
Phrygia and the Phrygians
Phrygia
Ancient
Phrygia in the west of the Anatolian plateau, the country around the sources of
the Sakarya Nehri (river) within the triangle of the modern cities of Afyon,
Eskisehir and Ankara, was named after the western Indo-Europeans who came here
from Europe around 1200 BC and left their mark as skilled craftsmen with a
culture of their own. It was a country clearly with many towns and cities,
lying on the routes to the east from Lydia and Caria.
Today
it has only three major cities: Afyon, the opium city, Eskisehir, a hub of
industry and the main railroad junction, andKütahya, a centre for ceramics and
the mining of brown coal. Here in many places the westerlies and southerlies
can still carry rain deep into the mountains, bringing denser settlement and a
greater degree of cultivation in their train. This farming potential enabled
Phrygia even in early classical times to develop a powerful kingdom of its own
with many towns and cities. Its fringes, where east met west, were a
battleground for Persians and Lydians, Romans and Galatians, Arabs and Romans,
Crusadersand Seljuks, Ottomans and Mongols, Byzantines and Turks. Ruins and age-old
monuments abound up on the rolling plateau around the upper reaches of the
Sakarya, with here and there towering rocky outcrops and a few scraggy trees,
although nowadays signs of settlement are few and far between.
The
Phrygian language, which died out in the 6th c. AD, was closely related to
Greek, as can be seen from 80 ancient Phrygian inscriptions (7th-4th c. BC.),
written in a script rather like Greek and over 110 neo-Phrygian writings in
Greek fromRoman times.
As
Thracian invaders, the Phrygians played a decisive role in the destruction of
the Hittite Kingdom and the fall of Troy. Their independent Phrygian kingdom of
the 8th and 7th c BC maintained close contacts with the Aryans in the east and
the Greeks in the west. Its early history is only briefly chronicled
(Herodotus), recounting the suicide of its last king, Midas, in Gordionwhen it
fell to the Cimmerians (676 BC.). With the establishment of the Galatians in
eastern Phrygia the fertility cult of Cybele, the mother goddess, spread widely
amongst town dwellers, while country folk tended to worship Men, the moon god,
ruler of Paradise and the Underworld. In 188 BC Phrygia came under Pergamum,
followed by Rome, who made it a province in 133 BC.
The
early spread of Christianity here was largely due to St Paul but the 2nd c AD
also saw the development of two extreme sects: Montanism, derived from the
locally born Prophet Montanus who preached that the end of the world was high,
and Novationism, named after the Roman theologian and later Bishop Novatian,
whose followers called themselves "the pure", in Greek
"katharoi" (hence the Cathar heresy of the Middle Ages) and refused
to allow any lapsed Christians back into the Church.
The
Phrygians
The
Phrygians arrived in Anatolia in 1200 BC, among the migrating tribes known as
the "people of the Aegean Sea". At first they lived in Central
Anatolia, building settlements over the ashes of Hittite cities like Hattusas,
Alacahöyük, Pazarli and Alisar. At the beginning of the 8th century BC they set
up their capital at Gordion.
We
are familiar with King Midas from his epic, and from the discovery of his
burial chamber. Midas, who succeeded to the throne in 738 BC, defended the
frontiers of Phrygia quite well, but could not resist the attacks of the
Cimmerians advancing from the Caucasian region. After his defeat by Cimmerians
in 695 BC, it is said that he committed suicide by drinking bull's blood.
Phrygians built the largest mound (tumulus) in Gordion known as the Tumulus of
Midas; it is 53 meters high and 300 meters wide.
The
large, almost square-shaped burial chamber is 6.20m by 5.15m. The skeleton of
King Midas was laid on a large bench, surrounded by other benches full of gifts
for the afterworld. Close observation of the skeleton revealed that King Midas
died when he was around 60 years old and he was 1.59m tall. On the floor of the
chamber were found 166 bronze funeral gifts and 145 bronze fibula laid at the
head of the deceased. The lack of gold reveals that it was not a custom among
the Phrygians to present funerary gifts of gold.
Influenced
by Hittite art, Phrygian art, in turn, influenced Etruscan art in Italy.
However, they were also directly influenced by theUrartu in Eastern Anatolia.
For instance, they imported the Urartu figure of a bull's head and worked it on
a cauldron of strictly Phrygian form. Metal ores were known and used in
metalwork during the Early and Mid-Bronze Ages, from 2500 BC onwards. However,
it was only around 1000 BC that Phrygian metalwork forms borrowed from pottery
and metal vessels entered popular use. Phrygian art can be divided into three
categories:
1. Local Phrygian ware
2. Urartu import ware
3. Assyrian import ware.
These
groups are again divided into two major phases consisting of artifacts found in
mounds dating before 695 BC.
The
pottery of the Phrygian period was fine polychrome ware, which can be
distinguished basically as early and late ware. Because of the Lydian
domination of Anatolia during the late period, it bears western Anatolian
influence after 695 BC.
