Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:51 AM Sayfa
Lydian Civilization 700-300 BC
“And the Maionians were commanded of Mesthles and Antiphos,
Talaimenes two sons, whose mother was the Gygaian mere.
So these led the Maionians,
whose birthplace was under Tmolos”.
This is how Homeros talks about the Maionians while enumerating those
who came to Troia for assistance. Evidently, Maionians-a branch of the
Lydians-participated in the Troian War on the side of the Troians. Mount
Tmolos is today’s Bozda¤ Mountain. Lake Gygaie is today’s Lake
Marmara. It becomes clear that they were one of the Western Anatolian
lineages. Furthermore, the cuneiform tablets found in Hattusha tell us
that this place was known as the land of Assuwa and was under the
Hittite dominion.
Incessant migrations right after the Troian War collapsed the Hittite
Empire. The Phrygian State was established on the territories and cities
of the Hittites; however, it was soon collapsed by the Cimmerian raids.
The state of Lydia came to appear on the stage of history with the fall
of the Phrygians in their sovereign territories. Herodotos reported that
it had been governed by many dynasties before the dynasty that was on
the throne during its establishment.
After Lydos became the king following his father Artys-who was Manes’s
son-the name Maionia (which previously meant the land of mother
goddess) was left, and the region came to be cited as Lydia. After this
dynasty, another dynasty which was known as ‘Sons of Herakles’ and
which was from the lineage of Alkaeus, came to power. Alkaeus’s son
Belos, and then Belos’s son Minos, and subsequently Argon became the
king. Herodotos reported that this dynasty ruled the country handed
down for 505 years starting from Argon until Candaules, who was the last
king of this dynasty. Let us now learn from Herodotos about Candaules:
Golden sea horse with wings.
Known as hippocamp, the golden sea horse with wings is one of
the symbols of the Lydian treasure. There are 3 threesome chains hanging
below it. At their tips are embroidered knobs, which contain precious stones.
The brooch measuring 3.4x2 cm. was found in the Tumulus of
Toptepe near Uflak. Uflak Museum.
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