Central Anatolia

Lycaonia was a fluid country as its occupying area was constantly changing. The inhabitants of Lycaonia, the Lykaones, of unknown morals and customs, were mostly shepherds, nomads and robbers. According to Greek mythology, they were descended from King Lycaon of Arcadia. Important cities of Lycaonia were Iconium, Dervi, Laranda, Lystra and others. Today the area of this ancient country is called Karamania from the city of Karaman (arch. Laranda).

Phrygia was a country with its peak around the 8th century BC. Phrygia was crossed by the river Sangarios, where the city of Gordion, capital of the ancient kingdom of Phrygia, was built on its banks. A mountainous region interrupted by fertile narrow valleys, the country was rich in minerals, mainly gold, marble, copper and iron, and in agricultural and livestock products, of which Phrygian wine was famous. The Phrygians are mentioned by Homer as allies of the Trojans. Their kings alternately bore the names Gordius and Midas (dynastic titles and not first names), while the famous Gordian Knot in antiquity was cut by Alexander the Great, thus symbolizing his conquest of Asia. Its most important Phrygian cities were Laodicea, Nacolea, Hierapolis of Phrygia, Tripolis of Phrygia, Colossae or Chonai, Antoniopolis and Aezanoi.

Pisidia was a province in the south of Asia Minor, which in earlier times was considered part of Phrygia or Pamphylia, as throughout the Hellenistic and Roman period. While maintaining partial autonomy, it flourished in many areas. During Roman times, Pisidia was colonized by veterans of the Roman army, connected by a large road network to the rest of the empire, and experienced its greatest prosperity, with many cities having minting rights. Known cities of Pisidia were Antioch of Pisidia, Isinda, Seleucia of Pisidia and Sagalassos.

Galatia was the ancient name of the region in the highlands of central Asia Minor, in the area where today the capital of Turkey, Ankara, is located. It took its name from the migratory flow of Celtic tribes of the Gauls during the 3rd century BC, when a group of about 10,000 Celtic warriors with slaves and women and children who crossed Thrace and headed for Asia Minor to settle in the highlands of its center. Soon they became Hellenized so that the ancient writers called them Hellenogalates and the Romans Gallograeci. In the interior of Asia Minor, the scattered ancient cities were strongly associated with the historical events of the Byzantine, Seljuk, Turkoman and Ottoman periods.

In the thematic exhibition you will find both material from travelers, from the 15th to the 19th century, as well as photographic material, mainly from the Asia Minor Campaign, as these areas were the scene of the advance and, ultimately, defeat of the Greek troops in Asia Minor, closing the chapter of Asia Minor Hellenism in the region.