GORDION

Gordion was probably the capital of Meshech, mentioned in the Bible. It was occupied as early as the 3rd millennium B.C. It was an important Hittite outpost with Assyrian colonists also living here. Alexander cut the "Gordian Knot" and took the city out of Persian control. 17th and 16th century B.C. Hittite graves have been excavated and some of the contents can be seen at the museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. In Gordion itself, there are almost a hundred tumulus graves of notables who lived and died between Phrygian and Galatian times. The largest tumulus has been identified as belonging to king Midas, and still contains some wooden furniture probably from his palace.