Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Şehri Midas and Bilkent
Alright, so reliable internet access has been found. We made it into Ankara two days ago and we are now somewhat settled in at Bilkent. I have a post here on a site we visited on our way to Ankara, but it might be my last post for a little while, unless something really cool happens. I might be going on a weekend trip to Kaş next weekend which is on the Turqouise Coast and hour south of Antalya. The details on that are not solid yet, but check back in a bit I might have more info. Anyway, here is a little something about Şehri Midas.
On our way from Karahayıt to Ankara we stopped at the Phrygian rock fortress and temple known as Şehri Midas. The site is some 30 or 40 km east of the main road that leads from Afyon to Seyitgazi. It is hardly ever visited because it is very difficult to get to without your own transportation. The town surrounding it is without a doubt the poorest of the mountain towns we have been to. Most of the houses are made of mud brick and seem relatively deserted with the rare exception of old men hanging out on street corners. This massive site proved to be a very adventurous alternative to the stop at Gordion that we had previously planned. The Phrygians held their capital at Gordion, and this site was used as a military outpost after they took over central Anatolia from the Hittites in the tenth century BC. The side of this large hill has several cave and tomb formations carved into it, as well as one separate rock formation that used to be a sort of monastery. We climbed our way to the top of this formation (it certainly wasn’t easy, but the breathtaking view was well worth it. The hike continued for another hour and a half up to the plain at the top of the hill. The carvings and writings are fairly faint with the exception of one face of the hill that has a large frame like inscription stretching at least 20m up the side of the hill. In all it was a great way to break up the six hour drive to Ankara.
Pictures will be coming soon, as usual if you are a college student you will see them on Facebook, if not send me an email or post on the blog with your address in the text and I will invite you to my Snapfish account.
'Till next time.
On our way from Karahayıt to Ankara we stopped at the Phrygian rock fortress and temple known as Şehri Midas. The site is some 30 or 40 km east of the main road that leads from Afyon to Seyitgazi. It is hardly ever visited because it is very difficult to get to without your own transportation. The town surrounding it is without a doubt the poorest of the mountain towns we have been to. Most of the houses are made of mud brick and seem relatively deserted with the rare exception of old men hanging out on street corners. This massive site proved to be a very adventurous alternative to the stop at Gordion that we had previously planned. The Phrygians held their capital at Gordion, and this site was used as a military outpost after they took over central Anatolia from the Hittites in the tenth century BC. The side of this large hill has several cave and tomb formations carved into it, as well as one separate rock formation that used to be a sort of monastery. We climbed our way to the top of this formation (it certainly wasn’t easy, but the breathtaking view was well worth it. The hike continued for another hour and a half up to the plain at the top of the hill. The carvings and writings are fairly faint with the exception of one face of the hill that has a large frame like inscription stretching at least 20m up the side of the hill. In all it was a great way to break up the six hour drive to Ankara.
Pictures will be coming soon, as usual if you are a college student you will see them on Facebook, if not send me an email or post on the blog with your address in the text and I will invite you to my Snapfish account.
'Till next time.