As a
contrast to the Hittite based motifs of the early period, in later ware we see
studded patterns within lozenge shaped frames, and again studded motifs on
animal forms. Complicated motifs took the place of very simple and geometric
motifs from the old period. Instead of one color painted over another color,
they started to be painted in many colors. Where animal shapes previously took
on a schematic look to them, pieces from the late period showed evolvement. In
addition, the late period witnessed motifs of meander, dots and plaited hair.
Filtered vessels that had little application in daily life were seen to be
popular as a funerary gift. Today Phrygian works of art are on exhibit at the
Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara.
Apart
from their capital Gordion were you can visit the Tumulus of King Midas and
nearby small museum, Pessinus was also a major Phrygian settlement. Examples of
megaron planned, semerdam roofed houses were carved into the rock tombs. These
may be seen around Afyon Arslantas and Eskisehir Yazilikaya.
The
Arslantas rock monument near Afyon and the ruins of Midas near Eskisehir are
among the most important Phrygian monuments in Anatolia, and are where the
Phrygians worshipped their major deity Cybele and her lover Attis.
The
Phrygian language belonged to the Indo-European group of languages.
All
About Turkey © Burak Sansal 1996–2011, a certified professional tour guide in
Turkey. Contact Burak atburaksan@superonline.com for all kinds of regular
and/or private travel services throughout the country.
Welcome to the Phrygian Way
History
The
Phrygians appeared in Anatolia in the 11th century BC, migrating across the
straits from Thrace. They settled in the region covering the territories of the
present day provinces of Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Eskisehir and Kutahya. By the
mid 8th century BC a vibrant civilisation centred around the capital Gordium
(Gordion), present day Yassihoyuk, Polatli County of Ankara, was flourishing.
The
legendary Midas was the most renowned Phrygian king. Besides the Phrygian capital
Gordium, other important settlements were Pessinous (Ballihisar), and the city
of Midas (Yazilikaya). The region was covered with volcanic ashes thrown out by
Turkmen Mountain (called Mount Elaphoeis in antiquity), and the consolidated
tuff created easily carved rocks. The Phrygians left behind many carved rock
monuments in the region. The easily worked nature of the local rock also aided
in the creation of ancient roads which are still visible in many parts of the
region.
The
Phrygians were defeated by the Cimmerians, who migrated from the Caucuses in
the 7th century BC, and disappeared from history. Phrygian writing is still to
be deciphered, but we knew that they were the inventors of flutelike woodwind
instruments.
About the trail
The
Phrygian Trekking Route is one of the longest trails in Turkey. Planned with
great care for the comfort and enjoyment of hikers, the route passes through the renowned
Phrygian Valleys where hikers may visit the ruins of ancient civilisations and
enjoy the natural beauty of the region. The Trekking Route is 506 kilometres
long, and is marked in accordance with international standards. The Route has
three starting points and the trails meet at the Yazilikaya (Inscribed Rock),
which was a focal point for the Phrygians. Hikers may start the route at the
following points: 1) Gordium (Polatli, Ankara), 2) Seydiler (Afyonkarahisar),
and 3) Yenice Farm Ciftligi (Ahmetoglu Village, Kutahya).
The
project is sponsored by FRIGKUM (Association for Development and Protection of
Phrygian Cultural Heritage) and is completed in 2013 by a small volunter team
led by Huseyin Sari. The Route was planned in order to introduce trekkers and
byclists to Phrygian culture, and to enable them to enjoy a safe journeythrough
the Phrygian Valleys along trails once used by the Phrygians.
The
trail starts at Gordium, the political capital of the Phrygians, then follows
the valley of the Porsuk (ancient Tembris) River, passes through Sivrihisar
(ancient Spaleia), and arrives at Pessinous (Ballikaya), another important
Phrygian settlement. The trail then enters the valley of the Sakarya (ancient
Sangarius) River, where you enter a completely different world. After the
Sakarya Valley, the trail enters the region known as Mountainous Phrygia. The
trail then reaches the Yazilikaya, the site of the Midas monument which formed
the cult centre of the Phrygians. Here the trail splits into two. One branch
leads to Findikli Village passing through the Asmainler, Zahran, and Inli
Valleys, once home to Phrygian settlements. This branch terminates at Yenice
Farm on the highway between Kutahya and Eskisehir. The other branch passes
through Saricaova, a picturesque Circassian village, and Doger, town in
Afyonkarahisar. The trail then takes you through Ayazini Town before coming to
an end at Seydiler, on the highway between Afyonkarahisar and Ankara. Hikers
who complete these trails will treasure the memory forever.
Practicalities
The
best time to trek is spring and autumn, but there are different attractions in
all seasons. Along the trail, there are plenty of springs for water year-round.
