11 Facts About Phrygia

1.

In classical antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is Asian Turkey, centered on the Sangarios River.

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2.

Phrygia then became subject to Lydia, and then successively to Persia, Alexander and his Hellenistic successors, Pergamon, the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.

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3.

Phrygia describes an area on the western end of the high Anatolian plateau, an arid region quite unlike the forested lands to the north and west of it.

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4.

Southwestern Phrygia is watered by the Maeander and its tributary the Lycus, and contains the towns of Laodicea on the Lycus and Hierapolis.

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5.

Phrygia was famous for its wine and had "brave and expert" horsemen.

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6.

In one of the so-called Homeric Hymns, Phrygia is said to be "rich in fortresses" and ruled by "famous Otreus".

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7.

For purposes of provincial administration, the Romans maintained a divided Phrygia, attaching the northeastern part to the province of Galatia and the western portion to the province of Asia.

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8.

Phrygia unwisely competed in music with the Olympian Apollo and inevitably lost, whereupon Apollo flayed Marsyas alive and provocatively hung his skin on Cybele's own sacred tree, a pine.

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9.

Phrygia was the scene of another musical contest, between Apollo and Pan.

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10.

Thereafter, the kingdom of Phrygia seems to have become fragmented among various kings.

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11.

Visitors from Phrygia were reported to have been among the crowds present in Jerusalem on the occasion of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:10.

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