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Narrator:
A mysterious ruined citadel.
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Could this be the home of
The legendary king midas?
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00:00:13,448 --> 00:00:15,310
The story of midas
And the golden touch is
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00:00:15,344 --> 00:00:18,103
One of the most famous
In greek mythology.
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00:00:18,137 --> 00:00:19,482
Narrator:
It's said that everything
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King midas touches
Turns to gold.
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But where does this outlandish
Claim originate?
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00:00:26,793 --> 00:00:30,137
Most myths have got
Some kind of basis in truth.
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00:00:30,172 --> 00:00:32,517
Narrator:
Is midas a real person?
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And is this his tomb?
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This monument is one of
The most spectacular
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Discoveries of
The 20th century.
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00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,034
Narrator: today, experts peel
Back the layers of
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A lost kingdom to reveal
The surprising truth
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00:00:46,206 --> 00:00:47,758
Behind the myth
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00:00:49,689 --> 00:00:53,137
And travel deep inside
Strange ancient mounds
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00:00:54,551 --> 00:00:58,241
To discover whether these
Ruins really do run with gold.
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00:00:59,758 --> 00:01:03,517
On the quest for clues,
We reconstruct a lavish city.
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We explore its dark tombs,
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Come face to face
With a long-dead king,
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And investigate glittering
Treasures to unearth
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What really lies behind
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The story of king midas
And his golden touch.
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♪♪
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In central turkey lie
The ruins of a powerful,
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Fortified city --
Gordion.
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It's nearly 3,000 years old
But only recently discovered.
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Just over 100 years ago,
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Workers building a new
Railroad stumble across
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An enormous mound
Of ancient pottery.
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When the archaeologists
Began excavating here,
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Even though they didn't know
It on the first day,
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They were about
To discover one of
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The major power centers
Of the ancient world.
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Narrator: gordion is a city
Of over 10,000 people
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And the heart
Of a powerful kingdom.
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Towering over the city is
A fortified citadel
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Protected by a stone wall
Over 16 feet high.
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According to greek myth,
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The city's most famous ruler
Is midas,
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A king who wishes for
Everything he touches
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To turn to gold.
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It's an incredible story.
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Can it be based in truth?
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♪♪
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The story of midas
And the golden touch
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Is one of the most famous
In greek mythology.
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Narrator: today, brian rose
Leads investigations at gordion.
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He's been working here
For 15 years,
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00:03:03,275 --> 00:03:07,206
Uncovering why the city
Rises to prominence.
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00:03:07,241 --> 00:03:08,758
When visitors came to gordion,
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They would have passed through
A giant citadel gate,
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One of the largest citadel
Gates anywhere in the near east.
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Narrator: the huge gateway
Is over 30 feet high,
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And the walls more than
20 feet thick.
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Inside, there's an area
For workers and another
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For the palaces and public
Buildings of the elite.
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Gordion is the capital city of
The ancient kingdom of phrygia,
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Which covers much of
Modern-day turkey.
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It's an hour's drive from
The turkish capital, ankara.
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So why did gordion
Become so important?
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One of the reasons
Is that it's right in
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The middle of the eastern
World and the western world.
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All the trade routes between
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East and west pass
Through gordion.
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00:04:03,344 --> 00:04:05,379
Narrator: unlike the greeks
And egyptians,
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The people of gordion leave
Very few written records.
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Their lives are still
Shrouded in mystery.
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Yet one story is passed down
For generations.
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When midas does a favor
For the greek god dionysus,
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He is granted a wish.
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Midas asks for a magic power,
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To turn everything
He touches to gold,
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Making him rich
Beyond measure.
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But when he tries to eat,
His food turns to gold.
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When he hugs his daughter,
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She turns
Into a golden statue.
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Dionysus has mercy and tells
Midas to wash in the river,
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Which runs gold
As the wish drains away.
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I do believe that most
Myths probably
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Almost have got
Some kind of basis in truth.
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Narrator: julian bennett
Searches for evidence
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In the hills outside gordion.
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First, he needs to find out
If midas is a real person.
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An astonishing monument
Cut into
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The cliff face
May offer clues.
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It's nearly 60 feet tall
And covered with
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An intricate geometric design
Of squares and crosses.
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Bennett: they represent
Buildings or temples,
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Wooden buildings
Or wooden temples.
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Narrator: julian thinks
The monument could prove
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That midas is real.
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Bennett: from the style of
This monument, we can
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Date it to about
The eighth century b.C.
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00:06:01,137 --> 00:06:03,103
Gordion reaches its peak
Round about
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The eighth century b.C.,
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Which we are told
Was ruled by a midas,
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So the dates match.
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Narrator: an inscription
At the top of
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The monument provides
A further clue.
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It's written in phrygian, the
Ancient language of the area.
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Phrygian is not fully known,
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00:06:27,068 --> 00:06:29,965
But its similarity to
Languages like ancient greek
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Means it can be understood.
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Bennett:
What we have is
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A declaration of a ruler
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Called midas
Who's obviously in command
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Of this area
Called phrygia.
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Narrator: this giant
Monument proves that
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Midas is not
A mythological figure.
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He's real flesh and blood.
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♪♪
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Brian rose believes
Further clues to establishing
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The truth behind the tale
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May lie in
An intriguing connection
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Between the monument
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And midas's
Capital city, gordion.
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Rose: the facade of
The midas monument
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Is covered by
Geometric decoration.
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We think that it's
A reproduction of what
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00:07:18,482 --> 00:07:19,655
The monumental buildings on
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00:07:19,689 --> 00:07:22,034
The citadel of gordion would
Have looked like during
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00:07:22,068 --> 00:07:24,310
The reign of midas.
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00:07:24,344 --> 00:07:26,586
Narrator: the fortified citadel
Covers an area
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00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:28,896
The size of
20 football fields.
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00:07:30,137 --> 00:07:32,827
Behind its huge gates
Are the city's most
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00:07:32,862 --> 00:07:34,103
Dazzling buildings.
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00:07:38,655 --> 00:07:40,827
They stand
Over 50 feet high.
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00:07:43,620 --> 00:07:46,586
Striking patterns cover
The roofs of the buildings,
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00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:52,448
♪♪
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00:07:52,482 --> 00:07:55,931
And stunning geometric designs
Decorate their fronts.
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It's a lavish display
Of status,
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A way for midas to show off
His wealth for all to see.
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00:08:08,896 --> 00:08:11,827
Under the rule of midas,
The kingdom of phrygia
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Is successful,
Innovative, powerful.
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Phrygia features in
The greatest epic of the era.
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00:08:22,344 --> 00:08:24,620
The kingdom is
An ally of troy
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In the trojan war.
