Royal Tomb, Relics Belonging to Relative of King Midas Found in Turkey

Archaeologists have found a 2,800-year-old royal tomb located near King Midas’s former home in Turkey, the country’s news agency, Anadolu Ajansı, reported.

Scientists excavating a site in Gordion discovered a royal tomb dating back to the eighth century B.C., which they believe belonged to one of King Midas’s relatives. Within the tomb were dozens of rare relics as well as cremated human bones which belonged to an elite member of the ancient kingdom of Phrygia.

"Based on these artifacts, we estimate that the person in the tomb chamber may be a member of the royal family associated with Gordion and Midas," Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish minister of culture and tourism, said at a news conference on June 3.

Gordion was the capital of the Phrygian kingdom, which reigned from 1200 to 675 B.C. The kingdom’s first ruler, Gordias, was succeeded by his son, Midas, who, in mythology, can make anything he touches turn to gold.

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However, archaeologists are somewhat baffled by Gordion’s timeline, as it was occupied by so many different rules throughout its history. The largest tomb discovered at the site is known as the “Midas Mound” and was erected around 740 B.C. to bury a high-status member of the society, potentially Gordias himself. The most recently discovered tomb is the 47th mound excavated at the site (out of 120 total mounds) and features the oldest cremation yet found at the site.

"This shows the burial customs of the Phrygians," said archaeologist Yücel Şenyurt, co-director of the Gordion excavation. He added that the find "clearly shows us that the person buried here was not an ordinary person." Further analysis of the remains and the relic discovered within the tomb will hopefully identify the deceased's remains , as well as details of their life before passing.

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