Ancient Phrygian Ritual Sites Unearthed at Midas Castle in Turkey!
In an extraordinary discovery at Midas Castle, an ancient site located in Eskişehir, central Turkey, archaeologists have uncovered fascinating evidence of Phrygian rituals dating back nearly 2,800 years. The excavation, led by Associate Professor Dr Yusuf Polat from Anadolu University, has revealed ancient ovens, hearths, and other significant artefacts from the 7th century BC, shedding new light on Phrygian religious practices.
Photo Credit: Anadolu University
Rediscovering Midas Castle: A Journey Back in Time
The excavation at Midas Castle, which resumed in 2022 after a 71-year pause, spans across a vast 88-acre area in the Midas Valley. This region is already famous for the Yazılıkaya Monument, a towering Phrygian rock sanctuary. This year, the team focused their efforts on the "Agdistis sacred area," a plateau at the top of the site. Here, they unearthed structures directly tied to Phrygian religious ceremonies, including ovens and hearths used to prepare sacrificial animals and bake bread during sacred rituals.
Dr Polat explained that these newly discovered hearths and stone foundations, located in front of a Phrygian altar, are crucial finds that provide insight into how these rituals were conducted. "For the first time, we identified hearths and simple stone foundations in front of a Phrygian altar, used for ritual preparations," he said, dating the site to the Middle Phrygian period, around the 8th-7th centuries BC.
The Significance of Phrygian Ritual Sites
One of the most important discoveries at Midas Castle is a series of four rock basins carved into the rocky platform, found alongside a rock idol representing Matar Kubileya, the Phrygian mother goddess. Matar, revered as the goddess of nature, fertility, and animals, was central to Phrygian religious life. The presence of these rock bowls, in close proximity to the goddess’s idol, points to their role in abundance and fertility rituals. "The rock bowls and the presence of the idol near them are concrete evidence that this area was sanctified for abundance and fertility rituals," explained Dr Polat.
Photo Credit: Anadolu University
A Continuously Inhabited Site
In addition to the Phrygian finds, the team also uncovered ceramics from the Lydian period (7th-6th centuries BCE) and Roman-era artefacts, indicating that Midas Castle remained a significant site long after the Phrygians. They even discovered unique rectangular hearths designed to burn from the top.
But Midas Castle’s history extends even further. The excavation revealed evidence of continuous human habitation in the area for an incredible 250,000 years, making it one of the longest-inhabited regions in the world. Stone tools from the Lower Palaeolithic period were found during surface surveys, showing that early human civilisations thrived in the fertile valleys of Midas, using its defensible terrain to settle and flourish.
The discoveries at Midas Castle have provided an unparalleled glimpse into the religious practices of the ancient Phrygians, while also revealing the area's deep, uninterrupted history of human settlement. As excavations continue, this site promises to offer even more insights into the rich and varied history of central Turkey, stretching back hundreds of thousands of years.