Ancient City of Gordion

Description

The Ancient City of Gordion is a major archaeological site, once the capital of the Phrygian Kingdom, famous for King Midas and the legendary Gordian Knot.

Story

The Ancient City of Gordion lies near the village of Yassıhöyük in the Polatlı district of Ankara, on a slight rise overlooking the Sakarya River. Located at the intersection of old trade routes that reached deep into inner Anatolia, this settlement gained major importance in the first millennium BC as the political and cultural capital of the Phrygian Kingdom. According to legend, the city took its name from King Gordios, while his son Midas became famous for turning everything he touched into gold; the prophecy that whoever solved the Gordian Knot would rule Asia was passed down by storytellers until the time of Alexander the Great. Arriving as a visitor today, you first see the wide plain and the tumuli scattered across it. These earthen mounds are monumental burial structures built for Phrygian kings and nobles. One of the most impressive is the Great Tumulus, probably attributed to King Midas, whose wooden burial chamber is among the oldest and best‑preserved examples of timber architecture in Anatolia. Inside the cool interior of the mound, examining the arrangement of log walls and stone fill gives you clues about both engineering skills and funerary rituals. On the main mound (the höyük), you can see remains of fortification walls, monumental gates, stone‑paved streets and building foundations dating to the Phrygian period. This early urban fabric, in which mudbrick and stone were used together, points to a planned settlement with regular streets and public areas. Objects uncovered during excavations—ceramics, bronze artifacts, fibulae and everyday items—are displayed today in the Gordion Museum. The museum is an integral part of any visit to the site; there you can closely examine Phrygian inscriptions, vessels decorated with stylized animals and ceramics with geometric patterns, gaining a clearer sense of the ancient inhabitants’ aesthetic tastes. Exploring Gordion is not just about looking at piles of stone and earth; the smell carried by the steppe wind, the distant sound of trains and the horizon opening over the Sakarya Valley all add a powerful atmosphere to the experience. In spring and autumn, as you walk among shades of yellow and green, it becomes easier to imagine merchants, soldiers and craftsmen once moving along these same routes. Information panels and walking paths allow you to discover the site at your own pace. Gordion offers a calm yet profound experience, appealing not only to history enthusiasts but also to those who wish to feel the silence of the Anatolian steppe.

Visit Tips

• When visiting the ancient city of Gordion, going early in the morning will help you avoid the crowds and allow you to explore in the cool weather.
• Tours with local guides help you better understand the history and important points of the ancient city, so consider taking a guided tour.
• During your visit, be sure to take a photo of the Gordion Knot; it is one of the most iconic symbols of the region.
• You can enjoy nature by walking around the ancient city and also explore the diverse vegetation in the area.

Photos