PHRYGIA (kingdom in Galatia)
Ancient kingdom in Asia Minor
- Kind of place
- Kingdom
- Region
- Galatia
- Patron
- Cybele
- Landmarks
- Memorial of Selene's couch Quintus 10 ¶11; Cave of fair-haired Nymphs Quintus 10 ¶11
- Where
- 39.00° N, 31.00° E
The Phrygians built a costly temple for Cybele in Pisinus. Diodorus 3.59 Phrygia held holy festivals twelve times a year, coinciding with each full moon. Euripides, The Trojan Women 1071-1080 Typhon was slain by Zeus in this region. Diodorus 5.71
Described in the sources
The hills of Ida are located within the region of Phrygia. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 1276-1312 +2 The Maeander river originates within Phrygia and flows through the region on its way to the sea. Herodotus 7.26.3 +2 Phrygia is situated to the northward of Lesbos. Iliad 24 ¶39 +1 The Lydians are situated to the right of Greater Phrygia. Strabo 12.8.13 +1 The city of Ilium is identified as a city within Phrygia. Euripides, Orestes 1366-1392 +1 The Troad region is referred to as Phrygia in this account. Aeneid 5.779 +1 Midas, son of Gordias, is identified as the king of Phrygia. Herodotus 1.14.2 +1 Phrygia is located next to Cappadocia and the Paphlagonians. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.41 ¶1 +1 The Galatians migrated into the region of Phrygia and spread as far as Lycaonia. Strabo 12.1.1 +1 Greater Phrygia extends southward to the boundary of the Cilician and Pisidian Taurus. Strabo 12.4.10 +1
Gods and worship
Falling victims will beat the bloody ground in this region. Ovid, Heroides 16.291 Neptune is worshipped there despite the people being inland. Strabo 12.8.18 The people of this region will adore the addressee as a new deity. Ovid, Heroides 16.291 The people of this region propitiate Rhea using a wheel and a drum. Argonautica 1 ¶111 Finest spices will smoke wherever the addressee treads in this region. Ovid, Heroides 16.291 Apollo commanded the Phrygians to bury Attis and honor Cybele as a goddess. Diodorus 3.59
Stories and history
A portion of Greater Phrygia was taken over by the Galatians. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.42 ¶1 +1 The city of Ilium in Phrygia suffered destruction. Euripides, Orestes 1366-1392 The sons of Mysia look down upon Phrygia as an ally. Euripides, Rhesus 242-253 The son of Atreus sacked the Phrygian town of Pergamus. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 773-800 Phrygia's former capital, Gordium, was taken by Galatia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.42 ¶1 The region is noted for providing slaves to other areas. Athenaeus 1.49 Iphigenia is described as the destroyer of the Phrygians. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 1500-1531 The wealth of the region was destroyed by consuming fires. Ovid, Heroides 8.9 A goddess selects a Phrygian woman to perform a bloody act. Statius, Thebaid 12.221-246 ¶1 The region of Dardania experienced wailing and destruction. Euripides, Orestes 1366-1392
Myths set at Phrygia
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- Eros Incites Rhea. Eros incites Rhea to think of a young man in Phrygia, driving her mad. She harnesses lions and drives over Ida, causing the Corybantes to create a mad tumult. Lucian, Dialogues of the Gods 12 ¶1 Eros
- The Search for Attis. hook: The Corybantes and Rhea begin a frantic search for the young man associated with Rhea in Phrygia. goal: They aim to locate him through loud rituals and driving lions across the mountain of Ida. outcome: The facts do not say. Lucian, Dialogues of the Gods 12 ¶1
In the age of heroes
- The Judgment of Paris. Zeus sends Hermes to Phrygia to deliver a golden apple and appoint Paris as the judge of a beauty contest among the goddesses. Hermes guides the goddesses to Paris and informs him of his duty, setting the stage for the judgment. Lucian, Dialogues of the Gods 19 ¶3 +5 Hermes
- The Conquest of the Peloponnese. Pelops wins over the inhabitants of the Peloponnesus and conquers the regions of Apia and Pelasgiotis. He brings colonists from Phrygia and Lydia, subdues the Greeks, and names the land after himself. Apollodorus, Epitome 2.9 +4 Pelops
- The Purification of Dionysus. hook: "Dionysus arrives in Phrygia after leaving Egypt." goal: "Dionysus undergoes purification and learns initiation rites." outcome: "Rhea gives Dionysus a specific costume after the purification."} Apollodorus 3.5.1 Dionysus