Between Phrygia and Cilicia: the Porsuk area at the beginning of the Iron Age

Abstract

Porsuk is strategically situated in the northern foothills of the Taurus mountains (see map, fig 1), controlling one of the most important passes between Cilicia and the Anatolian plateau. It seems that this area, which was in the sphere of Hittite culture during the Late Bronze Age, turns towards the southern regions of Cilicia during Porsuk period IV. We shall firstly re-examine the evidence for the Early Iron Age at Porsuk in the light of recent discoveries from a number of other sites. We will then examine evidence that might demonstrate relations between Porsuk IV and Cilicia.During subsequent centuries the situation seems to revert to that pertaining in the LBA: relations with the plateau tend to become more intense. From this point of view, we shall have a look at the Phrygian problem. Does this zone become a Phrygian protectorate with the rise of the Gordion state? Or are the exchanges between them only commercial or diplomatic? We shall try to give a preliminary shape to a possible answer by investigating the so-called ‘Phrygian’ evidence.