Route
Historical Overview
Gordion
is one of the most important sites of the ancient world. It is known primarily
as the political and cultural capital of the Phrygians, a people who dominated
much of central Anatolia during the early first millennium BCE. With its
monumental Phrygian architecture, an extensive destruction level dating to around
800 BCE, and a series of wealthy tombs belonging to Phrygian royalty and other
elites, Gordion is the premier archaeological type-site for Phrygian
civilization. As such, it is on a par with Athens, Rome, Pompeii, the Hittite
capital at Hattusha, and Babylon in elucidating for us the material
achievements of an ancient civilization.
People
began living at the site of Gordion in the Early Bronze Age, at least as early
as ca. 2500 BCE, and that habitation still continues in the village of
Yassıhöyük, which lies adjacent to the site. Across that enormous span of time,
archaeologists can detect few breaks in habitation. The reasons for the site’s
appeal include its location on major trade routes across Anatolia, an abundance
of water from the Sangarios (modern Sakarya) river, and broad tracts of arable
land suitable for farming.
The
major periods represented are the Bronze Age (ca. 2500–1200 BCE), the Iron Age
(ca. 1200–550 BCE, largely synonymous here with the Phrygian Period), the
Achaemenid Persian (or "Late Phrygian") period (ca. 550–330 BCE), the
Hellenistic era (third to first centuries BCE), the Roman Empire (first to
fifth centuries CE), the Medieval period (sixth to 14th centuries CE), the
Ottoman period (15th–20th centuries CE) and the Modern era beginning with the
formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The pre-Medieval habitation has
produced the large settlement mound that is today the central archaeological
feature of the site. The mound’s modern Turkish name is Yassıhöyük, literally
“flat-topped settlement mound.”
Relatively
little is known about the Bronze Age at Gordion, primarily because of overlying
monumental buildings of the Phrygian period. On a ridge not far from the main
site, however, in the vicinity of the modern village, lies a cemetery belonging
to the time of the Hittite Old Kingdom (17th–15th centuries BCE). A few
examples of Hittite hieroglyphic writing from the site, and pottery much like
that from major Hittite centers, suggest that it somehow fit into the larger
Hittite sphere. There is insufficient evidence to determine the extent to which
Gordion was affected when the Hittite Empire collapsed around 1200 BCE.
During
the subsequent period, which corresponds with Gordion's Early Iron Age phase,
the site witnessed a new cultural element as reflected by handmade pottery with
parallels in southeastern Europe. The pottery is taken to mark the beginning of
the presence of Phrygians who, as known from later Greek writers, migrated from
southeastern Europe into Anatolia.
Gordion
is best known as the principal center of the Phrygians and their civilization,
and as the seat of the most famous Phrygian king, Midas, who ruled in the late
eighth century BCE (Middle Phrygian period). Phrygian material culture holds
strong at Gordion well into the fourth century BCE, from humble, village
beginnings in the 11th century across the lives of two great citadels (Early
and Middle Phrygian), one succeeding the other after a great destruction by
fire around 800 BCE. The site initially served as the capital of a presumably
independent Phrygian state (at least through the reign of Midas), but
thereafter it was subject to other powers: the west Anatolian kingdom of Lydia
(first half of the sixth century BCE, if not earlier), and then, for the next
two centuries, the Persian Empire.
When
Alexander the Great of Macedon began his world-altering campaign against the
Persian Empire in 334 BCE, he came to Gordion in that first year and may have
wintered there. It is likely that Alexander was greeted by the final vestiges
of the later Phrygian citadel. Anything less makes little sense in light of the
fact that Gordion was the mustering-point for the contingents of Alexander’s
army before their march into Cilicia to confront Darius III, last ruler of the
Persian Empire. His stay at Gordion also led to one of the most curious events
in ancient history, the cutting of the Gordian knot.
In
the decades following Alexander’s visit, Gordion witnessed a transformation
from a Phrygian citadel to a large town of the Hellenistic period, as the time
after Alexander’s conquest and before the advent of the Roman Empire is known.
The site stands as a good example of why the period is so-called, namely, the
spread of Hellenic culture outside the boundaries of the old Greek world into
areas that had totally different cultural backgrounds and ethnic groups.
Inscriptions in the Phrygian language, which had been numerous until now, cease
to be found. In their place occur Greek inscriptions, sometimes with Greek or
Greek-sounding personal names. Greek gods are worshiped or at least recognized.
The repertory of traditional Phrygian material goods, especially pottery,
succumbs to Greek types. The population may well have been mixed, with
Phrygians, other Anatolians, Persians, and Greeks. Present too, after the
middle of the third century, were Celts or Galatians, who had migrated east en
masse from western Europe, and who were taken on as mercenaries by Anatolian
monarchs. It was, in fact, the Celtic presence that led to Gordion’s abrupt end
as a thriving Hellenistic town. In 189 BCE, the Roman general Manlius Vulso, at
the behest of the kingdom of Pergamon, came to Gordion on an expedition against
the Gauls. He found the site abandoned, the inhabitants having fled in advance
of his arrival.
