Turkey – Yassihoyuk : The museum of King Gordios and the tomb of King Midas

History

The capitol of the Phrygians, Gordion was originally settled by Thracians in the 12th century BCE. It became a Phrygian city in the 9th century BC, but was destroyed in the Cimmerian invasion. While it was rebuilt, it was conquered by the Lydians, Persians, and Alexander the Great, who cut the famous Gordion knot. The city was eventually destroyed in the third century BC by the Galatians.

Visitor's Guide

There are three sites to see in Gordion, the Midas Tümülüs, Gordion Museum, and Acropolis. Midas Tümülüs is early 8th century BC tomb of a Phrygian king. It's a small wooden structure where the body of and elderly man and some burial offerings were found.   The Gordion Museum across the street contains Bronze Age finds as well as Phrygian objects and mosaics and Hellenistic era antiques. The best pieces are displayed in the Anatolian Museum in Ankara .  The Acropolis is 3 km away from the museum, but little remains visible. The remains of the city's main gate can be seen, but the is not much left of the fortified palace.

Getting  there

From Ankara, take the bus to Polati (they run frequently) and from there, hire a taxi (around 40 lira) to Gordion.  If traveling by car, take the Ayas road until the Gordion sign.