Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism has unveiled an exciting archaeological discovery: a newly found tomb dating back to the eighth century BC in the ancient city of Gordion, renowned as the homeland of the legendary King Midas. 

This significant find was made by a team of archaeologists who excavated a royal burial site believed to belong to a family member of Midas in this historic region southwest of Ankara, Turkey, reported Live Science.

The burial mound is remarkable for housing a variety of rare artefacts, alongside the cremated remains of an elite individual associated with the ancient Phrygian kingdom. 

“Based on the unique features of these artefacts, we estimate that the person interred in the tomb chamber may very well be a member of the royal family connected to Gordion and Midas,” stated Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, during a press conference on June 3.. reported Anadolu Ajansı.

Gordion served as the capital of the Phrygian kingdom, which thrived from 1200 to 675 BC. During the eighth century BC, the kingdom was governed initially by Gordias, a figure famously linked to the Gordian knot—an intricate puzzle that Alexander the Great is said to have cut. 

Following Gordias, his son Midas took control, gaining fame from the myth that he could turn anything he touched into gold, a tale that underscores the wealth and power of the Phrygian dynasty.

The most substantial tomb excavated to date at Gordion is referred to as the “Midas Mound.” This impressive burial site, one among more than 120 mounds in the area, was constructed around 740 BC. 

It entombs a high-status individual — potentially Gordias, Midas’s father — who was laid to rest in a log coffin, surrounded by luxurious purple textiles and surrounded by exquisite bronze artefacts, which reflect the artestic craftsmanship of the time.

The newly discovered tomb is the 47th mound excavated at Gordion and boasts impressive dimensions: approximately 26 feet (8 metres) in height and 200 feet (60 meters) in diameter. Yücel Şenyurt, co-director of the Gordion excavation, reported that this mound also contains the oldest cremation discovered at the site thus far, providing invaluable insights into the burial practices and customs of this ancient civilisation.