Phrygians (Turkey)

Phrygians (Turkey)

Around 1200 B.C., a wave of migration lasting about 400 years moved from the Balkans towards Anatolia: the Thracian migrations.
These migrations were carried out by migrants belonging to Thracian tribes, including the Mysians, Bithynians, and Phrygians. Among these, the Phrygians were more influential than the other migrants.
According to Herodotus, who provides the earliest information about the Phrygians, they came to Anatolia from Macedonia and Thrace, and when they lived in western Macedonia, they were known as the Brigians. After settling in Anatolia, they adopted the name Phrygians. They began to establish themselves politically from the 8th century B.C. onward, with their capital at Gordion. Their territory extended from Afyon in the west to the Cappadocia region in the east. Their important centers included Gordion, Ancyra, Pessinus, Kelainai, Aizanoi, and the city of Midas.
Their neighbors were Bithynia, Galatia, Mysia, Pisidia, Lydia, and Cappadocia. In recent years, artifacts found in the Elmalı region of Antalya suggest that the southern borders of Phrygia extended to this area.
Phrygia was rich in natural resources, particularly in terms of forest cover. The abundance of natural resources led to a thriving timber trade, and as a result, furniture-making in Phrygia developed significantly. With ample wood available, the Phrygians built their houses and tombs from timber. The tradition of using wood in furniture and decoration can also be seen in the wooden stool found in the tomb of King Midas.
They had advanced metalworking. Goblets (omphaloi), fibulae, and bowls with spool handles—a completely Phrygian invention—were among their primary export goods. They also produced bronze bowls, bronze belts, fibulae, and cauldrons in large quantities.
Sepiolite (meerschaum), a mineral found in the region, was used to adorn the crowns of kings and is still mined in Eskişehir today. In addition to sepiolite, crystal, onyx, and mica were also among the minerals found in Phrygia.
The Phrygians had a polytheistic religion. Their main goddess was Matar Kubile (Kubaba). They built sacred monuments in mountainous areas and dedicated them to their goddesses. These temples were represented by rock carvings.

They were also advanced in weaving. They had carpets known as "tapetes." The presence of numerous weaving looms and weights in structures dating back to 844 B.C. shows how developed their weaving was.
The city of Gordion, the capital of Phrygia, was named after King Gordias. Gordias' son was the famous King Midas with the donkey ears. Another important structure characterizing the Phrygians were the tumuli (burial mounds).
There are about 90 tumuli around Gordion. These burial chambers, made of wood and covered with mounds of earth, suggest that the tradition of tumuli—which had not been seen in Anatolia before—might have been brought by the Phrygians from Europe. Among the grave goods found in the tumuli, wooden furniture pieces and fibulae are commonly found.
Although Phrygian has not been fully deciphered, it is an Indo-European language.

Author: Archaeologist Asiye Kaya

İstanbul Unversity

Türkiye