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00:08:27,241 --> 00:08:29,206
During the reign of midas,
Gordion would have been
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00:08:29,241 --> 00:08:31,379
A truly dazzling city,
Built to impress
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Any diplomat
Or tourists who came here.
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Narrator: can gordion's
Extraordinary wealth be
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The origin of the story
Of the golden touch?
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00:08:40,965 --> 00:08:44,482
Do dozens of colossal mounds
Outside the city walls
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Reveal more about the truth
Behind the midas myth?
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Narrator:
Gordion, a wealthy city
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Ruled by king midas
3,000 years ago.
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Gareth darbyshire has been
Working at gordion for 20 years,
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00:09:11,758 --> 00:09:13,827
Searching for
The evidence behind
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00:09:13,862 --> 00:09:16,758
The myth of the man with
The golden touch.
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00:09:16,793 --> 00:09:20,517
He investigates just outside
The city walls.
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Here, dozens of strange mounds
Of earth seem to stand guard.
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Surrounding the city on
The high ground and along
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Ancient routeways are over
120 of these mounds.
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They're obviously man-made
Because of their shape.
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Narrator:
They are burial mounds,
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The tombs of the elite of
Gordion society.
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One mound,
Visible for miles around,
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Dominates all the others.
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Darbyshire:
This monument is one of
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The largest burial mounds
In the world.
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It's one of
The most spectacular discoveries
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Of the 20th century.
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Narrator: the mound is built
By piling high
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Hundreds of thousands
Of tons of earth.
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Experts estimate
It takes around 1,000 people
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A year and a half to build.
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00:10:19,068 --> 00:10:23,482
The mound may conceal
Important clues about midas,
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00:10:23,517 --> 00:10:26,724
But excavating it presents
A major challenge.
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00:10:28,896 --> 00:10:32,448
You can't simply just dig into
The side of it or on the top.
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You need to do it
Very carefully.
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There's the risk of the entire
Mound collapsing in on you.
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These kinds of excavations
Can kill people.
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Narrator:
There's another challenge.
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The tomb could be anywhere
Inside the huge mound,
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A strategy to fool
Ancient grave robbers.
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For archaeologists,
It's like trying to
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00:10:54,689 --> 00:10:56,896
Find a needle in a haystack.
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00:10:56,931 --> 00:11:01,482
They turn to modern technology
For a solution.
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Darbyshire: we decided to get
An oil prospecting drill,
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00:11:04,413 --> 00:11:08,103
Which is a very long drillbit,
From texas,
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00:11:08,137 --> 00:11:11,241
Because that instrument
Can reach straight from
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The top of the mound right
Down to the bottom.
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00:11:14,827 --> 00:11:18,172
Narrator: the drill bores dozens
Of holes, probing for the tomb.
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00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,172
On the 96th attempt,
It hits something solid.
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Drilling stops.
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00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:29,379
Now they have their target,
And they start to dig.
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00:11:31,068 --> 00:11:34,137
Local miners tunnel in
From the side.
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Excavating from the top
Will destroy the mound.
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00:11:39,172 --> 00:11:41,275
What they find is astonishing.
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Hidden beneath the mound,
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00:11:47,551 --> 00:11:50,413
Under thousands
Of tons of earth,
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Is a thick clay core
Shaped like a dome.
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Digging through this layer
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Reveals a mysterious
Wooden chamber.
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Inside, archaeologists come
Face-to-face
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00:12:07,482 --> 00:12:09,000
With the skeleton of a man.
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00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,827
Around him, lavish grave goods
Litter the floor.
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00:12:14,862 --> 00:12:18,758
Who is this man, and why is
He surrounded by treasures?
200
00:12:21,896 --> 00:12:24,551
Can this be the tomb
Of king midas?
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00:12:28,206 --> 00:12:30,172
The tomb chamber
Lies at the end
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00:12:30,206 --> 00:12:32,620
Of the 100-foot-long
Excavation tunnel.
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00:12:35,310 --> 00:12:39,000
It's so fragile that
It's off limits to visitors.
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00:12:42,862 --> 00:12:46,068
But gareth is given
Rare access.
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00:12:48,068 --> 00:12:51,448
The tomb is enclosed by
A barrier constructed of
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00:12:51,482 --> 00:12:53,275
Juniper logs.
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00:12:53,310 --> 00:12:55,862
Darbyshire: the reason
There are these enormous,
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00:12:55,896 --> 00:12:59,448
Very hard juniper logs is
To protect the tomb
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00:12:59,482 --> 00:13:02,965
And its contents
From robbing.
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00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:08,000
This protection and the massive
Scale of the mound,
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00:13:09,344 --> 00:13:11,068
It's very similar to
The pyramids
212
00:13:11,103 --> 00:13:13,413
Of the egyptian kings
Or pharaohs.
213
00:13:13,448 --> 00:13:16,310
[ vocalizing ]
214
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Narrator: sealed inside
An airtight mound for nearly
215
00:13:19,551 --> 00:13:23,689
3,000 years, the tomb is
Perfectly preserved.
216
00:13:23,724 --> 00:13:27,068
[ vocalizing ]
217
00:13:27,103 --> 00:13:30,172
But is it the right date
For midas?
218
00:13:32,310 --> 00:13:36,379
Archaeologists turn to tree
Ring dating for an answer.
219
00:13:36,413 --> 00:13:38,620
If they can date
The wood in the tomb,
220
00:13:38,655 --> 00:13:42,896
It will provide vital evidence
Of who this man is.
221
00:13:42,931 --> 00:13:46,034
Every year, a tree produces
A growth ring, a tree ring.
222
00:13:46,068 --> 00:13:49,206
If you still have the bark
Preserved, as we do here with
223
00:13:49,241 --> 00:13:51,275
The juniper logs in
This tomb,
224
00:13:51,310 --> 00:13:54,724
Then you can calculate
The felling date,
225
00:13:54,758 --> 00:13:57,448
The date at which that tree
Was cut down and killed.
226
00:13:58,689 --> 00:14:01,758
Taking several samples
From these juniper logs,
227
00:14:01,793 --> 00:14:05,034
We counted the tree rings,
And they all date
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00:14:05,068 --> 00:14:06,310
To the same time.
229
00:14:07,551 --> 00:14:10,068
Narrator: the tests allow
The archaeologists to date
230
00:14:10,103 --> 00:14:11,689
The construction of the tomb
231
00:14:11,724 --> 00:14:14,827
To the year 740 b.C.,
232
00:14:14,862 --> 00:14:17,793
Making this the oldest
Standing wooden structure
233
00:14:17,827 --> 00:14:18,862
In the world.
234
00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:24,000
But this date means
It cannot be midas.
