10.08.2026 09:01
It has been stated that the tumulus located in Gordion, the capital of the Phrygian civilization, and known among the public as the 'Midas Tumulus', belongs not to King Midas but to his father Gordias. In this 3,200-year-old dark chamber, which miners from Zonguldak reached through an 82-meter tunnel, lies a wooden marvel that is the only example in the world and has defied centuries without ever rotting.
The Midas Tumulus in the Ancient City of Gordion, located in Ankara's Polatlı district and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, draws attention with its 3,200-year-old wooden burial chamber.
The tumulus, located in Gordion, the capital of the Phrygian civilization, and known among the public as the 'Midas Tumulus', is stated to belong not to King Midas but to his father Gordias. While it is striking that the wooden tomb made of juniper trees, approximately 3,200 years old, inside the tumulus, which is 53 meters high and 300 meters in diameter, has survived to the present day, the 99 fibulae unearthed from the tomb also revealed the Phrygians' mastery in metalworking. Kadim Koç, Chairman of the Board of the Gordion Foundation, stated that the tumulus is the second largest in the world and expressed that the tumuli in Gordion reveal the historical richness of the region.
Kadim Koç, Chairman of the Board of the Gordion Foundation, noting that Gordion is actually full of tumuli, said, "It is one of the rare places where so many tumuli are found together. Currently, there are 130 tumuli registered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Polatlı region. We have nearly 90 tumuli in Gordion. The largest of these is the Midas tumulus, known by everyone. This tumulus is the second largest in the world. The first tumulus is also ours. That is our tumulus in Manisa, belonging to the Lydians."
"IT CONTAINS THE WORLD'S ONLY EXAMPLE OF A WOODEN TOMB" Noting that this tumulus is a massive structure 53 meters high and 300 meters in diameter, Koç said, "This tumulus has a special feature. It is an opened tumulus. Inside, there is the world's only example of a wooden tomb. Based on this, UNESCO included us on its permanent list."
THE TUMULUS IS THE TOMB OF GORDIAS, NOT MIDAS Stating that the tumulus is believed by everyone to be Midas's tumulus, Koç said, "When this tumulus was excavated and the tomb was reached in 1957, the Ulus Newspaper reported that the tomb of Gordias, Midas's father, had been found. Even though they said Gordias's skeleton was found, Midas is so famous over the years that he is one of the most famous figures of antiquity. Because of this, the father could never surpass the son. Even today, no matter how much we say 'This is a tumulus built for Midas's father, this is his father's tomb,' people always know it as the Midas tumulus because they know Midas and his colorful personality stands out."
"THE HOMELAND OF THE SAFETY PIN IS HERE" Referring to the very important information obtained from the findings inside the tumulus, Koç said, "After these findings, it was understood that the Phrygians made the world's best wood carving. They made the best carpet weaving. This is also very important. When we look at the bronze materials recovered from inside, the fibulae, that is, the safety pin, originated here; the first safety pins were produced here. Ninety-nine safety pins came out."
"WE SEE THAT JUNIPER TREES HAVE SURVIVED TO THE PRESENT DAY" Stating that, as a wooden structure, the tomb measures 6 meters 15 centimeters by 5 meters 15 centimeters, Koç said, "We see that the juniper trees have not rotted and have survived to the present day. When we calculate the ages of the juniper trees, we can see a tree from nearly 3,200 years ago without deterioration. We also experienced very unusual events during the excavation. A Turkish scientist and an American scientist carried out this excavation together, but with the techniques of that time, the excavation was done with a wet drilling method. That is, they entered from the top and drilled downwards. During the drilling, no matter how careful they were, it caused some damage to the tomb. Along with the wood there, it also damaged the fabric textures."
MANY ITEMS WERE FOUND Stating that the tumulus has a magnificent entrance, Koç spoke as follows:
"There was an 82-meter tunnel through which miners brought from Zonguldak reached the tomb by digging. There are also some stories told in the village. First, a small window was opened in the burial chamber, and a child found in the village was lowered into the tomb by holding onto his feet. The child, seeing the skeleton there, got scared and screamed. They pulled him back; such different accounts exist in the villages. Some of the valuable objects and items found here are exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. But in our small museum in Gordion, you can also see many items. It is a very valuable place and Ankara's world heritage site. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. We must definitely examine this value, which must be seen, in person."
The Ancient City of Gordion, with its approximately 90 tumuli and archaeological finds, offers important data about the Phrygian period. In Gordion, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, some of the artifacts unearthed during excavations are exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and some in the Gordion Museum.