History of Phrygia Valley
The Phrygian civilisation was founded in the 9th century BC in the Afyon-Eskişehir-Kütahya regions of Anatolia and existed only in this region in the history of the world. This civilisation, which dates back approximately 3000 years to the Old Bronze Age, became a powerful state during the reign of King Midas, which lasted 500 years.
The Phrygians took advantage of the dense tuff rocks of the region and built living spaces, tombs, chapels and castles; these structures have survived to the present day. In addition, they created a unique culture with structures such as cult tombs containing the most interesting and valuable artefacts of the world, tomb monuments, temples made of processed rock blocks and lion reliefs belonging to the cult of the Mother Goddess Cybele.
Even today, the region attracts attention with its wind-shaped cliffs and fairy chimneys reminiscent of Cappadocia. The discovery of Phrygia is best done in spring, autumn and summer periods, especially August is the best time for camping. For those who want to camp in winter, it is cold at night due to the harsh continental climate conditions, but this is possible with winter camping equipment.
Ayazini Town and its surroundings, where the artefacts are most dense, are recommended as the starting point of trip planning. In this town, there are social facilities and places where you can taste local flavours. In addition, Gazlıgöl Thermal Region, which is close to the Phrygian region and the subject of the legends of King Midas, is famous for its healing thermal waters that can be preferred for accommodation and can turn your cultural trip into a thermal pleasure.
The Phrygian lands, which were enriched during the Roman and Byzantine periods, draw attention with tuff rock settlements carved by human hands such as Metropolis, Bin İnler, Pazarcık, Ornaş; defence structures such as Avdalaz, Demirli, Bayramaliler, Asar Kale; tomb rooms such as Selimiye, Alanören, Devrent, Elicek; religious buildings such as Kırkinler and underground settlements such as Yedikapılar. This rich heritage reinforces the important place of Phrygia on the stage of history.
Faith in Phrygians
In Phrygia, as in other ancient civilisations, religious values were different from those of today. Researches show the existence of a first goddess named Matar, which means ‘Mother’ in Turkish and ‘Mother’ in English, and which occupied an important place among the beliefs of the Phrygians. Phrygians, as in other religions, consecrated Goddess Matar in a temple carved among the rocks. The belief in the Mother Goddess, symbolising fertility and fertility, was adopted by the Phrygians.
Cybele, an important religious cult in Anatolia and frequently mentioned in Phrygian religion, was called Kybele by the Greeks. This goddess is a reflection of Kubaba, one of the oldest goddesses of Anatolia. Kybele, believed to live in the mountains, is considered the protector of young girls, nature, cities, abundance and agriculture.
The area between Eskişehir and Afyonkarahisar was considered sacred by the Phrygians. Many rock monuments in this region are dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The Phrygians placed their dead inside the rocks, which they regarded as the home of the goddess, and decorated and blessed these burial chambers with lion figures, the symbol of the goddess.
Attis, another important figure in Phrygian mythology, was the lover of Cybele. However, Attis was in love with Sagaratis, the nymph of the Sakarya River. This may point to the first use of the phrase ‘the one I love is different, the one I love is different’. It is a dramatic story that Cybele, in a fit of jealousy, destroyed the nymph Sagaratis and this event drove Attis mad.
In addition to this belief system, there is also interesting information about the Phrygians' rituals and burial rituals related to the afterlife and the way they linked life to the afterlife. In particular, the fact that they buried their dead in places they considered sacred can be seen as a reflection of this belief.
Phrygian Culture
Phrygians, who emerged around 750 BC, first came to Anatolia by crossing Thrace and the Straits. The area where they settled was called Phrygia. Before the Phrygians settled in Anatolia, they lived in a place called Bitinya on the western shores of the Black Sea, so they used the name Briges. Later, they started to live in Kütahya, Eskişehir, Afyon, Ankara and Sakarya regions.
The Phrygian-Cimmerian war towards 750 BC caused the end of the Phrygians. As a result of this war, the Phrygian region suffered a great destruction. Yazılıkaya - Midas Monument, Small Yazılıkaya, Unfinished Monument, Areyastis Monument, Bahşeyiş Monument, Aslantaş, Yılantaş, Maltaş, Aslankaya, Burmeç, Büyük and Küçük Kapıkaya Monuments were among the artefacts of the Phrygians. In addition, Phrygians; ancient roads, fairy chimneys, carved rock churches, rock tombs, burial chambers and temples have survived to the present day. In addition to the works that the Phrygians bequeathed to us, they also had music, handicrafts, weaving, wood and metalworking.
Gordion, known as the capital of Phrygia, is named after Gordios, the first king of the Phrygians. Gordios was elected king because he was the first person to come to the region with his ox.
The Phrygian civilisation, whose goddess Cybele and king Gordios, still maintains its charm in our lands.
Life and Art in Phrygians
Although the Phrygians were of Indo-European origin, they remained under Hellenic and Hittite influences and became a unique and Anatolian-dominated society. Their language is Phrygian. Historian Kazım Mirşan stated that the Phrygians were not a tribe of Indo-European origin, but a tribe of Early-Turkic (Proto-Turkic) origin and that the script they used was in the Turkish script type used in Russia and Central Asia.
The Phrygians have managed to be one of the important communities that have managed to gain a privileged place in the history of civilisation. The metal and woodworking and weaving works of the Phrygians, which were appreciated in the Hellenic market, were imitated by the masters in the Hellenic market. In addition to these, Hellenes were also influenced by the Phrygians in the field of music. During the excavations, it was determined that the Phrygians had important knowledge in the fields of ceramics, geometric patterns, animal figures, wood and metal works, coloured relief works and temple architecture. The artefacts found during the excavations are collectively located in the Phrygian valley between Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Eskişehir.
The livelihoods of the Phrygians were animal husbandry and agriculture, and they had strict laws on this subject. The penalty for slaughtering oxen and breaking the plough was death. In addition, the penalty for damaging cultivated land was also severe. One of the primitive agricultural tools of Eskisehir for a period of time, which is an important centre in Turkey in the production of heifer is due to the reason why the Phrygians live in this region.
Food Culture in Phrygians
Phrygians have also been a community that attracts attention with its food culture. The information obtained with the Phrygian food culture was reached in 1954 by Rodney S. Young, who came to the country from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He dug a tunnel to the Phrygian tombs called tumulus. The grave reached in the excavated graves had the biggest tumulus feature. Piles of skeletons, bowls and dishes were found inside.
2700 years ago, the remains of drinks and food were analysed in vessels thought to be from the funeral feast of King Midas. The characteristics of these foods were identified as cereals, meat, pulses, spices and oils. It was concluded that the participants of the feast had a drink made of barley beer, grape wine and mead. As a meal, it was concluded that they ate lentil stew with goat and lamb meat and plenty of spices. The meat was first rested with honey, wine, olive oil, onion, spices such as thyme, cumin, cumin, fennel, aniseed, and then cooked over an open fire and then mixed with lentil stew. The gluconic acid honey, tartaric acid wine, oleic acid olive oil were used in abundance at that time.