235
00:14:24,034 --> 00:14:28,068
With the dating about 740 b.C.,
It's too early to be
236
00:14:28,103 --> 00:14:31,275
King midas -- we know
From a syrian record that
237
00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:35,724
Midas was still operational
In 709 b.C.
238
00:14:37,103 --> 00:14:40,000
So this tomb cannot
Belong to midas.
239
00:14:42,413 --> 00:14:44,689
Narrator: king midas
Succeeds to the throne
240
00:14:44,724 --> 00:14:46,655
After the tomb is sealed.
241
00:14:46,689 --> 00:14:49,965
He rules for another 40 years.
242
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,827
So whose skeleton
Is it in this tomb?
243
00:14:53,862 --> 00:14:55,827
Brian rose investigates.
244
00:14:57,862 --> 00:15:00,413
Experts use
The dead man's skull to
245
00:15:00,448 --> 00:15:03,896
Recreate his appearance
In plaster and clay.
246
00:15:03,931 --> 00:15:07,482
Brian thinks it can help
Identify the man.
247
00:15:07,517 --> 00:15:10,172
Rose: this is
The reconstructed face of
248
00:15:10,206 --> 00:15:12,310
The man who was buried
In the tomb.
249
00:15:12,344 --> 00:15:14,206
We've analyzed the bones,
250
00:15:14,241 --> 00:15:17,172
And we've determined that
The man died between the ages of
251
00:15:17,206 --> 00:15:21,413
60 and 65, which is quite old
For the eighth century b.C.
252
00:15:23,448 --> 00:15:25,862
Narrator: on close examination,
Brian discovers
253
00:15:25,896 --> 00:15:27,517
There's something unusual
254
00:15:27,551 --> 00:15:29,517
About the shape of
The man's skull.
255
00:15:31,620 --> 00:15:34,310
It's been
Deliberately elongated,
256
00:15:34,344 --> 00:15:36,517
Probably when
He was an infant.
257
00:15:36,551 --> 00:15:40,413
Narrator: the gordion elite bind
The heads of their babies so
258
00:15:40,448 --> 00:15:44,482
That the bone permanently
Hardens into an unusual shape.
259
00:15:44,517 --> 00:15:47,620
The man's
Oddly-shaped skull
260
00:15:47,655 --> 00:15:51,068
And the enormous size
Of his burial mound
261
00:15:51,103 --> 00:15:53,344
Enables brian
To identify the body.
262
00:15:55,206 --> 00:15:59,310
Our conclusion is that it's
Likely the father of midas,
263
00:15:59,344 --> 00:16:01,551
A man whose name was gordias.
264
00:16:03,241 --> 00:16:06,517
Narrator: gordias rules in
The mid-eighth century b.C.
265
00:16:06,551 --> 00:16:09,172
His story also enters
Into legend.
266
00:16:12,689 --> 00:16:15,724
When an earlier ruler dies
Without an heir,
267
00:16:17,827 --> 00:16:19,896
The people
Consult the oracle,
268
00:16:22,931 --> 00:16:26,379
Who declares that
The next man driving
269
00:16:26,413 --> 00:16:32,000
An ox cart into the city
Should be made king.
270
00:16:35,206 --> 00:16:36,965
At that moment,
271
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,896
A peasant steers his ox cart
Through the gates.
272
00:16:40,931 --> 00:16:42,068
He is gordias.
273
00:16:45,517 --> 00:16:48,862
The people choose him
As their king,
274
00:16:48,896 --> 00:16:52,896
And in his honor, they rename
Their city gordion.
275
00:16:54,620 --> 00:16:56,862
When gordias died, his son,
Midas, would have
276
00:16:56,896 --> 00:16:59,034
Become king,
And even though midas
277
00:16:59,068 --> 00:17:01,758
Wasn't buried in the tomb,
278
00:17:01,793 --> 00:17:05,586
It is very much a midas mound,
Because it was the first major
279
00:17:05,620 --> 00:17:08,344
Building project of his reign.
280
00:17:08,379 --> 00:17:11,551
Narrator:
So far, only 46
281
00:17:11,586 --> 00:17:13,931
Of the 125 burial mounds
282
00:17:13,965 --> 00:17:15,724
In gordion have
Been excavated.
283
00:17:17,137 --> 00:17:20,344
Midas's final resting place
Remains to be discovered.
284
00:17:23,413 --> 00:17:25,413
Do further clues
To the legend of
285
00:17:25,448 --> 00:17:29,172
King midas still lie
In his father's tomb?
286
00:17:29,206 --> 00:17:33,137
Can the remains of
A burial shroud unearthed
287
00:17:33,172 --> 00:17:36,620
With his body help separate
Fact from fiction?
288
00:17:47,689 --> 00:17:49,448
Narrator: gordion --
289
00:17:49,482 --> 00:17:52,103
Once the capital of
The kingdom of
290
00:17:52,137 --> 00:17:55,586
Phrygia and the home of
King midas.
291
00:17:55,620 --> 00:17:58,482
Archaeologists want to know if
292
00:17:58,517 --> 00:18:02,275
The myth of midas's golden touch
Is grounded in truth.
293
00:18:02,310 --> 00:18:07,586
♪♪
294
00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:09,655
Answers may lie hidden in
295
00:18:09,689 --> 00:18:13,724
The burial mound of
Midas's father, gordias.
296
00:18:13,758 --> 00:18:16,206
Locked in the tomb is
A treasure trove
297
00:18:16,241 --> 00:18:18,379
Of burial goods that,
298
00:18:18,413 --> 00:18:20,827
When polished,
Shine like gold.
299
00:18:24,241 --> 00:18:26,655
Over 150 exquisite objects
300
00:18:26,689 --> 00:18:29,068
Surround the king's body,
301
00:18:29,103 --> 00:18:32,793
And right next to him are
Small pieces of fabric,
302
00:18:32,827 --> 00:18:34,655
The fragments
Of a burial shroud
303
00:18:36,034 --> 00:18:39,103
That, in its prime, glitters
With golden threads.
304
00:18:42,310 --> 00:18:44,724
What can these treasures
Tell us about
305
00:18:44,758 --> 00:18:48,517
The origin of the story
Of midas's golden touch?
306
00:18:52,068 --> 00:18:54,310
Experts face
A daunting challenge
307
00:18:54,344 --> 00:18:57,827
Analyzing what little remains
Of the burial shroud.
308
00:18:59,103 --> 00:19:01,172
Darbyshire: just as the body
In the burial mound
309
00:19:01,206 --> 00:19:03,655
Had decayed down to just
The skeleton,
310
00:19:03,689 --> 00:19:07,103
It turns out that the textile
Itself had decayed,
311
00:19:07,137 --> 00:19:10,000
And so what our scientific
Team analyzed
312
00:19:10,034 --> 00:19:13,241
Wasn't the textile itself,
It was the hardened coating.