It
was not until the first century CE, in the time of the young Roman Empire, that
the site of Gordion was refounded, high on the western half of the old Citadel
Mound. In good Roman fashion, the buildings were oriented to the cardinal
points of the compass, unlike earlier periods of settlement. The new founding
may represent a Roman colony; in any case, it appears on the basis of recent
excavations to have had a military function. The town also may have had a
different name, Vindia or Vinda, as occurs on Roman itineraries for the general
vicinity of Gordion. In the second century CE, when nearby Ancyra (modern
Ankara) was the thriving capital of the Roman province of Galatia, the site of
Gordion also seems to have enjoyed relative prosperity. After a gap in
habitation from about 175 until the late third century, the site again
witnessed settlement into the Early Byzantine period (sixth century). Another
gap was followed by activity in Late Byzantine/Selcuk/Early Ottoman times (13th
to 15th centuries). During the late Ottoman period, habitation was centered to
the west of the Citadel Mound, at the village of Bebi, which was destroyed in
the Battle of the Sakarya in 1921—the climactic engagement in the Turkish War
of Liberation. Fox-holes, spent shells, and some human remains are poignant
reminders of this conflict. The modern village of Yassıhöyük is the current
manifestation of the ongoing history of human settlement at Gordion.
Further
Reading
Darbyshire,
G. and G.H. Pizzorno. 2009. "Gordion in History," Expedition 51.2,
pp. 11–22.
Copyright
© 2008-10 Penn Museum
All
Rights Reserved About Digital
Gordion
0-300BC)
Phrygians
were a Balkan origin nation who came to
Anatolia with Aegean migrations. Initially they came to Anatolia through the
Straits and settled around Eskişehir, Afyon, Ankara and Sakarya valley around
1200 BC, later founded a powerful
civilization covering an area from Kütahya to Kızılırmak, Ankara and Eskişehir.
Eventhough it is believed that they were ethnically Indo-European, they accomodated
to Anatolia and with the influence of Hellenistic and Late Hittite
civilizations, they developed a unique Anatolian culture in the area.
Phrygia
was founded on the crossroads of oldest roads in Anatolia. Connection with main
roads leading Aegean ports to Eastern Anatolia, Syria and Northern Mesopotamia
was done by roads passing through Phrygia. Royal Road, built during Persian
rule and connecting Sardes to Susa also passed through Phrygia. These roads
constituted a special importance to Phrygia as compared to its neighbouring
states, and in this sense, Phrygia was on the crossroads of transportation and
trade between Aegean Region and Asia Minor. This strategic location also
influenced political organisation of the state.
Establishment
of the first political unity by Phrygians was in around 750 BC. The first known
Phrygian king was Gordias, who also named the capital cityGordion. According to
the myth, an augur tells Phrygians who were in search of a new king, to acclaim the first man to ride up into the
town by ox cart as the king. This man was Gordios, he was acclaimed the king
and ox cart was preserved in the acropolis. Historically famous Gordion Knot is
a mass of ivy which tied this cart to a column. After centuries, the Gordion
Knot was believed that the hero to untie this knot would become the ruler of
Asia.In 334 BC, Alexander the Great tried to unbind the knot, but failed.
Getting angry, he impaitently drew his sword and cut the knot into two.
Alexander the Great was really on the way to become the ruler of Asia as he
defeated Persian Empire. However, he died after a fever illness when he was
only 33, which was believed that this was the fate as he did not try to unbind
the knot, but acted impatienltly and cut with sword instead.
After
becoming the king, Gordias succeeded in gathering the scattered Phrygian
society into a political unity. According to historian Arianos, Gordias married
to a women from Thelmessos (Fethiye) and had a son named Midas. Midas was the
most known Phrygian king, though researches note all Phrygian kings were named
Midas. Midas' fame and glory spread beyond the territories of his kingdom, even
to Greek city states and continental Greece.
When
Midas acceded to Phrygian throne, Assyrians were their main enemy. After
settling peace with Assyrians and securing southeastern borders, he developed
peaceful relations with western states. He married to Kyme King's daughter, a
western Anatolian city state. On the other hand he strengthened his relations by presenting his ivory throne
to Delphoi Apollo temple in Greece. Historian of 5th century BC Herodotus
quotes that Midas was the first foreigner who sent a gift to Delphoi Apollo
Temple. Besides Gordion, Midas City and Pessinus were developed cities during
the reign of Midas.
Around
700 BC, Cimmerian assaults, who came to Anatolia from Caucasia and settled into
Eatern Anatolia, reached until Kızılırmak. Phrygia was completely devastated
after Cimmerian - Phrygian wars, eventually King Midas killed himself in 676
BC.
After
the collapse of Phrygian State, they
survived as small principalities under Lydian domination until the great
Persian invasion in 545 BC. Later, they endured until 300BC in various parts of
Anatolia. It is known that Phrygian culture survived in Anatolia until Roman
Era.
