Gordium: The Phrygian capital of legends

by Sibel DORSAN

The Asian Minor, or Anatolia, abounds with ancient cities from pre-historic times. Some of these ancient cities are famous for their legends and myths while others are better known for their archeological ruins which have been retained and brought into daylight by excavations. Gordium is an ancient city, better known for its legends. The city had earned its glorified standing in antiquity thanks to the man it was named after; Gordios, the first king of the Phrygians. However, the city’s most famous king is the legendary Midas, whom the Assyrians referred to as Mita king of the Mushki.

The Phrygians were part of a Balkan (Macedonian) tribe, which migrated into the Anatolian Highland from the Aegean region. Unfortunately, very little is known of their history. The Phrygians established an expanded kingdom in the region. According to historian Herodotus and geographer Strabon, the Phrygians were a European tribe, known as the “Brygians” prior to their migration to Anatolia. Some experts have even asserted that the Phrygians were related to the Celtic people.

According to historians, the Phrygian people most probably arrived in the Anatolian heartland by passing Thrace and the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles. Extensive research has been carried out and revealed that they initially settled in Central Anatolia and over time expanded their kingdom into the depths of Anatolia. Their first temporary settlements had been set up across the region which today, are the towns of Eskişehir, Afyon, Ankara and where the Sakarya valley is located. After establishing themselves the Phrygians expanded their kingdom and inhabited a region stretching from modern-day Kütahya, Kızılırmak and Ankara to Denizli.

Although the Phrygians were originally an Indo-European tribe, they were nevertheless able to quickly establish a unique, Anatolian culture of their own and even managed to found their first organized political unit around 750 BC. The Phrygian civilization reached its zenith under King Midas (725-695/675 BC) and was destroyed at the hands of the Cimmerians which emigrated from the Caucasus. Minor Phrygian kingdoms continued to exist after the end of the Phrygian empire all of which were later subsumed into the Lydian empire. After Phrygia ceased to exist on the map, the Phrygian art and culture continued to flourish under the influence of the Greeks and Romans.

Gordian Knot

Gordium, (modern Yassihöyük) the capital of ancient Phrygia and a center of power under king Midas, is about 18 km northwest of the Polatlı district located 90 km southwest of modern Ankara. The city, which came under attack by Cimmerian invaders at the beginning of the 7th century BC, was subject to raids from Persian invaders starting in the midst of the 6th century BC which lasted uninterruptedly until the time of Alexander the Great. Gordium is famous for its legend of the Gordian Knot . It was prophesied that the one to untie the knot would become the king of Asia.

According to the legend, an ox-cart which once belonged to the first Phrygian king Gordias, was tied to a post inside a temple with an intricate knot of cornel bark. Alexander the Great, upon his arrival in Gordium, attempted to untie the knot but when he could find no end to the knot, in a rush of rage, he sliced the knot in half with a stroke of his sword, and went on his Asian conquest. Wise men have proposed that his impatience to untie the knot was the cause of his untimely death at the age of 33 caused by a mysterious illness before he had the chance to conquer Asia.

The wealthiest king of his time

The first thing which comes to one’s mind when the name of the Phrygian people is uttered is the myth about the kingdom’s legendary ruler Midas, whose touch turned everything into gold and who had the ears of a donkey.    

According to Arianos the historian, the Phrygian King Gordius married a woman from Thelmessos (modern day Fethiye) who bore him a son by the name of Midas. In his later years the fame of Midas would extend the boundaries of his rule after becoming a king by marrying the queen of Kyme, today’s Aliağa, located in Western Anatolia. Many fascinating tales have been told regarding the life and death of King Midas, the legendary king.