313
00:19:14,965 --> 00:19:17,586
Narrator: tests on this coating
Reveal the shroud
314
00:19:17,620 --> 00:19:20,137
Is colored by a mineral
Called goethite.
315
00:19:22,137 --> 00:19:24,103
Today, it's used to
Create yellow
316
00:19:24,137 --> 00:19:26,448
Paint colors like
Ochre and sienna.
317
00:19:29,448 --> 00:19:30,896
Darbyshire:
So this is goethite.
318
00:19:30,931 --> 00:19:32,862
It's an iron oxide,
And you can see
319
00:19:32,896 --> 00:19:36,206
That it has this lovely
Golden-yellow color.
320
00:19:36,241 --> 00:19:39,551
We know from analysis of
The textiles that the bedding
321
00:19:39,586 --> 00:19:42,206
And probably the shroud on
The king's body
322
00:19:42,241 --> 00:19:44,931
Was coated with this pigment.
323
00:19:44,965 --> 00:19:48,344
Narrator: gareth believes that
The manufacture of pigment from
324
00:19:48,379 --> 00:19:51,310
This raw iron oxide
Is a vital clue
325
00:19:51,344 --> 00:19:54,206
To help explain the origin
Of the golden touch.
326
00:19:57,931 --> 00:20:02,275
You heat the ore with formic
Acid and urea to
327
00:20:02,310 --> 00:20:04,827
A temperature of about
90 degrees celsius,
328
00:20:04,862 --> 00:20:07,103
And that creates your pigment.
329
00:20:07,137 --> 00:20:10,310
But even just raw, it's still
Very hard to get it off
330
00:20:10,344 --> 00:20:12,620
My hands --
It's still not going.
331
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,310
Wow.
332
00:20:15,344 --> 00:20:18,448
It's possible, then, that you
Could recognize those who are
333
00:20:18,482 --> 00:20:20,275
Involved in the manufacture of
334
00:20:20,310 --> 00:20:22,896
The high-status cloth of
The high-status clothing,
335
00:20:22,931 --> 00:20:25,172
Because they're walking around
With yellow hands,
336
00:20:25,206 --> 00:20:27,965
And perhaps it is this
That gave rise
337
00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,689
To the legend of
The golden touch.
338
00:20:32,896 --> 00:20:35,000
Narrator: it's one explanation
For the myth.
339
00:20:37,620 --> 00:20:40,000
Darbyshire: this wonderful
Golden yellow color --
340
00:20:40,034 --> 00:20:43,413
You can imagine the phrygian
Royalty and nobles,
341
00:20:43,448 --> 00:20:46,413
The elite wearing
These golden-colored garments.
342
00:20:46,448 --> 00:20:48,517
Narrator:
They dress richly
343
00:20:48,551 --> 00:20:51,655
In decorative weaving
And embroidery.
344
00:20:51,689 --> 00:20:54,034
The evidence from
Ancient texts is
345
00:20:54,068 --> 00:20:57,620
That the phrygians invent
Both techniques.
346
00:20:57,655 --> 00:20:59,551
Darbyshire: we're told this
By the roman writer,
347
00:20:59,586 --> 00:21:01,000
Pliny the elder,
348
00:21:01,034 --> 00:21:05,000
And also the latin word for
Embroiderer is phrygio.
349
00:21:07,206 --> 00:21:09,034
Narrator:
King midas and his courtiers
350
00:21:09,068 --> 00:21:10,379
Are enviably rich,
351
00:21:12,689 --> 00:21:14,206
And the funeral of the king is
352
00:21:14,241 --> 00:21:16,310
When that wealth
Is most on show.
353
00:21:20,413 --> 00:21:24,068
When the king dies, he lies
In state for all to see,
354
00:21:25,793 --> 00:21:27,758
Covered in his golden shroud.
355
00:21:27,793 --> 00:21:31,034
The city's elite,
356
00:21:31,068 --> 00:21:33,586
Colorfully
And extravagantly dressed,
357
00:21:33,620 --> 00:21:36,379
Gather for a gala
Funerary banquet.
358
00:21:36,413 --> 00:21:38,862
They dine on spicy goat stew
359
00:21:38,896 --> 00:21:42,482
And drink barley beer
And honey mead.
360
00:21:42,517 --> 00:21:44,965
Then the king
And the remains of
361
00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,896
The feast are carefully laid
Out inside the wooden tomb.
362
00:21:48,931 --> 00:21:51,137
The tomb is sealed
And the body left
363
00:21:51,172 --> 00:21:52,586
To rest for eternity.
364
00:21:54,068 --> 00:21:57,068
Gordion's funeral feasts
And the city itself
365
00:21:57,103 --> 00:21:59,793
Are ablaze
With gold and color.
366
00:21:59,827 --> 00:22:02,448
Darbyshire: of course,
Midas didn't really
367
00:22:02,482 --> 00:22:04,655
Turn things to gold
By touching them,
368
00:22:04,689 --> 00:22:08,517
But perhaps this story of
The golden touch is really
369
00:22:08,551 --> 00:22:12,827
A metaphor for the fabulous
Wealth of the phrygian kings.
370
00:22:14,103 --> 00:22:15,758
Narrator:
But could the story be about
371
00:22:15,793 --> 00:22:19,068
More than just gold
And untold riches?
372
00:22:19,103 --> 00:22:22,689
Can strange discoveries
Beneath the city
373
00:22:22,724 --> 00:22:25,793
Reveal that it's about power
And politics, too?
374
00:22:37,551 --> 00:22:39,275
Narrator: gordion,
375
00:22:39,310 --> 00:22:42,655
Once a dazzling city
Of golden color.
376
00:22:42,689 --> 00:22:45,620
Now researchers want to know
If its king,
377
00:22:45,655 --> 00:22:48,931
Midas, is as greedy
As the story says.
378
00:22:48,965 --> 00:22:51,620
Mythology depicts midas
379
00:22:51,655 --> 00:22:57,344
As a -- kind of a nasty,
Scary, unpleasant person.
380
00:22:57,379 --> 00:22:59,965
The question is,
Was he really like that?
381
00:23:02,517 --> 00:23:05,517
Narrator: what is it about midas
That inspires this myth?
382
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,517
Could the story conceal
A deeper truth
383
00:23:09,551 --> 00:23:11,103
About the king
And his rule?
384
00:23:14,827 --> 00:23:17,344
Hidden beneath the ruins of
Midas's city
385
00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,655
Lie the remains of another
That is decades older.