Phrygian
culture was a developed one; writing did not only belong to the king, ordinary
people could also use writing. They used letter writing system based on
Phoenician alphabet. They are also known as the first civilization who
developed animal stories. Folk dance figures on a pot exhibited in Gordion
Museum, a pair flute and Matar statue accompanied by two lyre playing musicians
found in Boğazköy, and bone flutes found in Gordion at Hellenistic layer reveal
the role of music and dancing at Phrygian daily life.
The
first Phrygian exhibition in the world was organised in İstanbul 2008 where 275
brilliant and unique Phrygian works were collected from different museums of
Turkiye to contribute to enlightening Phrygian culture, who developed a
fundamental civilization in Anatolia and influenced their successors, Greeks
and Romans.
PHRYGIAN
CITIES IN ANATOLIA
Phrygian
City : Current Location:
Gordion :Yassıhöyük - Ankara
Midas
City : Yazılıkaya - Eskişehir
Hierapolis : Pamukkale - Denizli
Dorylaeum : Şarkhöyük - Eskişehir
Laodicea :Eskişehir
Daskylaion :Ergili - Balıkesir
Pesinius : Ballıhisar - Eskişehir
Keretapa : Kayadibi - Konya
Aizanoi : Çavdarhisar- Kütahya
Ankyra : Ankara
A
“TECHNOLOGIC” PHRYGIAN INVENTION: FIBULA
Fibula
was a kind of ornament used to attach pieces of fabric, and first samples of
modern safety pins. It was first used in Anatolia by Phrygians. These fibulas,
used for attaching clothes and belts, were big and and had magnificent appearance, and were generally
made of bronze in horse shoe shape, which had an average size of 5 - 6 cm
width.
A
Phrygian was buried into grave together with his or her fibulas. Fibulas for
them, not only had a sacred attribution, but also was a symbol of wealth and
nobility. During the excavations at King Midas' tomb, 175 pieces of big size
fibulas made of bronze and silver were found. The technology that Phrygians
used in making such fibulas was relatively developed as compared to the
technology available by other civilizations of that time. Fibulas also were
demanded and appreciated pieces of art by Assyrians and Late Hittite
settlements. Later it was embraced by Hellenic Civilization and taken off as it
was.
THE
FIRTS MUSIC CONTEST OF THE WORLD and INVENTION OF FLUTE
THE
MOST WELL KNOWN OF THE MIDAS MYTHS: MIDAS WITH DONKEY EARS
Apollo,
who invented seven string lyre and presented to humanity, is the best music
performer, according to Hellenic consideration. Some day, a sheperd named
Marsyas performes a music with a flute, which almost everybody in the ancient
world considered his music superior than that of Apollo. Marsyas achieved in
having the sounds of different reeds from a single one, which he picked seven
holes on it. The first samples of flute, flageolet and reed flute was thus
invented.
Marsyas
not only invented the flute, he was also a perfect player of it. Gods on
Olympos eventually decided to organise a contest between Apollo and Marsyas, and
asked Midas to be the judge. First Apollo plays his lyre, and then Marsyas
plays oriental emotional melodies with his flute. Midas declares Marsyas as the
winner of the contest, whereupon Apollo gets very angry with Midas, and changes
Midas' ears into donkey ears, saying he did not have an ear for music. Midas
hides his donkey ears for a long time by wearing Phrygian cap. After some time,
his hair gets so long that he needs to go to a barber to have his hair cut. He
warns the barber not to tell anybody what he saw. However, although he says
nothing to anybody, the chatty barber at last goes to a well and shouts: “Midas
has donkey ears, Midas has donkey ears”. A blowing wind takes this sound and
spreads all over the Phrygian valley. The reeds in the valley repeats these
words as they are shaken by the blowing wind.
This
mythical contest is commemorated every year in Dinar town with “Marsyas Music
and Art Festival”. Moreover, a satiric opeara named “Midas' Ears”, written by Güngör Dilmen and composed by Ferit
Tüzün is among important works on the
myth.
LYDIAN GOLD AND MIDAS MYTH
Old
Satyr Silenos, who brought up Dionysos gets lost in Phrygian highlands,
according to myth. Getting tired, he sleeps under a tree. People who found
Silenos ridicile and humiliate him, and
bring him to King Midas.Midas knows Silones at once, and hosts him for 10 days
at his court, and takes him to Dionysos at the end of 10th day. When Dionysos meets Silenos, who lost him
some time ago, feels so happy that asks Midas to demand whatever he wishes.
Midas wishes whatever he touches turn into gold. Dionysos asks him to think
once, however, Dionysos effects Midas' wish upon his insist, anyhow; everthing
he touches turns into gold. Midas first sits on his throne, it becomes gold.
