The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism revealed an exciting archaeological discovery: a newly found tomb dating from the 8th century BC in the ancient city of Gordion, renowned as the homeland of the legendary King Midas.
This significant discovery was made by a team of archaeologists who searched a place of royal burial which belonged to a member of the Midas family in this historic region southwest of Ankara, Turkey, reported Live science.
The funeral mound is remarkable for sheltering a variety of rare artefacts, alongside the incinerated remains of an elite individual associated with the ancient Phrygian kingdom.
“Based on the unique characteristics of these artefacts, we believe that the person buried in the Chamber of Tombs could very well be a member of the royal family linked to Gordion and Midas,” said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, during a press conference on June 3. Anadolu Ajansı.
Gordion was the capital of the Phrygian kingdom, which prospered 1200 to 675 BC. During the 8th century BC, the kingdom was initially governed by Gordias, a figure linked to the Gordian knot – a complex puzzle that Alexander the Great would have cut.
After Gordias, his son Midas took control, winning the fame of the myth that he could transform everything he touched into gold, a story that underlines the richness and power of the Phrygian dynasty.
The most substantial tomb excavated to date in Gordion is called “Midas mound”. This impressive burial site, one of more than 120 mounds in the region, was built around 740 BC.
He hinders an individual with high status – potentially Gordias, the father of Midas – who was buried in a log coffin, surrounded by luxurious purple textiles and surrounded by exquisite bronze artifacts, which reflect artistic crafts of the time.
The newly discovered tomb is the 47th mound excavated in Gordion and has impressive dimensions: about 26 feet (8 meters) in height and 200 feet (60 meters) in diameter. Yücel şenyurt, codirector of Gordion excavation, reported that this mound also contains the oldest discovery cremation on the site so far, providing invaluable information on the practices and customs of burial of this ancient civilization.
