摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value　　Phrygia is a civilization which lived and disappeared only in this region in the world. Phrygia developed as a “world state” in the 8th century B.C. and d

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

　　Phrygia is a civilization which lived and disappeared only in this region in the world. Phrygia developed as a “world state” in the 8th century B.C. and dominated Central Anatolia from Mediterranean at south to Black Sea at north, from Aegean coast at west till the cities of Yozgat and Sivas at east, while the capital was Gordion, which is near to Polatli District of Ankara. Phrygian cultural tradition is adopted and sustained by many follower traditions like Helen, Roman and Byzantium and even Turkish; such as construction technology of rock-cut architecture in various functions, geometrical shaped patterns and stylized animal designs. 

　　Unearthed findings also reveal the militant personality of Phrygians as well as their development in textile, carpentry, furniture and mining industry. Tumulus, the tomb structures built mainly between the 8th and 6th centuries B.C., is firstly seen in Anatolia in the Phrygian period. It’s probably due to that they retained their burial tradition after migration to Anatolia. The Midas Tumulus in Gordion is the most remarkable example of this type of architecture, while other 80 dating from the 10th B.C. and 1st B.C. are scattered around.

　　Phrygians were also the inventors of the ornament pavement technology, some examples of which can be followed in pebble granolithic floor inside the palace and rectangular shaped structures -megaron- within the Gordion Castle, the other significant architectural and engineering structure of the period. They also invented musical instruments like flute and cymbal. Today many Western musical works are composed via the “Phrygian Scale”. 

　　Mountainous Phrygia, where many unique monumental remains of Phrygians enlightening the religious belief of the society and testifying social life of the period, is a natural structure constituted by geological formations like fairy chimneys and rocky blocks. The area reserves 34 different types of mine. This structure of the site formed by easily carved volcanic tuffs made it possible to build rock-cut architectures which brought characteristic usages of the rocks in Mountainous Phrygia. The most spectacular examples of Phrygian rock-cutn monuments are observed in Mountainous Phrygia.

　　The importance of rock monuments within religious and social life of Phrygian society is an undeniable certainty. They come into prominence among Anatolian sacred buildings as they were the cult centers designed for Mother Goddess belief. Common features of these monuments are richness in adornments and ornaments on them, pointed roofs, triangular pediments, and rock niches with Goddess sculpture inside.

　　Criterion (ii): Phrygians provided the integration of rock with the architecture and contributed to interchange of human values by introduction of roof and roof tile technology into the flat roof architecture. It is considered by some writers (Berndt-Ersöz; 1998;87) that rock monuments of Phrygians are the frontiers of Hellen temples. Overhanging architectural elements on the façade of the Maltas Monument, for example, resemble Helen column capitals. These elements do not end in volute shape as generally seen in other Phrygian monuments, rather they take form of concentric circles. Introduction of tumulus into burial tradition in Anatolia is also the Phrygians’ contribution to monumental architecture.

　　Criterion (iii): The Mountainous Phrygia was a religious center of attraction revealing the clues about the religious culture and traditions in Phrygia. Phrygian rock-cut tombs and monuments have, in this respect, a significant place among sacred buildings in Anatolia receiving attention as a cult complex designed for Mother Goddess belief. The goddess namely “Matar Areyastin” or “Matar Kubileyya/Kubelaya” in Phrygian inscriptions is the only Goddess which is depicted as icon. There can also be seen numerous cult monuments dedicated to Matar Kubileyya throughout the region.

　　Criterion (iv): Although Yazilikaya Midas Monument -a structure constructed by carved volcanic tuff- is the most spectacular one among the Phrygian rock monuments, Arezastis Monument, Bahsayiş Monument, Maltaş Monument, Burmeç Monument and Aslankaya Monuments are crucial architectural and religious elements of Phrygian rock monuments. Yazilikaya Midas Monument measuring 16m high shows a magnificent image of the typical organization of these monuments with its geometrical decoration, elaborate gable and corroded acroterion. Construction technology of Phrygian rock monuments can be followed in so called “Incomplete Monument” so easily that depictions are added onto the monuments after tops of rocks are flattened. Balkayası Monument is of great importance as it is the first and the only example of painted adornments in Phrygian rock monuments.