Then, his rod also becomes gold. His cheer lasts until dinner; his bread, his
water, even his daughter that he hugged all turn into gold. The king repents
from his wish, and begs Dionysos to disenchant the magic. Dionysos asks him to
go to Lydia and bathe at Paktolos River (Gediz River). King bathes at the river
and breaks free from the magic. It is believed that the wealth of Lydia and
Sardes City stems from this river, whose sand turned into gold. The Turkish
expression “be it gold whatever you touch” said after a favor is also derived
from this myth.
Midas,
whose story best reported by Latin poet Ovidius, also inspired contemporary
movies and artistic work. At 2004 Walt Disney Cartoon “Aladdin and King of the
Thieves”, golden hand of Midas myth was narrated.
CITY OF LEGENDARY KING: MIDAS
The
city was exactly located on Phrygian highland. Air is really fresh due to
elevation, thus was called as “Phrygia Salutaris”, or “Healthy Phrygia” during
Phrygian era. Ancient Midas City, located at current Yazılıkaya, 80 km South of
Eskişehir, was founded at outskirts of Acropolis.
There is a Midas monument on an effusive
volcanic rock on northeast front of the Acropolis, walls surrounding the
Acropolis, underground stairways, tombs, altars, an incomplete monument and a
fountain. The Midas Monument on the upside of village is especially important
for Phrygian history. The ancient city was named after this monument, and is
dated to the first quarter of 6th century BC. As the most magnificent of the
Phrygian Rock monuments, it is among the most significant structures of the
region and the world. It is 17 meters high, and 16.5 meters wide. It is also
named as Yazılıkaya (The scripted rock) as there are scripts on it.
Midas
Monument has a surface decorated with geometric “meander” motifs, a unique
style reflecting the characteristics of Phrygian art. This decoration style
called “meander” was named after Menderes (Meander)River, the motifs inspired
by the meanders of the river was called as such.
The
monument endured till date without much damage. There is a niche in the mid
part of the monument. Likewise all other Phrygian rock monuments, Midas
Monument was also constructed to place Cybele statutes in it. There are three
inscriptons on the monument, which still could not be transcribed yet.
CITY OF THE FIRSTS; GORDION
THE FIRST CIVILIZATION EVER USED
MOSAIC IN ARCHITECTURE
FIRST TUMULI OF HISTORY: ANATOLIAN
PYRAMIDS
Phyrgia
is the first civilization ever used mosaics in architecture. Mosaics they
produced by using pebbles of Sakarya River inspired eyecatching Greek and Roman
artistic work. Gordion, capital of Phrygia was founded on east coast of Sakarya
River. Archaeologists discovered ruins of a monumental gate, constructions
belonging to royal family, houses and city walls in the city. All these are dated
to the most prosperous period of Phrygian era (725 - 667 BC). Surfaces of
megaron planned palaces,houses and public buildings were covered with mosaic.
Decorated with rich and differend geometric figurtes, these Phrygian mosaics
are known as the oldest samples of mosaic art. Part of these mosaics are
exhibited today in Ankara, at Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Tumulus,
piled or accumulated tomb, was also first used by Phrygians. Most of these
tumuli, which were used after 8th century BC, are in capital Gordion and there
are about 100 of them. Height of a tumulus vary from 2 - 3 metres to 60 - 80
meters,depending on the importance of the buried person. These tumuli are also
named as “Anatolian Pyramids”. Discovery of the grave room without any decay
beneath the 53metres high great tumulus, believed to have belonged King Midas
is considered as one of the greatest arceological achievements at second half
of the 20th century. Yet it is stil a secret how Phrygian people could
construct such gigantic tumuli, grave rooms are also mysterious. The American
team dug 2 millions metrescube of soil to reach the grave room. (total volume
of the Cheops Pyramid is 2.6 millions metercube). Excavations at these tumuli
still underway, 25 of them were excavated.
pending,
THE OLDEST WOODEN FURNITURE OF
HISTORY - THE FIRST SIDEBOARD OF HISTORY - INIMITABLE MIDAS TABLES
FIRTS TENON TABLES OF THE WORLD
As
they had rich forest resources, Phryfians developed much at carpentry and
furniture. Phrygiand first developed making armchairs and tables without using
nails, with mortise and tennon technique.
Prof.
Dr Elizabeth Simpson of Pennsylvania University worked on thousands of pieces
of wood for 27 years, and gathered 3 tables of Midas. Wood found at
archeological excavations is usually decayed. Phrygian furniture, most found
almost at fairly good situation surprised scientists and artists much.
The
most striking one among the royal tables was, a 2700 year old table believed to
have belonged to King Midas. Restoration
of the table, which is a masterpiece of wood mortise and tenon technique
lasted 6 years. The table, as the most significant entangled wood tennon
design, was made of juniper, box and walnut wood. Having interesting bends and
crimps, the table resembles art nouveau style. The other two restored tables
were dinner tables of King Midas. These are believed to be the first sideboards
of history. Similar samples of these tables, which have puzzle-like
decorations, have no similar samples, either in Phrygian or in any other
civilizations. The tables were also used as portable temples.
