Home Region: Anatolia-Caucasus (Southwest Asia)

Phrygian Kingdom

900 BCE 695 BCE

D G SC WF

EQ 2020 tr_phrygian_k / TrPhryg

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

900 BCE 730 BCE Tabal Kingdoms (tr_tabal_k) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

The Phrygian Kingdom (c900-695 BCE) came into existence after the migration of a people to Anatolia in the early Iron Age, after the fall of the Hittite Empire. ^[1] The name the people called themselves is unknown because there are no Phrygian sources telling us about it. ’Phrygian’ is a Greek name while Assyrian texts refer to a Muški kingdom ^[2] "a fierce, aggressive, tribal people" who could be a separate people or a people who formed a union with the Phrygians in the 8th century. ^[3] The kingdom’s most developed phase occurred under king Midas who ruled from the city of Gordium in the late 8th century. ^[4]
We cannot say much about the organization of Phrygia at its peak development except that it was a monarchy that ruled from Gordium, a town of perhaps 20,000 inhabitants. The capital of Midas’s hypothesized Mushki-Phrygian union is assumed to have been named after Midas’s father. Earlier names in the dynasty are unknown. ^[4] Archaeologist know of three political documents but have not been able to decipher them. The Phrygian language is not known, and its similarity to Greek languages has only allowed for fragments of texts to be understood.
While we nothing about a central (palace based?) administration that may have been present archaeologists believe that other cities in Phrygia had their own governments ^[5] and a great deal of autonomy. ^[5] The biggest cities had governors. ^[5]
The beginning date for the Phrygian period is somewhat arbitrary, based on archaeological records. The end of the Phrygian period, however, is clearly marked by a conquest - it is the year when the Phrygian Kingdom was conquered by the Lydian Kingdom, which de facto put an end to the existence of the Phrygian period.

[1]: (Bryce 2002, 39-40) T Bryce. 2002. ‘’Life and Society in the Hittite World’’. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[2]: (Roller 2011, 563) L Roller. 2011. "Phrygian and the Phrygians" Oxford Handbook of Ancien Anatolia

[3]: (Bryce 2002, 40)

[4]: (Bryce 2002, 41) T Bryce. 2002. ‘’Life and Society in the Hittite World’’. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[5]: (Atasoy 1982, 158) Buluç E A Atasoy. 1982. "Metallurgical and Archaeological Examination of Phrygian Objects". Anatolian Studies. Vol. 32.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

4 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

1 Trading Emporia

1 Other Special Purpose Site

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Article

1 Debt And Credit Structure

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k) was in:
(836 BCE 696 BCE)	Konya Plain

Home NGA: Konya Plain

General Variables

Identity and Location Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	36 S	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Original Name	Phrygian Kingdom	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Gordion	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Phrygie	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Frygia	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Muski	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Phrygien	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[738 BCE ➜ 696 BCE]
Loading...

Duration	[900 BCE ➜ 695 BCE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	alliance with [---]	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Konya Plain - Cimmerian Period	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Preceding Entity 900 BCE 730 BCE	Tabal Kingdoms (tr_tabal_k) [continuity]
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	loose	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Language Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Language	Phrygian	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Religion Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Phrygian Religions	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[15,000 to 20,000] people	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Polity Territory	100,000 km²	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	[1,000,000 to 1,500,000] people	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	3	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Religious Level	[1 to 3]	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Military Level	4	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[4 to 5]	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Professions Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Examination System	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Law Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Judge	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Court	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Port	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Canal	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Bridge	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Trading Emporia	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Other Special Purpose Site	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Script	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Mnemonic Device	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

History	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Fiction	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Calendar	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Information / Money Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Article	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Debt And Credit Structure	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Uncoded Undecided	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Courier	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Moat	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Ditch	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Long Wall	7 km	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Iron	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Copper	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Projectiles Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Crossbow	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Sword	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Spear	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Polearm	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Donkey	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Dog	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Armor Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Shield	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Helmet	Present	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Chainmail	Absent	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Naval technology Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present Inferred	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	900 BCE 695 BCE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Human Sacrifice Phrygian Kingdom (tr_phrygian_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More