386
00:23:22,689 --> 00:23:26,862
Its layout is almost a carbon
Copy of the city above.
387
00:23:26,896 --> 00:23:31,793
In between the two lies
A 15-foot-thick layer of clay.
388
00:23:31,827 --> 00:23:35,931
But discoveries in this layer
Puzzle archaeologists.
389
00:23:35,965 --> 00:23:39,448
Fragments of pottery,
Which date to the bronze age,
390
00:23:39,482 --> 00:23:42,482
Hundreds of years older
Than either city.
391
00:23:42,517 --> 00:23:44,586
Why are these ancient shards
392
00:23:44,620 --> 00:23:47,068
Sandwiched between
The ruined cities?
393
00:23:50,379 --> 00:23:52,620
And what can they reveal
About midas
394
00:23:52,655 --> 00:23:54,344
And the violent world
He lives in?
395
00:23:56,965 --> 00:24:00,068
Elif denel has been
Studying the ancient
396
00:24:00,103 --> 00:24:02,241
History of the region
For two decades.
397
00:24:04,137 --> 00:24:06,620
She believes the pottery
Belongs to
398
00:24:06,655 --> 00:24:08,000
A much earlier people,
399
00:24:08,034 --> 00:24:11,827
The hittites, who rule
The area centuries before.
400
00:24:11,862 --> 00:24:14,620
They couldn't understand
Why the hittite pottery,
401
00:24:14,655 --> 00:24:18,000
Which is several hundred years
Earlier than the ninth century
402
00:24:18,034 --> 00:24:20,482
City, over which this
Was constructed,
403
00:24:20,517 --> 00:24:21,965
How did it get there?
404
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,965
So archaeologists were like,
405
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,551
Wow, what's going on?
406
00:24:27,586 --> 00:24:30,482
Narrator: elif searches for
Answers in the ruins of gordion.
407
00:24:32,206 --> 00:24:34,655
Solving the mystery
May shed more light on
408
00:24:34,689 --> 00:24:37,586
The legend of midas
And his golden touch.
409
00:24:39,724 --> 00:24:42,000
A destruction layer
Provides a clue,
410
00:24:45,379 --> 00:24:49,344
The mark of an enormous
Disaster that befalls the city.
411
00:24:49,379 --> 00:24:53,724
We found evidence for
A huge, massive fire.
412
00:24:53,758 --> 00:24:59,241
There was burnt bricks,
Evidence of burnt beams,
413
00:24:59,275 --> 00:25:03,000
Roofs collapsed,
Burnt pottery.
414
00:25:04,448 --> 00:25:06,413
Narrator:
In around 800 b.C.,
415
00:25:06,448 --> 00:25:08,862
A devastating fire rips
Through gordion.
416
00:25:10,655 --> 00:25:12,482
Residents flee
For their lives,
417
00:25:12,517 --> 00:25:16,206
Abandoning their homes
And belongings.
418
00:25:19,620 --> 00:25:21,827
At first,
Archaeologists believe
419
00:25:21,862 --> 00:25:24,620
It's caused by an enemy army
Attacking gordion.
420
00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,137
They, interestingly,
421
00:25:27,172 --> 00:25:29,965
Didn't find
Any deceased human beings,
422
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,793
Any remains of people.
423
00:25:32,827 --> 00:25:35,413
Narrator: there's no proof
Of fighting in the area.
424
00:25:37,034 --> 00:25:40,551
We know that this wasn't
Caused by any conflict now,
425
00:25:40,586 --> 00:25:43,068
Because if there was any
Conflict, we would have
426
00:25:43,103 --> 00:25:46,482
Evidence of military activity.
427
00:25:46,517 --> 00:25:50,482
But we don't have any -- any
Evidence for that in this area.
428
00:25:50,517 --> 00:25:54,689
Narrator: but in a world of
Constant warfare, the city
429
00:25:54,724 --> 00:25:58,586
And its defensive walls
Must be rebuilt, and quickly.
430
00:26:00,586 --> 00:26:03,758
The hasty rebuild explains
The mystery pottery.
431
00:26:05,241 --> 00:26:08,517
It was most probably
That the workers brought
432
00:26:08,551 --> 00:26:12,034
The clay from an area where
There were remains of
433
00:26:12,068 --> 00:26:14,620
Hittite people,
Hittite settlements.
434
00:26:14,655 --> 00:26:17,793
They scooped up the clay
And brought it here
435
00:26:17,827 --> 00:26:21,965
And dumped it on top of
The ninth-century settlement.
436
00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,793
Narrator: as a result,
Gordion stands nearly
437
00:26:24,827 --> 00:26:27,310
20 feet higher
Than before the fire.
438
00:26:30,517 --> 00:26:32,586
Denel: they did not just
Rebuild the city.
439
00:26:32,620 --> 00:26:35,551
They raised the whole city
On top of
440
00:26:35,586 --> 00:26:38,517
A platform of
4 to 5 meters high.
441
00:26:40,724 --> 00:26:44,310
Whoever came to the city
Could probably
442
00:26:44,344 --> 00:26:49,068
See the city from kilometers,
Miles away.
443
00:26:49,103 --> 00:26:51,413
Narrator: gordion is now
An immense citadel.
444
00:26:53,793 --> 00:26:55,310
Its defenses are among
445
00:26:55,344 --> 00:26:57,379
The most formidable
In the ancient world.
446
00:27:00,275 --> 00:27:02,137
But when midas takes
The throne,
447
00:27:02,172 --> 00:27:03,551
The city is under threat.
448
00:27:06,586 --> 00:27:09,275
A rival power threatens
Midas's kingdom.
449
00:27:13,448 --> 00:27:16,724
To survive,
He needs a golden touch.
450
00:27:22,448 --> 00:27:24,793
To fight the mighty
Assyrian empire
451
00:27:24,827 --> 00:27:29,034
To his east, midas forms
An alliance with local kings.
452
00:27:32,034 --> 00:27:35,965
But then he signs a peace
Treaty with the assyrian ruler
453
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,655
When he becomes
Too powerful to oppose.
454
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,172
He reaches out
To the greek kingdoms
455
00:27:45,206 --> 00:27:48,344
In the west and marries
A greek princess,
456
00:27:53,896 --> 00:27:56,448
An alliance that gives
Midas's landlocked
457
00:27:56,482 --> 00:27:59,034
Kingdom invaluable access
To the sea.
458
00:27:59,068 --> 00:28:05,137
♪♪
459
00:28:05,172 --> 00:28:08,379
Elif believes the myth is
A metaphor for midas's
460
00:28:08,413 --> 00:28:11,862
Diplomatic skills and his
Ability to defend his city.