Apart
from tables, restoration of chairs, folding screens, cages and frames,
children's thrones, animal shape toys is being executed by Turkish and American
teams. The precious and inimitable samples of historical furniture art are
being ehxibited in Ankara, at Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
PHRYGIAN
CYBELE CULT; MAGNA MATAR, FATE OF ROME - ARTEMIS - DIANA
Origins
of Cybele cult in Anatolia dates back to prehistoric era, however, consideration
as the holiest and protective figure falls Phrygian era. Symbolising maternity,
survival of life and thus fertility, Cybele influenced the successive
civilizations to a great extent. The
most widely known among these is Artemis in Greek mythology, named Diana
in Roman mythology.
Cybele
Cult of Phrygia was in Pessinus city, Sivrihisar town of today. This cult was a
black meteor. Pergamon king constructed a splendid temple here in 189 BC. (It
stil stands until its roof). At this time, Rome was at state of war against
threatening Carthage, and the situation was not that good. According to
writings of Byzantian historians, Roman augurs said the stone symbolising
Cybele (Magna Matar) had to be brought to Rome, otherwise it would be
impossible to be victorious against Hannibal of Carthage. A group of people
takethe stone and depart to Rome in 204 BC. However, the ship strikes on a rock
in Tiber river, and all attempts to move the ship fail. Augurs predict that a
virgin and blameless girl could save the
ship. Many young girls try to save the ship to enjoy this honour. A defamed
young and beautiful girl, named Claudio Quinto ties her belt to ship and pulls
it, and saves the ship. Cybele stone is brought to Rome and placed to the
temple at Palatinus Mountain. Eventually, Rome defeats Carthage and wins a
brilliant victory against its biggest enemy. The stone still exists there.
Portrait of Cybele was also placed into coat of arms of Roman Empire. Portrait
of Cybele is still used in Italian post stamps, and modern Italy is symbolized
with a woman figure with a torret over it.
The Phrygian alphabet
History
of the alphabet :
Once
upon a time were the Phoenicians, Semitic people who wanted to transcribe their
language in a written form. They elaborate a system which took in account only
the consonants because, as Semites, they didn’t use vowels. They spread this
new system across the Mediterranean, where they had some business to do.
But
most of the people they met needed vowels. It’s in Cilicia, SE Turkey (nowadays
in the Mersin area) where the first use of vowels are found. It is now accepted
by the scholars that the Greeks went to seek for their alphabet there by a sea
road and that the Phrygians also, but by a land road. After a first period of
independent elaboration, the two people worked together and numerous exchanges
can be seen. This is how the first inscriptions appears in the middle of the
8th c.
The
Phrygian alphabet :
The
Paleo-phrygian alphabet counts 19 letters. 17 appears in every area of Phrygia.
They are similar to the Greek ones for the typography and their likely
pronunciation. Two don’t appear in every region or their form varies.
Our
understanding of the Phrygian :
We
cannot understand the Phrygian but we can read it. The typography is close to
the Greek one and we can assume that the letters are pronounced in the same
way. The endings according to their function in the sentence are similar.
Therefore we can read Phrygian and propose an order in the sentence but the
signification is obscure. We need a bilingual dictionary to understand the
meaning of the words.
Use
of the Paleo-phrygian inscriptions :
They
are mostly engraved on the rock-cut monuments. They are monumental inscriptions
and certainly official. The message can not be understood but it’s important to
note the occurrences of different words. For example, ‘Midas’ appears on the
Midas Monument : what is his role ? King, god, priest ? Or someone else ?
Graffites
are another kind of inscriptions. They mostly consist of only one word,
certainly a person’s name expressing an ownership. Their historical value is
not very consequent but they give some information on Phrygian anthroponyms (=
names of person)
New
Phrygian :
Neo-Phrygian
appears in the 2-3rd c. AD, mostly on funerary steles. It is written like
paleo-phrygian but transcribes or Greek or Phrygian stereotyped curse and
protection spells.
Neo-Phrygian
comes after some centuries of complete interruption of Phrygian writing. Did a
tradition exist but didn’t leave any remains ?
Bibliography
The
most important book on the old Phrygian alphabet is :
• Brixhe, C., Lejeune, M., Corpus d’inscriptions paléo-phrygiennes,
IFEA, Editions Recherche sur les civilisations, Paris 1984.
Some
other interesting books :
• Jeffery, L.H., The Local Scripts of
archaic Greece, Oxford 1961.
• Lemaire, A., “L’écriture phénicienne
en Cilicie et la diffusion des écritures alphabétiques”, C.Baurain, C.Bonnet,
V.Krings (éds.),Phoinikeia Grammata, lire et écrire en Méditerranée, Actes du
colloque de Liège, 15-18 novembre 1989, Société des études classiques, Naumur,
1991, p.133-136.
• Masson, O., “Anatolian languages”, CAH
III/2, 1991, p. 666-676.
