The treasures of Gordion

At the beginning of the ninth century before Christ a powerful Phrygian state was established in Central Anatolia. The capital city of this state was Gordion, named after King Gordios. According to legend the Phrygian King died before producing an their to take over his throne. The astrologers got together and decided that they would choose as king the first man to enter the city gates at sunrise the following morning. The next morning a farmer called Gordios was entering the city with his ox cart. As soon as he passed through the gate he was lifted up and seated on the throne. After getting over his first confusion Gordios proved to be a good king and extended the borders of the state. His son Midas succeeded him to the throne. The life of Midas is interwoven with legend. He wished that everything he touched should turn to gold and when this wish became true became the unhappy donkey eared Midas, Later Gordion became the city where the Macedonian King Alexander the Great spent the winter during his campaign through Asia. The legend of Alexander cutting the knot with his sword also took place in Gordion, and the famous Kings Road passed through the city.

Until the twentieth century the exact location of the city of Gordion was not known, but in 1901 two German railway engineers called the Korte brothers investigated a large mound near the village of Yassihoyuk 29 km. north east of Polatli. They carried out excavations into five of the grave mounds here called Tumuli, and their first findings established that here was the site of the city of Gordion and that the almost one hundred small and large tumuli were the city's graveyard. In 1950 larger scale excavations conducted by Pennsylvania University and Ankara Archaeological Museum began, and after 14 years of continuous work it was established that the city of Gordion had been founded in the second half of the third millennium BC, that it had been inhabited by a series of different peoples before the Phrygians, and that the Phrygians had made the city their capital, surrounded it with walls and built palaces and temples. Findings of value were taken to Ankara Archaeological Museum. Each of the tumuli to the east of the Gordion mound was a depot of antiquities. When they died, kings, members of the royal family and men of state were placed on a bench in a grave room built of wood or stone, valuable objects placed in the room with them as death gifts, then the doors were fitted and the room covered with a mound of soil. The biggest tumulus in Gordion is 53 meters high and 300 meters wide, and the archaeological team decided to open this huge tumulus. First electronic equipment was used to determine the position of the grave room, the an 5O meter long tunnel was dug from the west side of the tumulus. This 5x6 m. grave room made of cedar wood had triangular pediments and no door. The archaeologists were nervous and excited. At any moment the tunnel could cave in, risking the lives of those working in the tunnel. First they strengthened the tunnel with wood and stones. The 50 meters of earth on top of the grave room was temporarily supported with an iron and concrete roof. It only remained to open the grave room. By cutting the thick wood of the roof, a small door just big enough for a man to enter was made, and light and clean air brought inside. The first sight of the room astonished and delighted everyone. Inside laid a 2700 year old treasure hoard. In a corner of the room was a wooden pallet resembling a carved bedstead. On top of it was a skeleton, that of King Midas. In fact this Great Tumulus had been known as the grave of King Midas prior to this. Beside this pallet were nine three legged tables. The wooden parts had rotted away but the lion clawed iron feet remained. The death gifts which had been placed on the tables had fallen to the ground where they lay in disarray. Among them were three bronze cauldrons, 175 bronze cups and bowls, and 173 bronze fibulas or brooches. There were also two wooden screens decorated with carved and inlaid geometric designs. The findings threw iight on the art of the period and constituted a priceless treasury. The Objects were carefully gathered up, and sent to Ankara Archaeology Museum to be cleaned and repaired, before being put on exhibit. These findings were not only valuable in themselves but also because they were the treasure of the legendary King Midas. Experts dated these works at 720-705 BC.

There is a special section in the Ankara Archaeological Museum (now called the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations) where objects from Gordion and the Phrygian period are exhibited. They include Phrygian vases decorated with coloured designs, stone and metal figurines, dishes and ornaments. If you ever go to Gordion you can visit the grave room of the Great Tumulus and the Gordion Museum opposite, where a portion of the treasure is exhibited.

HAGIA SOFIA

The entrance to the museum is at the front of the building. Before entering the museum, the ruins of the second Hagia Sophia found outside in front of the huilding, are worth seeing.

The excavations carried out in front and only to the left of the building, so as not to endanger it, unearthed the remains of the facade of Hagia Sophia built by Theodosius II. The steps and the door of the portico can he seen here, in the great hollow. The roofing material of the portico and other remains of the facade, are found both in the hollow, and in an area a few metres to the north. These architectural pieces bear the characteristics of the 5th century.

The facade of the building has heen reconstructed with finds such as rafters, arches, alcoves, columns and capitals. Carved on the rafter seen in the hollow, is a scene of lambs which, according to Christian iconography, represent the believers. Undoubtedly, the rest of the scene is still buried. Excavations revealed mosaic decorations on the floor but these have heen removed. Justinian's Hagia Sophia was built on top of these remains. The German professor A.M. Schneider carried out the excavations in 1936.

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