Gordion
Yassıhöyük · Gordium · Yassı Höyük
EB to Medieval (c.3000 BCE–1200 CE; peak Phrygia 900–600 BCE)·Hittite → Phrygian (Midas) → Persian → Galatian → Roman·🇹🇷 Ankara Province, Sakarya Valley, Turkey
Wikipedia contributors · CC (see file page)
About
About Gordion
Gordion is the Phrygian capital (Yassıhöyük) — Midas's city (Midas Mound tumulus 53 m), terraced citadel with Phrygian Gate (Ashlar), and 100-tumulus necropolis including Midas Tumulus (c.740 BCE, oldest standing wooden building). Rodney Young/Mellink excavations; UNESCO World Heritage 2023. Destruction c.800 BCE (Cimmerian) preserves Citadel fire.
Why it mattersPhrygian capital; Midas Tumulus oldest wood building; UNESCO 2023.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Which mound is Midas's 740 vs later Gordian?
Theories
- 01Phrygian–Greek interaction
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3000 BCE
- Period
- EB to Medieval (c.3000 BCE–1200 CE; peak Phrygia 900–600 BCE)
- Culture
- Hittite → Phrygian (Midas) → Persian → Galatian → Roman
- Builders
- Phrygian kings (Midas/Gordios)
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.1200 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1900 (Körte) / 1950 (Young)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.740 BCE
Midas Tumulus built (MM1) — timber chamber
c.800 BCE
Citadel destruction burn (Cimmerian?) preserves timber
1950
Rodney Young finds Midas tomb intact
2023
UNESCO World Heritage inscribed (2780, criteria i,iii,iv)
On the ground
Structures & features
39.6500° N · 31.9900° E · 800 m · 3 mapped features
- Midas Tumulus (MM1) Timber Chamber (c.740 BCE)tumulus53-m tumulus with intact cedar/juniper log chamber — oldest standing wooden building, bronze vessels39.6540° N · 31.9950° E
- Phrygian Citadel Gate and Terrace ComplexfortificationPhrygian ashlar gate with timber-laced mudbrick terrace and Early Phrygian ramp39.6503° N · 31.9902° E
- Outer Tumulus Field (100 mounds) and Destruction Levelnecropolis100 Phrygian tumuli and 800 BCE burn destruction with ivory furniture39.6494° N · 31.9895° E
Gallery