461
00:28:14,965 --> 00:28:19,206
Denel: if we look at the history
Of king midas,
462
00:28:19,241 --> 00:28:22,551
He probably had the golden
Touch, because he was building
463
00:28:22,586 --> 00:28:24,413
Up this monumental,
464
00:28:24,448 --> 00:28:27,724
Substantial, amazing city.
465
00:28:27,758 --> 00:28:29,275
Narrator:
Gordion reaches the height of
466
00:28:29,310 --> 00:28:31,931
Its power and prestige
Under midas.
467
00:28:33,758 --> 00:28:37,551
Legend says he washes away
The golden touch in the river.
468
00:28:40,034 --> 00:28:43,000
Could a discovery in
The citadel at gordion show
469
00:28:43,034 --> 00:28:45,793
This part of the myth
Is also based in truth?
470
00:28:57,310 --> 00:28:59,137
Narrator:
King midas's golden touch
471
00:28:59,172 --> 00:29:01,827
May be a metaphor for
The wealth of gordion
472
00:29:01,862 --> 00:29:03,655
And his diplomatic skills.
473
00:29:06,965 --> 00:29:10,344
But one final part of the myth
Needs more examination.
474
00:29:13,551 --> 00:29:16,620
Grieving because he has turned
His daughter to gold,
475
00:29:18,137 --> 00:29:21,862
Midas begs dionysus to relieve
Him of the golden curse.
476
00:29:24,586 --> 00:29:28,206
The god tells him to wash
In the river pactolus,
477
00:29:28,241 --> 00:29:31,862
And the river runs with gold
As the wish flows away.
478
00:29:36,655 --> 00:29:39,758
Clues found in gordion
May shine a new light
479
00:29:39,793 --> 00:29:41,827
On this final piece of
The legend.
480
00:29:44,310 --> 00:29:47,551
Kerem oguz is
An expert in gold.
481
00:29:50,517 --> 00:29:52,448
He wants to see if the river
482
00:29:52,482 --> 00:29:55,000
Pactolus really does
Flow with gold
483
00:29:55,034 --> 00:29:56,310
As the myth says.
484
00:29:58,517 --> 00:30:01,103
If the legend is true,
Midas washed his hands
485
00:30:01,137 --> 00:30:02,310
Into this river,
486
00:30:02,344 --> 00:30:04,310
Then there should be some gold
In this water.
487
00:30:06,793 --> 00:30:09,068
Narrator: kerem needs
To collect river sediment
488
00:30:09,103 --> 00:30:12,655
And sift it to look
For tiny gold flakes.
489
00:30:12,689 --> 00:30:15,413
In the time of king midas,
To retrieve gold,
490
00:30:15,448 --> 00:30:17,103
They used sheepskins.
491
00:30:17,137 --> 00:30:20,068
They put the sheepskin
Into the river.
492
00:30:21,172 --> 00:30:25,620
Narrator: the idea is
To trap any grains
493
00:30:25,655 --> 00:30:27,379
Of gold that flow
Down the river.
494
00:30:30,586 --> 00:30:32,862
After a few months,
The sheepskin is taken
495
00:30:32,896 --> 00:30:34,068
Out of the water.
496
00:30:35,896 --> 00:30:38,413
Oguz: they used to put
The sheepskin in the sun,
497
00:30:38,448 --> 00:30:43,448
Let it dry, and comb it and
Shake it to get the gold out.
498
00:30:45,413 --> 00:30:48,344
Narrator: there's no pure gold
In the sheepskin today,
499
00:30:50,344 --> 00:30:53,379
But gold can be found
In a different form.
500
00:30:54,931 --> 00:30:57,275
The gold actually is found
501
00:30:57,310 --> 00:31:00,758
In two different combinations
In nature.
502
00:31:00,793 --> 00:31:05,896
One is pure gold,
And one is called electrum.
503
00:31:05,931 --> 00:31:08,655
Narrator: electrum is
A naturally occurring alloy
504
00:31:08,689 --> 00:31:10,103
Of gold and silver,
505
00:31:10,137 --> 00:31:13,000
Known as white gold
To the ancient greeks.
506
00:31:17,620 --> 00:31:19,689
Can electrum explain
The myth of
507
00:31:19,724 --> 00:31:22,551
Midas ridding himself of
The golden touch?
508
00:31:22,586 --> 00:31:28,344
♪♪
509
00:31:28,379 --> 00:31:32,172
Answers may lie
200 miles from gordion
510
00:31:32,206 --> 00:31:35,517
In a city through which
The river pactolus flows,
511
00:31:37,448 --> 00:31:39,655
Sardis.
512
00:31:39,689 --> 00:31:41,620
Cahill: sardis one of
The biggest cities in
513
00:31:41,655 --> 00:31:42,724
The ancient world.
514
00:31:42,758 --> 00:31:45,448
It was famous in greece,
For instance,
515
00:31:45,482 --> 00:31:47,724
As the place where you would
Go to buy perfumes
516
00:31:47,758 --> 00:31:50,344
And exotic textiles.
517
00:31:51,655 --> 00:31:54,137
Narrator: nick cahill
Has studied sardis,
518
00:31:54,172 --> 00:31:57,655
The capital of the kingdom of
Lydia, for over 40 years.
519
00:32:00,793 --> 00:32:04,413
Nick believes a world-changing
Technology develops here
520
00:32:04,448 --> 00:32:07,413
That explains the final part
Of the midas myth.
521
00:32:12,344 --> 00:32:16,137
He uncovers evidence in this
Unusual building in sardis.
522
00:32:17,517 --> 00:32:20,793
When this was excavated,
We found furnaces,
523
00:32:20,827 --> 00:32:23,586
And in those furnaces
Were, uh,
524
00:32:23,620 --> 00:32:25,206
Pieces of cooking pots.
525
00:32:26,689 --> 00:32:29,482
Narrator: ancient people use
Carefully measured amounts of
526
00:32:29,517 --> 00:32:32,241
Precious metals to pay for
Goods and services.
527
00:32:35,689 --> 00:32:37,931
But nick thinks
That using electrum
528
00:32:37,965 --> 00:32:39,586
Gives the lydians a problem.
529
00:32:41,793 --> 00:32:42,793
Cahill:
If you're a lydian trader,
530
00:32:42,827 --> 00:32:45,310
It's hard to use
This silver-rich gold.
531
00:32:45,344 --> 00:32:48,000
You might get ripped off,
Because you don't know how much
532
00:32:48,034 --> 00:32:50,137
Gold and how much silver
There is in the metal
533
00:32:50,172 --> 00:32:51,689
You're using to trade
For your sheep.