According to one of the two most well known legends about him; once Midas’ men found Silenos, foster father and old schoolmaster of Dionysus, the god of wine, wandering in Midas’ rose garden and took him to their king. Midas recognized him, and treated him hospitably, entertaining him for ten days and nights with politeness. On the eleventh day he brought Silenos back to Dionysus. Dionysus was so delighted to have reunited with Silenos, he offered Midas his choice of whatever reward he wanted. Midas asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. Dionysus consented, though he couldn’t help laughing when he thought of what Midas would do at dinner time. Midas at first rejoiced in his new power but then quickly understood how folly his choice was when he sat down at the dinner table and found that his bread, meat and wine turned to gold and became inedible. Midas was also deeply saddened when his beloved daughter turned into a statue as well. Upset, Midas strove to divest himself of his power. He prayed to Dionysus, begging to be delivered from starvation. Dionysus heard and consented; he told Midas to wash in the river Pactolus. He did so, and when he touched the waters, the power passed into the river, and the river sands became changed into gold. Legend has it that those who look at the river in which Midas washed today can see golden sand particles in the water.

Secret of the long donkey ears

A second legend which has been transferred from antiquity to our day explains how the asymmetry in Midas’ ears, one of which was above the other one, caused by a rare congenital disfigurement has been proven by recent scientific research conducted on his skull at the Hacettepe University Hospital. Medical research attempted to establish how this bizarre disfigurement came about and explains why Midas was always insistent on hiding the ugliness of his ears under a headdress so that his people who exchanged much gossip about the secret ears would never see them.

According to the myth, one day a shepherd named Marsyas, found a flute, thrown out by the Goddess Athena who realized that she looked ugly when playing the instrument. Marsyas learned to play the flute with great skill and the extent of his talent reached Apollo, the god of the lyre. Apollo, displeased by the new musical talent challenged him to a trial of skill. Tmolus, the mountain-god, Midas and some muses were chosen as umpires. Marsyas blew on his pipes, and with his rustic melody gave great satisfaction to everyone, while receiving much applause and accolade from the audience. Apollo then struck the strings of his lyre. Tmolus at once awarded the victory to Apollo, and all those in the jury apart from Midas, agreed with the judgment. Angered by Midas’ dissent, Apollo killed Marsyas and turned Midas’ ears into those of a donkey, while seeing to it that Midas would also suffer the infliction of not being able to hear properly.

Midas attempted to hide his misfortune with an ample turban or headdress but his hairdresser of course knew the secret. The hairdresser was ordered not to mention the state of his ears but found it very hard to remain loyal to his word. He dug a hole in the ground, whispered the story into it, and covered the hole up. A thick bed of reeds sprang up in the meadow, and began whispering the story saying, “King Midas has donkey's ears”. Midas’ secret was thus revealed and everybody found out much to his dismay.

This Phrygian myth has inspired a play written by Güngör Dilmen called “Midas’ Ears” and the opera “King Midas” composed by Ferit Tüzün.

Anatolian Pyramids

Many tales exist about the death of King Midas telling of his suicide after drinking bull`s blood upon seeing the state of devastation and destruction of the city at the end of a Cimmerian attack. Forensic research however has revealed and proven that receiving a hefty blow to the right side of his head killed Midas and his skull had been badly damaged because of this attack. 

The Phrygians buried their beloved king under a mound-shaped tumulus, not much different from the Egyptian pyramids, at a majestic funeral. This tomb referred to as the “Mound of Midas” or  “the Great Tumulus” is the greatest tumulus near Gordium and a fascinating sight with its 300-meter long diameter and 60-meter long height. The tumulus tradition, examples of which can also be found in Albania and Macedonia is thought to have been brought to Anatolia by the Phrygians. Tumuluses can be found across other regions of Phrygian land but most of them (about 100) are located in Gordium. About twenty tumuluses have also been found in Ankara on the hill where Atatürk’s Mausoleum Anıtkabir is now located, in the immediate vicinity of the Middle East Technical University campus and the districts of Ulus and Hacıbayram.

The heroic but anguished adventure of Midas, which started in Thelmessos in antiquity, ends in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, where the skull of Midas is on display.

( DIPLOMAT  -  June 2006  -  Ankara )