Turkey

 Istanbul TURKEY : 

A great "Surprise" card sent by a fellow member of the group..  a wonderfully interesting card of ancient site in Turkey..  The  cards shows 'The Mifas Monument"  a "Phrygian"  rock cut Tomb  dedicated  Midas  The Phrygian King.( 700 BCE ).  Thank you Boran for this nice card  and also your kind message.  This is incredibly interesting history !
Posted Istanbul. 17 March : Arrived Sydney 14 April. Taveled  28 days .. Thank you Boran.

The Midas Monument .

In the 8th Century The Phrygians started some of the very earliest "Rock Cut Momuments" such as The Midas Monument  (700 BCE) dedicated to the famous Phrygian King..
 The most prominent part of the Midas Monument is The high rock cut facade with an incised decoration apparently showing a pedimented temple front with " acroteria"  faced with terracootta and  a niche at the bottom centre. The niches walls bear graffitti readin" MATAR  (MOTHER (ie. The Godess of Cybele") and then most likely held a statue of Cybele.
   The Monument carries a dedication in "Old Phrygian" by Ates son of Ark.. to MIDAS  and probably dayes from the 7th or 6th Century ( BCE ). The inscription mentions Midas with his titles MIDAI  LAVAGTAEI  VANAKTEI.  and probably means : Leader of the people and the ruler.
 Info courtesy ofWikipedia.: