History Phrygians

1 history

1.1 migration
1.2 8th 7th centuries
1.3 croesus lydian empire
1.4 post-state history

history

location of phrygia in anatolia


migration

after collapse of hittite empire @ beginning of twelfth century bc, political vacuum in central-western anatolia filled wave of indo-european migrants , sea peoples , including phrygians, established kingdom capital @ gordium. presently unknown whether phrygians actively involved in collapse of hittite capital hattusa or whether moved vacuum left collapse of hittite hegemony. so-called handmade knobbed ware found archaeologists @ sites period in western anatolia. according greek mythographers, first phrygian midas had been king of moschi (mushki), known bryges (brigi) in western part of archaic thrace.

though migration theory still defended many modern historians, archaeologists have abandoned migration hypothesis regarding origin of phrygians due lack substantial archeological evidence, migration theory resting on accounts of herodotus , xanthus.

phrygian funeral ceremony in gordium, imagined after scene gordion furniture , wooden artifacts.


8th 7th centuries

assyrian sources 8th century bc speak of king mita of mushki, identified king midas of phrygia. assyrian inscription records mita ally of sargon of assyria in 709 bc. distinctive phrygian pottery called polished ware appears in 8th century bc. phrygians founded powerful kingdom lasted until lydian ascendancy (7th century bc). under kings alternately named gordias , midas, independent phrygian kingdom of 8th , 7th centuries bc maintained close trade contacts neighbours in east , greeks in west. phrygia seems have been able co-exist whatever power dominant in eastern anatolia @ time.

detail reconstruction of phrygian building @ pararli, turkey, seventh sixth century bc; museum of anatolian civilizations, ankara: griffin, sphinx , 2 centaurs shown.

the invasion of anatolia in late 8th century bc 7th century bc cimmerians prove fatal independent phrygia. cimmerian pressure , attacks culminated in suicide of last king, midas, according legend. gordium fell cimmerians in 696 bc , sacked , burnt, reported later herodotus.

a series of digs have opened gordium 1 of turkey s revealing archeological sites. excavations confirm violent destruction of gordion around 675 bc. tomb of midas period, popularly identified tomb of midas revealed wooden structure buried under vast tumulus, containing grave goods, coffin, furniture, , food offerings (archaeological museum, ankara). gordium site contains considerable later building program, perhaps alyattes, lydian king, in 6th century bc.

tomb @ ‘midas city’, near eskişehir (sixth century bc)

minor phrygian kingdoms continued exist after end of phrygian empire, , phrygian art , culture continued flourish. cimmerian people stayed in anatolia not appear have created kingdom of own. lydians repulsed cimmerians in 620s, , phrygia subsumed short-lived lydian empire. eastern part of former phrygian empire fell hands of medes in 585 bc.

phrygian costumes


croesus lydian empire

under proverbially rich king croesus (reigned 560–546 bc), phrygia remained part of lydian empire extended east halys river. there may echo of strife lydia , perhaps veiled reference royal hostages, in legend of twice-unlucky adrastus, son of king gordias queen, eurynome. accidentally killed brother , exiled himself lydia, king croesus welcomed him. once again, adrastus accidentally killed croesus son , committed suicide.

post-state history

lydian croesus conquered cyrus in 546 bc, , phrygia passed under persian dominion. after darius became persian emperor in 521 bc, remade ancient trade route persian royal road , instituted administrative reforms included setting satrapies (provinces). in 5th century, phrygia made 2 administrative provinces, of hellespontine phrygia (or lesser phrygia), provincial capital established @ dascylium, , province of greater phrygia.

under persian rule, phrygians seem have lost intellectual acuity , independence. phrygians became stereotyped among later greeks , romans passive , dull. phrygians remained subjects hellenistic kingdoms ruled area , later roman empire, phrygians retained culture , language until became extinct in 5th century.