534
00:32:53,068 --> 00:32:55,896
Narrator: a discovery
In this building gives clues
535
00:32:55,931 --> 00:32:57,862
To how the lydians
Solve the problem.
536
00:32:57,896 --> 00:33:01,344
We found traces of gold foil
And other equipment
537
00:33:01,379 --> 00:33:02,896
That makes us think
That this area
538
00:33:02,931 --> 00:33:06,172
Was a workshop
For separating electrum into
539
00:33:06,206 --> 00:33:07,413
Pure gold and pure silver.
540
00:33:09,931 --> 00:33:12,586
Narrator: lydian metal workers
Take raw electrum
541
00:33:12,620 --> 00:33:15,620
And heat it to separate it
Into gold and silver.
542
00:33:17,620 --> 00:33:19,448
And from this ancient alchemy,
543
00:33:19,482 --> 00:33:23,689
They create the first known
Coins in the western world.
544
00:33:23,724 --> 00:33:26,689
Cahill: this is a replica
Of a lydian coin.
545
00:33:26,724 --> 00:33:29,862
It's got a design stamped
On the front of it.
546
00:33:29,896 --> 00:33:32,344
And on the back, it's got
A couple of punches.
547
00:33:32,379 --> 00:33:36,344
It's got about 55% gold
And 45% silver,
548
00:33:36,379 --> 00:33:41,275
And that stamp on it
Guarantees to the user
549
00:33:41,310 --> 00:33:43,172
That it has this proportion
550
00:33:43,206 --> 00:33:46,310
Of gold and has
A certain value you can
551
00:33:46,344 --> 00:33:47,586
Guarantee by the state.
552
00:33:49,793 --> 00:33:53,172
Narrator: the invention of
Coinage with a standard purity
553
00:33:53,206 --> 00:33:56,379
Of gold revolutionizes
How we do business.
554
00:33:56,413 --> 00:34:00,724
Lydian people can rely on
These hallmarked gold coins,
555
00:34:00,758 --> 00:34:02,724
And so their economy booms.
556
00:34:04,034 --> 00:34:06,068
The invention of coinage
And currency
557
00:34:06,103 --> 00:34:08,827
Makes the lydians
And their king rich.
558
00:34:10,206 --> 00:34:12,862
You might have heard
The expression, rich as croesus,
559
00:34:12,896 --> 00:34:15,689
And croesus was the king
Of lydia and becomes synonymous
560
00:34:15,724 --> 00:34:16,827
With just fabulous wealth.
561
00:34:18,413 --> 00:34:21,482
Narrator: another spectacular
Discovery in gordion,
562
00:34:21,517 --> 00:34:23,103
Midas's city,
563
00:34:24,724 --> 00:34:27,586
Reveals the impact of
This invention of money.
564
00:34:31,103 --> 00:34:35,724
Archaeologists unearth
A horde of 45 gold coins.
565
00:34:35,758 --> 00:34:38,482
Their telltale design,
566
00:34:38,517 --> 00:34:41,586
A lion's head,
Reveals they are lydian.
567
00:34:43,655 --> 00:34:45,862
Can these coins shed light on
568
00:34:45,896 --> 00:34:47,896
The final part
Of the midas myth?
569
00:34:52,586 --> 00:34:56,965
The coins are evidence that
The lydians now control gordion.
570
00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,413
Cahill: we see the rise of lydia
And a new dynasty of kings.
571
00:35:03,551 --> 00:35:07,034
This is what allows them to
Conquer western turkey
572
00:35:07,068 --> 00:35:10,517
And also gordion, where we find
Those lydian coins.
573
00:35:10,551 --> 00:35:13,379
Narrator: nick believes
The story of midas washing away
574
00:35:13,413 --> 00:35:15,517
The golden touch
Is really that
575
00:35:15,551 --> 00:35:19,689
Of wealth draining away
From gordion to sardis.
576
00:35:19,724 --> 00:35:23,689
Cahill: we have this myth that
Midas came to rid himself of
577
00:35:23,724 --> 00:35:25,689
The golden touch,
And that he washed
578
00:35:25,724 --> 00:35:27,517
The golden touch
Into the river,
579
00:35:27,551 --> 00:35:29,689
Which from then on
Ran with gold,
580
00:35:29,724 --> 00:35:31,068
And this might be
Something like
581
00:35:31,103 --> 00:35:32,896
A metaphor for the transfer
Of power
582
00:35:32,931 --> 00:35:35,862
From gordion to sardis.
583
00:35:35,896 --> 00:35:39,758
Narrator: people once believed
The story of midas to be a myth.
584
00:35:39,793 --> 00:35:42,206
Now, new archaeological
Evidence shows
585
00:35:42,241 --> 00:35:44,862
That much of it
Is grounded in fact.
586
00:35:44,896 --> 00:35:47,965
Can investigators
Throw light on another
587
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:49,551
Ancient myth,
588
00:35:49,586 --> 00:35:52,241
The legend of
The gordian knot?
589
00:35:52,275 --> 00:35:55,655
And can it reveal the fate of
Midas's capital city?
590
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,379
Narrator:
The ancient city of gordion --
591
00:36:09,413 --> 00:36:10,931
3,000 years ago,
592
00:36:10,965 --> 00:36:13,172
This is the home of
King midas.
593
00:36:14,655 --> 00:36:17,482
It is a region plagued
By constant war,
594
00:36:17,517 --> 00:36:21,000
Fought over by powerful kings
And mighty empires.
595
00:36:23,448 --> 00:36:26,655
Now investigators want to know
What happens to gordion
596
00:36:26,689 --> 00:36:27,724
After midas.
597
00:36:30,448 --> 00:36:32,551
Scattered among
The ruins of gordion,
598
00:36:32,586 --> 00:36:36,551
Archaeologists discover
Dozens of bronze arrowheads.
599
00:36:36,586 --> 00:36:40,275
Some of them are embedded
In the walls,
600
00:36:40,310 --> 00:36:43,068
And inside the fortress,
601
00:36:43,103 --> 00:36:45,793
The skeletons of soldiers.
602
00:36:45,827 --> 00:36:48,448
Is this evidence of
Gordion's destruction?
603
00:36:53,931 --> 00:36:56,724
Brian rose returns
To gordion to find out.
604
00:36:58,413 --> 00:37:01,034
A huge construction by
The city walls may
605
00:37:01,068 --> 00:37:02,862
Provide answers.
606
00:37:02,896 --> 00:37:06,103
In addition to the many
Arrowheads and skeletons of
607
00:37:06,137 --> 00:37:09,724
Soldiers that were found in
The excavations of the fort,
608
00:37:09,758 --> 00:37:13,896
We have a giant siege mound
Leading up into the fort.
