In the ancient lands of Anatolia, a mysterious city carved from stone has stood for nearly 3,000 years. Yazılıkaya, commonly known as Midas City, reveals secrets of a sophisticated civilization whose legacy continues to intrigue archaeologists and historians alike. This remarkable Phrygian settlement offers a window into forgotten rituals, divine worship, and architectural brilliance.
The True Story Behind the Golden Name
Contrary to popular belief, Midas City’s connection to the mythical king with the golden touch is a fascinating case of mistaken identity. Recent archaeological discoveries show that the “Midas” referenced in the site’s ancient inscriptions actually relates to Cybele, the revered Mother Goddess in Phrygian religion. This revelation transforms our understanding of the site from a ruler’s monument to a profound spiritual center.
Located in what is now Turkey’s Eskişehir province, Yazılıkaya was deliberately positioned away from the political capital of Gordian. Its name—literally translating to “inscribed rock”—perfectly describes its most distinctive features: massive rock facades adorned with ancient Phrygian writings. Rather than serving as a political hub, this remarkable city functioned primarily as a sacred sanctuary where people came to commune with their deities.
The Magnificent Monuments of Faith
The Towering Tribute to Cybele
At the heart of Midas City stands its most impressive structure—the Midas Monument. Rising an impressive 17 meters tall and spanning 16.5 meters wide, this colossal rock-cut facade was long misidentified as King Midas’ tomb. Modern archaeological research has revealed its true purpose as a sanctuary honoring Cybele. The flat area beneath this imposing structure served as an open-air temple where elaborate ceremonies took place.
The Divine Mother’s Domain
Cybele held supreme status in the Phrygian pantheon, representing far more than fertility. She embodied the generative power of nature itself, believed to bestow protection, strength, and abundance upon her followers. So profound was her importance that her worship eventually spread throughout the Mediterranean world, with Greeks later embracing her as Rhea.
The religious practices at Yazılıkaya were deeply intertwined with agricultural cycles, reflecting a culture intimately connected to seasonal rhythms. Evidence suggests complex ceremonies marked important transitions throughout the year, honoring different aspects of the Mother Goddess.
Between the Worlds of the Living and Dead
The City of Eternal Rest
Adjacent to the main sanctuary lies an extraordinary necropolis—a city of the dead meticulously carved into surrounding rock faces. These elaborate tombs provide crucial insights into Phrygian concepts of the afterlife and ancestral reverence. The careful positioning of these burial chambers, their orientation, and proximity to the main sanctuary reflect sophisticated beliefs about the relationship between life and death.
The Watchful Heights
Perched high above the necropolis stands the acropolis of Yazılıkaya. This elevated position served both practical and symbolic purposes, allowing observers to view the entire sacred complex while metaphorically connecting earthly existence with divine realms. This strategic placement carried profound cosmological significance in Phrygian religious thought.
Uncovering Ancient Enigmas
The Archaeological Quest
The systematic exploration of Midas City began in 1936 with the French Archaeological Institute in Istanbul’s first formal excavations. These initial efforts uncovered not just magnificent monuments but also sophisticated water systems and intricate rock reliefs. Subsequent excavations in the 1940s and 1950s revealed the extensive necropolis, while work continuing through the 1990s expanded our understanding of this remarkable site.
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Mysteries Set in Stone
Perhaps most intriguing among Yazılıkaya’s features is the “Unfinished Monument”—a partially completed structure near the main Midas Monument. This architectural snapshot frozen in time provides rare insights into Phrygian construction techniques, showing how artisans first flattened rock surfaces before creating elaborate designs. The reason for its incomplete state remains one of Midas City’s enduring mysteries—was it abandoned due to political turmoil, or intentionally left unfinished as part of some unknown ritual?
The Enduring Legacy
Despite extensive archaeological investigation spanning decades, Yazılıkaya guards many of its secrets. Questions persist about the specific nature of rituals performed there, the reasons for the site’s eventual abandonment, and the complete significance of its elaborate inscriptions.
As research continues, this monumental city stands as testament to humanity’s ancient quest to understand the divine. The weathered stone facades of Midas City have withstood nearly three millennia of elements, preserving the spiritual and artistic achievements of a civilization that created one of ancient Anatolia’s most extraordinary sacred landscapes—a civilization that, though often overshadowed by its Greek and Roman neighbors, deserves recognition for its remarkable achievements.
