A mythical character named Midas was immortalized in a Turkish place called Yazilikaya. Many people think that the inscription found there is dedicated to this mythical king and his legendary "golden touch", but this is only because the deity associated with the monument to Midas is usually known by another name.
Yazilikaya is a village located in the northwestern Turkish province of Eskisehir. It is distinguished by its antique artifacts of the Phrygian period, namely, the rock-mark with the mention of the name Midas. Thus, these historical finds are sometimes called Midas Kenti (which translates as "City of Midas"), once this location was even considered the tomb of the legendary king.
Literally translated, Yazılıkaya is "painted rock", which is a direct reference to its famous inscriptions. According to historical research, this place was first inhabited around the 8th century BC by people who went down in history as the Phrygians. According to the Greek Herodotus, the Phrygians were not natives of Anatolia, but rather Phrygian brigs who crossed the Dardanelles and settled in Anatolia.
Herodotus's statement is consistent with the data available to modern historians, who proved that the Phrygian language has much in common with the languages of the south of the Balkan Peninsula. The Phrygians founded their capital at Gordion.
Yazylykaya became an authoritative religious center. This statement is supported by the presence of a large number of monumental structures. The most famous of these is the Midas Monument, which got its name from the presence of the name in the inscription on the upper left of the facade. Most people know Midas for the legend that tells how he, with the help of his touch, turned everything he touched into gold.
Phrygian inscription.
In fact, Midas on the inscription is the name of Cybele, the Phrygian goddess who is considered the mother of the gods. Also, what was originally thought to be the tomb of the legendary King Midas was actually the altar of the goddess. This monument dates back to the 8th century BC or even older. There is a niche in the sanctuary in which a statue of Cybele could be placed during religious ceremonies.
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Another interesting feature of the village is its rocky necropolis, which is located south of the monument with the inscription "Midas". Several Phrygian tombs can be found in the area. The ancient location also had an acropolis. Since it was at the top of a hill, it was possible to view the entire area from it.
Cybele on the throne.
At about the end of the 4th century BC, the area was abandoned. The lingual was forgotten until it was rediscovered in the 19th century. In 1800, Colonel William Martin Leek stumbled upon the site by accident during a military mission that took him to travel from Istanbul to Egypt. However, at the end of the 19th century, Yazilikaya became known as the city of Midas. This name was first given to her by William M. Ramsay, a Scottish archaeologist.
The first regular archaeological work in Yazilikai began only in 1936 and was carried out by the French Archaeological Institute in Istanbul. They continued until 1939, when World War II broke out. During this time, several significant discoveries were made, including stone reliefs and water cisterns. After the war, research was resumed. Today this place is a subject of pilgrimage for numerous tourists.
Pavel Romanutenko