609
00:37:16,862 --> 00:37:20,689
Narrator: a siege mound or ramp
Is built by ancient armies
610
00:37:20,724 --> 00:37:24,931
So they can storm their
Enemies' city walls.
611
00:37:24,965 --> 00:37:27,862
We have to remember that
The fort that you see
612
00:37:27,896 --> 00:37:30,931
Behind me was originally
Positioned on
613
00:37:30,965 --> 00:37:33,206
A 12-meter-high platform.
614
00:37:33,241 --> 00:37:35,931
Then you have to restore four
Stories above that.
615
00:37:35,965 --> 00:37:37,724
In order to destroy
616
00:37:37,758 --> 00:37:41,068
A fort this high and this
Monumental, an enormous
617
00:37:41,103 --> 00:37:43,000
Siege mound would have
Been necessary.
618
00:37:45,206 --> 00:37:48,793
Narrator: the mound is about
150 yards in length.
619
00:37:48,827 --> 00:37:52,517
It's built of stones and logs
And topped with clay.
620
00:37:56,793 --> 00:37:58,413
Brian wants to know who are
621
00:37:58,448 --> 00:38:00,793
The powerful mystery attackers
Building it,
622
00:38:03,965 --> 00:38:05,793
And if their identity
Can reveal
623
00:38:05,827 --> 00:38:09,620
The fate of midas's one-time
Capital, gordion.
624
00:38:09,655 --> 00:38:14,896
♪♪
625
00:38:14,931 --> 00:38:16,310
Rose: when we studied
The arrowheads,
626
00:38:16,344 --> 00:38:18,482
We found that they were of
A distinctive design,
627
00:38:18,517 --> 00:38:20,379
A distinctive type.
628
00:38:20,413 --> 00:38:23,517
We can associate them
With the persians,
629
00:38:23,551 --> 00:38:26,482
And we know that the persians
Swept through this area in
630
00:38:26,517 --> 00:38:30,137
The middle of the sixth century
B.C., building siege ramps to
631
00:38:30,172 --> 00:38:32,344
Destroy the cities
That stood in their path.
632
00:38:35,448 --> 00:38:37,206
Narrator:
The persian empire is one of
633
00:38:37,241 --> 00:38:39,103
The most powerful in
The ancient world.
634
00:38:40,620 --> 00:38:44,448
In the sixth century b.C.,
Under cyrus the great,
635
00:38:44,482 --> 00:38:48,034
Its army sweeps across central
And western asia,
636
00:38:48,068 --> 00:38:49,620
Taking everything in its path.
637
00:38:54,103 --> 00:38:55,689
Gordion,
638
00:38:55,724 --> 00:38:58,931
Once king midas's
Golden city, falls.
639
00:39:03,689 --> 00:39:07,448
Yet gordion's story doesn't end
With the persian conquest.
640
00:39:11,482 --> 00:39:16,206
200 years after that,
Another army attacks the city.
641
00:39:16,241 --> 00:39:18,172
This army is greek.
642
00:39:18,206 --> 00:39:22,413
It's led by one of the most
Famous warriors in history,
643
00:39:22,448 --> 00:39:25,241
Alexander the great.
644
00:39:25,275 --> 00:39:27,689
It will be alexander
Who writes
645
00:39:27,724 --> 00:39:29,620
The final chapter
In this story.
646
00:39:32,034 --> 00:39:34,551
When midas's father,
Gordias, is crowned,
647
00:39:34,586 --> 00:39:37,793
His ox cart is placed
In a temple
648
00:39:37,827 --> 00:39:39,827
And tied with
A complicated knot.
649
00:39:43,724 --> 00:39:46,275
It's said
That whoever unties it
650
00:39:46,310 --> 00:39:48,206
Will rule asia.
651
00:39:50,620 --> 00:39:53,896
Many come to try,
But all fail.
652
00:39:53,931 --> 00:39:58,379
Then, in the third
Century b.C.,
653
00:39:58,413 --> 00:40:00,482
Alexander arrives in the city,
654
00:40:00,517 --> 00:40:02,931
Intent on conquering
The persian empire.
655
00:40:06,517 --> 00:40:08,827
Faced with gordian's knot,
656
00:40:08,862 --> 00:40:12,034
Alexander simply draws
His sword
657
00:40:12,068 --> 00:40:13,413
And cuts right through it.
658
00:40:15,586 --> 00:40:18,310
He could not unravel it,
So he took out his sword
659
00:40:18,344 --> 00:40:19,517
And sliced through it,
660
00:40:19,551 --> 00:40:22,034
Thereby giving rise to
The expression cutting
661
00:40:22,068 --> 00:40:24,000
The gordian knot,
Finding a fast
662
00:40:24,034 --> 00:40:26,793
And efficient solution
To an intractable problem.
663
00:40:28,206 --> 00:40:31,931
Narrator: alexander goes on to
Conquer vast swaths of asia,
664
00:40:31,965 --> 00:40:33,965
Just as the prophecy foretold.
665
00:40:36,758 --> 00:40:38,034
People often ask if the story
666
00:40:38,068 --> 00:40:39,827
Of the gordian knot could
Be true.
667
00:40:39,862 --> 00:40:42,862
It's told by a number of
Ancient greek historians.
668
00:40:42,896 --> 00:40:44,931
The stories are
More or less identical,
669
00:40:44,965 --> 00:40:48,482
So we have no reason to doubt
That alexander came here,
670
00:40:48,517 --> 00:40:49,862
Found a gordian knot,
671
00:40:49,896 --> 00:40:52,896
Was intent on fulfilling the
Prophecy, and cut through it.
672
00:40:56,068 --> 00:40:59,517
Narrator: today, here in turkey,
Archaeologists uncover
673
00:40:59,551 --> 00:41:00,965
New evidence that brings
674
00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:03,000
The legends of
The past to light.
675
00:41:05,517 --> 00:41:08,413
King midas,
A ruler who wishes for
676
00:41:08,448 --> 00:41:11,448
Everything he touches
To turn to gold.
677
00:41:11,482 --> 00:41:14,862
Now experts have found
His capital city,
678
00:41:14,896 --> 00:41:18,206
The huge tomb he builds
For his father,
679
00:41:18,241 --> 00:41:20,275
And evidence of
His vast wealth.
680
00:41:22,586 --> 00:41:25,068
The story of midas
Is more than a myth.
681
00:41:26,586 --> 00:41:30,862
It's based on the true story
Of a king with a golden touch.
682
00:41:30,896 --> 00:41:36,103
♪♪
683
00:41:36,137 --> 00:41:46,034
♪♪
684
00:41:46,068 --> 00:41:56,034
♪♪
685
00:41:56,068 --> 00:42:01,068
♪♪
54388
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