• Röllig, W., “L’alphabet”, V.Krings
(éd.), La civilisation phénicienne et punique, manuel de recherche, E.J.Brill,
Leiden, 1995, p.193-214.
Phrygians.com
articles
King
Midas
King
Midas is the central figure of Phrygian history, and the only king we are sure
he existed. He seemed to be so important that he became a myth.
King
Midas - the legends and the truth
The
dichotomy of King Midas in ancient texts
The
last dinner of King Midas
A
reconstitution of a funerary banquet in Phrygia, due to remains found in
Tumulus MM at Gordion.
Short
bibliography on King Midas
Major
references to learn about Midas
Religion
In
Phrygia, the religion is centered on the feminine figure of Matar, the Mother.
It is not yet sure that a male principle existed near her.
The
Phrygian pantheon
A
brief English version of the main aspects of Phrygian religion.
Cybèle
An
article in French out of the Encyclopedia Universalis. This article concerns
mostly the goddess in Classical andRoman times.
Overview
of rock-cut monuments
These
monuments, mostly religious, are still enigmas for the archaeologists
Funerary
habits in Phrygia
A
brief overview of the main funerary types in Phrygia
Les
pratiques funéraires en Phrygie (version courte)
Un
bref topo en français sur les pratiques funéraires phrygiennes
Les
pratiques funéraires en Phrygie (version longue)
Un
exposé plus complet sur les différentes pratiques funéraires
Phrygia
and the Bible
The
name 'Phrygia' appears in the Bible, even if we can't learn much from it ...
Phrygian
alphabet
An
unsolved question
A
brief English version
L'alphabet
phrygien
La
version courte
L'alphabet
phrygien version longue
Un
topo aussi complet que possible sur cette question épineuse
Overview
on Phrygian writing
Example
of phrugian script
Bibliography
Thematic
bibliography
This
external link will bring you to a thematic bibliography on Gordion and Phrygian
archaeology made by the Gordion team. Great for further information.
Complete
bibliography
Up-to-date
in December 2003
Latest
bibliography
The
last publications on Phrygia (3-4 months old)
Short
bibliography
What
you should read first to know more about Phrygia
Religion
in Phrygia - Cybele
The
main and perhaps only deity in ancient Phrygia appears to be the Great Mother,
named Cybele by the Greek and Roman authors. She is only known as the MATAR in
old Phrygia, sometimes qualified by an epithet like Kubileya, this epithet
leading certainly to the later Cybele name.
Her
Functions :
She
is the goddess of the mountains and of wild nature. As such, she is worshipped
in remote and inhospitable parts of the country. Her role is very motherly :
she gives life by the fertility of the crops and welcomes the dead in her
earthly breast. She also protects mankind from the beast and is a poliad
goddess, the guardian of the cities.
Her
paredros :
She
is sometimes represented with a young man, Attis, who is her son and her lover
in the same time. He betrays the goddess who emasculates him in a crisis of
mania (=fury), then he dies. The succession of his death and rebirth symbolizes
the eternal rebirth of nature. This story became famous in the later cult. This
companion doesn’t exist in the 8-6th c. BC and only appears in later images.
Her
representation :
Her
typical representation in Phrygia is in the figuration of a building’s façade,
standing in the doorway. The façade itself can be related to the rock-cut
monuments of the Highlands of Phrygia. She is wearing a belted long dress, a
head polos (high cylindrical hat), and a veil covering the whole body. In
Phrygia, her usual attributes are the bird of prey and a small vase. Lions are
sometimes related to her, in a aggressive but tamed manner. Her older
representation has nothing to do with the later Agoracritos version of Cybele,
showing her seated on a throne, her hand resting on the neck of a perfectly
still lion and the other holding a tympanon (= big circular drum), giving a
much stiffer and matronal idea of the goddess.
Her
cult :
We
have no Phrygian written sources and archaeology doesn’t give much information
on cult. According to Greek authors of the 5th c. , we can say that the cult
took place at night, in the mountains. Music was performed by percussion
instruments, songs and screams, all likely to provoke mania. Dances strengthens
this ecstatic and orgiastic aspect.
For
French speakers, consult:
• Phrygian.com's religion article
• Cybele, an article from the
Encyclopedia Universalis
Rock-cut
monuments
These
monuments are mainly located in the highlands of Phrygia, between Afyon,
Eskisehir et Kütahya.
The rock-cut
façades are the most impressing form of this kind of monuments. The Midas
Monument, in the City of Midas, is the perfect example. Measuring 16m high,
with the door as focus point, its geometrical decoration, elaborate gable et
now corroded acroterion shows a magnificent image of the typical organization
of these monuments. They are generally considered as having a religious aim, as
an open-air shrine of the Mother.
The rock-cut
thrones are located on top of the acropolis in the Highlands of Phrygia. Some
steps lead to a large bench, sometimes decorated with circular forms, usually
anthropomorphic. Their function is not yet clear but is perhaps religious.
Sursa: MARIAN ILIE
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