Gordium, 80 Km (50 miles) from Ankara, is where the river Sangarius is crossed by thee main routes westward from the Anatolia plateau to the sea. It is only 18 Km (12 miles) from the village called Yassıhöyük. Gordium’s history can be traced back to 3000 BC, the Bronze Age. The Assyrians and Hittites lived in this city till 1200 BC and settled by the Phrygians starting around 10th century BC. However, the city sees its golden years during the period of the Phrygians, starting around 8th century BC. According to the legend, its name comes from the poor peasant Gordios, who becomes the king of the Phrygians. Gordium was also the center of power during the legendary Phrygian King Midas. Other cities the Phrygians lived and controlled were Alacahöyük, Boğazköy, and Kültepe. Gordium was destroyed by the invading Cimmerians in the early 7th century. Later it was somewhat recovered and became trade center but lost importance during the reign of the Persians. After the conquest of Alexander, the Great the city took a Hellenistic character over the years but later destroyed during the Roman expedition against the Galatians in 189 BC by Gnaeus Manlius Vulso.

The Phrygians buried their dead in tombs called tumulus. During archaeological excavations many tumuli from 8th to 6th century BC were unearthed. The biggest tumulus belonged to the King Midas.

The Phrygian king Midas is the subject of many legends. In one of them, Midas becomes the target of the rage of Gods and his ears are transformed to donkey ears. He tries to hide this as a secret but his barber becomes aware of it. Barber out of fear cannot tell to anyone so he whispers it to a ditch and covers it with dirt. However, the straws growing over the ditch start sounding like telling the secret of the King Midas as the winds blow; so everyone learns Midas has donkey ears.

Another legend has something to do with the Phrygian King Gordios and the Macedonian King, Alexander the Great (333 BC). The poor man, Gordios, (before becoming a King) ties his oxcart with a knot in the city of Gordium and it is prophesied that whoever unties it will become the ruler of Asia. Many years later, Alexander the Great, during his march to conquer Asia, i.e., the lands, Asia Minor and India and any place in between, comes across this knot (Gordian knot). He tries to untie it but fails. So, out of frustration, he pulls his sword and slashes it into two pieces.