Day 129: Gordion

It has just been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage, so we guess the transport has not yet set up for travelers yet. Most people drive to here. Coming from Polatli by walk is 17km one way, after walking half of it, we got asked by a taxi and we ended up get on with a reasonable price.

Gordion was the capital of the ancient Phrygia. It was said to be ruled by the legendary King Midas “the man with the golden touch’. The Phrygians dominated the Asia minor about the 9th to the 7th centuries BC. It stands at the intersection of the major east-west trade routes (empires of Assyria, Babylon and the Hittites to the East, and Greece and Lydia to the west).

More than 125 burial mounds encircle Gordion. The largest one is the Midas Mound (believed to be the tomb of Midas), it as tunnelled and a large burial chamber was perfectly preserved inside for nearly 3000 years. It is the oldest wooden building still standing anywhere in the world.Read more