Phrygians

Phrygians were an ancient Indo-European people who inhabited the central-west region of Anatolia, in and around the area known in antiquity as Phrygia. The capital was Gordium. They appear in Greek and Near Eastern sources from the early Iron Age and rose to prominence in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. The Phrygian kingdom, sometimes called simply Phrygia, included parts of western Anatolia and was ruled by a line of kings, the best known being Midas, celebrated in legend for his supposed ability to turn objects to gold.

In the 6th century BCE, Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Phrygia, and the region became a Persian satrapy. After the conquests of Alexander the Great, Phrygia was absorbed into Hellenistic kingdoms and later became part of the Roman world. The Phrygians left a distinctive cultural imprint, including religious traditions centered on Cybele, the Great Mother goddess, and a material culture that included the Phrygian cap, a headpiece later adopted as a symbol of liberty.

Language and writing: Phrygian was an Indo-European language of the Anatolian branch. It is known from inscriptions dating from roughly the 8th through the 3rd centuries BCE, written in an alphabet derived from the Greek script. Archaeological sites such as Gordion, near modern Polatlı, provide evidence for urban centers, monumental tombs, and the Gordian Knot legend.

Legacy: The Phrygians played a significant role in the history of ancient Anatolia and left a legacy in religion, art, and toponymy that persisted into later periods under Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman rule.