Gordion - ancient city at the crossroads of great empires of the East and West

(Patria) - The archaeological site of Gordion in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held two days ago in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Gordion was registered as the 20th Turkish heritage site included in the world list.

The UNESCO Convention describes the ancient city of Gordion as a "multi-layered ancient settlement, encompassing the remains of the ancient capital of Phrygia, an Iron Age independent kingdom".

Gordion is one of the most important historical centers in the ancient Middle East.

"Archaeological excavations and research at the site have uncovered a wealth of remains documenting construction techniques, spatial arrangements, defensive structures, and inhumation practices that shed light on Phrygian culture and economy," states UNESCO.

A place of myths and legends

The ancient city of Gordion, located in the Polatlı district of Ankara, is an outstanding testament to the richness of civilizations that have left their mark on Anatolian lands.

Due to its location, Gordion was a key crossroads between East and West, at the intersection of great empires in the East - Assyrians, Hittites, and Babylonians, and Greeks and Romans from the West. Gordion contains evidence from the Early Bronze Age (around 2,500 BC).

The uninterrupted human habitation in and around the ancient city for 4,500 years places Gordion among the rare areas in the world with the longest history of continuous settlement.

The site's appeal to various civilizations is attributed to its strategic location along Anatolia's significant trade routes, abundant water supply from the Sangarios River (modern-day Sakarya), and vast fertile land suitable for cultivation.
Along the Phrygian path...

Gordion was the political and cultural capital of Phrygia, which rose with the collapse of the Hittite Empire in the 12th century BC.

The Phrygians settled in a wide area in Anatolian lands, covering present-day provinces of Ankara, Afyonkarahisar, Eskişehir, and Kütahya. The Phrygian Valley was a large region that now contains ancient ruins.

The monumental structures of the Phrygian period left the most significant mark on Gordion's landscape. The burial mounds of the city rulers and stone fortifications demonstrate the power and authority of the Phrygian elite.

This place was once ruled by King Midas, mythologically "cursed with the golden touch." His tomb in Gordion is the third-largest burial mound, and the burial chamber within it is the oldest wooden structure in the world.

Gordion is also associated with the mythological Gordian Knot – legend has it that the knot was believed to be untied by the future conqueror of Asia. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Alexander the Great visited Gordion.

Today, the Gordion Museum houses the most important archaeological finds from this site. Among the artifacts are handmade pottery from the Early Iron Age, iron tools from the Early Phrygian period, and ancient tableware and imported goods.

Visitors can also see samples of seals and coins found in Gordion.
Turkish Heritage Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List:

1. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia

2. Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği

3. Historic Areas of Istanbul

4. Hattusha: Hittite Capital

5. Nemrut Dağ

6. Hierapolis-Pamukkale

7. Xanthos-Letoon

8. City of Safranbolu

9. Archaeological Site of Troy

10. Selimiye Mosque and its Complex

11. Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük

12. Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire

13. Pergamon and its Multi-layered Cultural Landscape

14. Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape

15. Ephesus

16. Archaeological Site of Ani

17. Aphrodisias

18. Göbekli Tepe

19. Arslantepe Mound

20. Gordion

21. Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia.