18 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Phrygian Royal Tomb Unearthed in Ancient City of Gordion, Türkiye: A Landmark Discovery

In a major archaeological breakthrough, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery of a wooden burial chamber in the ancient city of Gordion, believed to belong to a member of the Phrygian royal family. During a press briefing at the site, Ersoy confirmed the unearthing of 88 remarkably preserved metal artifacts, including large bronze cauldrons and vessels affixed with iron nails on the tomb’s walls.

“A wooden-constructed tomb chamber has been brought to light,” said Ersoy. “This group of artifacts is the most substantial since the earlier discoveries in the Midas Tumulus. Based on these finds, we estimate that the individual buried here may have belonged to the royal family associated with Gordios and Midas.”

This monumental discovery not only reaffirms Gordion’s royal heritage but also brings global attention to one of the world’s most important ancient cities, now a newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gordion: Capital of the Phrygians and Cradle of Myths

Located near Yassıhöyük village in Ankara’s Polatlı district, Gordion served as the political and cultural heart of the Phrygian civilization—a kingdom closely linked to the legendary King Midas. Officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, Gordion is celebrated for its continuous settlement since 2500 BC and its pivotal role in early Anatolian history.

The Midas Mound Tumulus, one of the largest in Anatolia, is a centerpiece of the site and was originally constructed by King Midas for his father, possibly King Gordios. According to UNESCO, the intact wooden tomb beneath it “has no parallel anywhere in the world.”

Ongoing Excavations Reveal Rich Royal Traditions

The latest find comes from Tumulus T26, excavated under the leadership of Professor Süleyman Yücel Şenyurt of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University. This 121-day project has brought new insights into Phrygian burial customs, daily life, and elite craftsmanship.

Plans are underway to exhibit the wooden chamber and its contents at the Gordion Museum by the end of 2025. So far, 47 artifacts have undergone restoration and were unveiled during the minister’s announcement.

Photos of artifacts unearthed from Tumulus T26 in the ancient city of Gordion, Ankara, Türkiye, June 4, 2025. Credit: AA
Photos of artifacts unearthed from Tumulus T26 in the ancient city of Gordion, Ankara, Türkiye, June 4, 2025. Credit: AA

A City That Rivals Athens and Rome

Described by scholars as one of the most significant urban centers of the ancient world, Gordion stands alongside Athens, Rome, Babylon, and Hattusa. It was a hub of artistic, architectural, and technological innovation, offering some of the earliest examples of stone mosaics, expert-level carpentry, and textile craftsmanship.

According to Professor Brian Rose, head of excavations from the University of Pennsylvania, Gordion’s strategic position along key trade routes and fertile lands contributed to its long-standing influence.

The Legend of the Gordian Knot Lives On

No discussion of Gordion would be complete without mention of the Gordian Knot, the legendary puzzle said to guarantee dominion over Asia to whoever could untie it. In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great visited Gordion and allegedly sliced through the Gordian Knot—a prophetic puzzle promising rule over Asia to whoever could untie it. This legendary act gave birth to the expression “cutting the Gordian knot,” still used today to describe bold solutions to complex problems.

Recent excavations suggest the knot’s actual location may have been in Gordion’s Mosaic Building, where archaeologists recently found a gold-and-ivory sphinx, deepening the city’s mystical aura.

Photos of artifacts unearthed from Tumulus T26 in the ancient city of Gordion, Ankara, Türkiye, June 4, 2025. Credit: AA
Photos of artifacts unearthed from Tumulus T26 in the ancient city of Gordion, Ankara, Türkiye, June 4, 2025. Credit: AA

Preserving the Legacy of King Midas

While the legend of the “golden touch” remains symbolic, Professor Rose offers a historical explanation: elite garments of the Phrygian aristocracy may have appeared golden due to a pigment called goethite, possibly inspiring the myth.

Today, Gordion continues to reveal its secrets, offering invaluable insights into a civilization that once linked East and West, myth and reality.

Cover Image Credit: Public Domain

Related Articles

From Türkiye to Iraq: Returning 6,000-Year-Old Cuneiform Tablets That Unlock Ancient Mesopotamia

2 July 2025

2 July 2025

Türkiye has made a significant contribution to cultural diplomacy and historical justice by returning six ancient cuneiform clay tablets to...

Bronze age settlement found under in Swiss lake

23 April 2021

23 April 2021

For the first time, archaeologists discovered traces of a Bronze Age lakeside village beneath the surface of Lake Lucerne. The...

An architectural gem from the medieval monastery of Posa, Germany

26 July 2023

26 July 2023

Archaeological excavations have been taking place on the Posaer Berg (Posa Hill) near Zeitz (Burgenland) every year since 2017. They...

Largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered in Britain illuminates ‘Dark Ages’

16 June 2022

16 June 2022

Archaeologists working on HS2 (the purpose-built high-speed railway line) have discovered a rich Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, where almost...

KIŠIB: A Digital Archive From 80,000 Mesopotamian Seals is Being Created

19 December 2024

19 December 2024

Over the next 16 years, a research team from the Institute for Near Eastern Archaeology at the Free University of...

Advanced imaging techniques reveal secrets of sealed ancient Egyptian animal coffins

21 April 2023

21 April 2023

Researchers from the British Museum have gained valuable insight into the contents of six sealed ancient Egyptian animal coffins using...

Extraordinary discovery in France: An unlooted 1800-year-old Roman Sarcophagus discovered

27 September 2023

27 September 2023

Archaeologists from France’s National Institute of Preventive Archeology (INRAP) have unearthed an unlooted ancient stone sarcophagus in the vast ancient...

Polish archaeologists have uncovered nine crocodile heads within ancient Egyptian tombs of nobles

25 December 2022

25 December 2022

Polish archaeologists excavating the Theban Necropolis in Egypt discovered nine crocodile heads hidden inside two tombs belonging to high-ranking nobles....

A Gold Belt Weighing 432 Grams Unearthed During Excavations in Ani Ruins is on Display

2 July 2024

2 July 2024

The gold belt discovered 22 years ago during excavations in the ancient city of Ani, often referred to as the...

Medieval Hub of Arts & Crafts Center discovered in Nola: The discovery could rewrite the history of early medieval Nola

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

On the outskirts of Nola, a district from the early Middle Ages has been discovered. According to the Soprintendenza Archeologia,...

Ancient Tombs and 2-Meter Sarcophagus with Hieroglyphics Unearthed Near Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan

11 July 2025

11 July 2025

A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological team has unearthed a significant collection of ancient rock-cut tombs near the Aga Khan Mausoleum on...

4,000-year-old Snake-Shaped Pottery Handle Found in Taiwan

20 February 2024

20 February 2024

National Tsing Hua University archaeologists in Taiwan have discovered a snake-shaped pottery handle dating back approximately 4000 years. Researchers uncovered...

Ancient Celtic Bone Pen Found in Southern Germany

14 December 2024

14 December 2024

From August to October this year, the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (LAD) in the Stuttgart Regional Council...

5500-year-old city gate unearthed in Israel -the earliest known in the Land of Israel-

15 August 2023

15 August 2023

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday that archaeologists have discovered the earliest known ancient gate in the land of...

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: The Dark Age of Ancient Scrolls Ends

2 May 2025

2 May 2025

Artificial intelligence, often envisioned for future applications, is now playing a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of the past....