The Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye has presented an exciting archaeological discovery: a newly found tomb that dates back to the eighth century BC. C. In the ancient city of Gordion, famous as the homeland of the legendary king Midas.
This significant finding was made by a team of archaeologists who excavated a real burial site that is believed to belong to a member of the Midas family in this historic region to the southwest of Ankara, Turkey reported, he reported Live science.
The funeral mound is remarkable to host a variety of rare artifacts, along with the cremated remains of an elite individual associated with the ancient refrigeration.
“According to the unique characteristics of these artifacts, we estimate that the person buried in the Tomb Chamber can be a member of the Royal Family connected to Gordion and Midas,” said Mehmet Nuri Erersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, during a press conference on June 3. Reported Anadolu Ajansı.
Gordion served as the capital of the Frigio Kingdom, which prospered from 1200 to 675 a. C. During the seventh century a. C., the kingdom was initially governed by Gordias, a famous figure linked to the Gordian knot, an intricate puzzle that Alexander the Great is said to have cut.
After Gordias, his son Midas took control, gaining fame of the myth that he could turn anything that touched into gold, a story that underlines the wealth and power of the Frigia dynasty.
The most substantial tomb excavated to date in Gordion is known as the “Midas mound”. This impressive burial site, among more than 120 mounds in the area, was built around 740 a. C.
He entails a high status individual, potentially Gordias, Midas’s father, who was buried in a trunk coffin, surrounded by luxurious purple textiles and surrounded by exquisite bronze artifacts, which reflect the artistic crafts of the time.
The newly discovered grave is mound 47 excavated in Gordion and has impressive dimensions: approximately 26 feet (8 meters) high and 200 feet (60 meters) in diameter. Yücel şenyurt, co -director of the excavation of Gordion, reported that this mound also contains the oldest cremation discovered on the site so far, providing invaluable ideas about burial practices and customs of this ancient civilization.
