a country in Asia. From whence it derived its name is not certain: some say it was from the river Phryx (now Sarabat), which divides Phrygia from Caria, and empties itself into the Hermus; others from Phrygia, the daughter of Alopus and Europa. The Greek writers tell us, that the country took its name from the inhabitants, and these from the town of Brygion in Macedonia, from whence they first passed into Asia, and gave the name of Phrygia or Brygia to the country where they settled. Bochart is of opinion that this tract was called Phrygia from the Greek verb φρύγω, "to burn or parch;" which, according to him, is a translation of its Hebrew name, derived from a verb of the same signification.

No less various are the opinions of authors as to the exact boundaries of this country; an uncertainty which gave rise to an observation made by Strabo, viz., that the Phrygians and Myrians had distinct boundaries; but that it was scarce possible to ascertain them. The same writer adds, that the Trojans, Myrians, and Lydians, are, by the poets, all blended under the common name of Phrygians, which Claudian extends to the Pisdians, Bithynians, and Ionians. Phrygia Proper, according to Ptolemy, whom we choose to follow, was bounded on the north by Pontus and Bithynia; on the west by Myria, Troas, the Aegean sea, Lydia, Maeonia, and Caria; on the south by Lycia; on the east by Pamphylia and Galatia. It lies between the 37th and 41st degrees of north latitude, extending in longitude from 56 to 62 degrees. The inhabitants of this country, mentioned by Ptolemy, are the Lycaones and Anthemieni, towards Lycia; and Moccadelis or Moccadine, the Cyddefes or Cydides towards Bithynia; and between these the Petini or Speltini, the Moxiani, Phylacenses, and Hierapolite. To these we may add the Berecynites mentioned by Strabo.

Phrygia is commonly divided into the Greater and Lesser Phrygia, called also Troas. But this division did not take place till Troas was subdued by the Phrygians; and hence it is more considered by some Roman writers as a part of Phrygia, than Bithynia, Cappado- Phrygia, or any other of the adjacent provinces. In after ages, the Greater Phrygia was divided into two districts or governments; one called Phrygia Pacatiana, from Pacatianus, who, under Constantine, bore the great office of the praefectus praetorio of the East; the other Phrygia Salutaris, from some miraculous cures supposed to have been performed there by the archangel Michael.

This country, and indeed all Asia Minor, as lying in the fifth and sixth northern climates, was in ancient times greatly celebrated for its fertility. It abounded in all sorts of grain; being, for the most part, a plain country covered with a deep rich soil, and plentifully watered by small rivers. It was in some parts productive of bitumen and other combustible substances. It was well stocked with cattle, having large plains and pasture grounds. The air was anciently deemed most pure and wholesome, though it is now in some parts thought extremely gross, great part of the country lying uncultivated.

In Phrygia Major were anciently several cities of great celebrity; such as Apamea, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Gordium, &c.—There were also some famous rivers; such as Marysa, Maeander, &c. The Maeander is now called Madre or Mindre, and was much celebrated by the ancients for its windings and turnings; from whence all such windings and turnings have been denominated meanders.

The Phrygians accounted themselves the most ancient people in the world. Their origin, however, is extremely dark and uncertain. Josephus and St Jerome say, they were descended from Togarmah, one of Gomer's sons: and that they were known to the Hebrews under the name of Tigranmanes. The Heathen authors derive them from the Brygians, a people of Macedonia. But this is but mere conjecture; and it is a conjecture totally unsupported, except by the similarity of names. Bochart thinks that the Phrygians were the offspring of Gomer the eldest son of Japhet: the word Phrygia being the Greek translation of his name. Josephus makes Gomer the father of the Galatians; but he, by the Galatians, must necessarily mean the Phrygians inhabiting that part of Phrygia which the Galatians had made themselves masters of; the descendants of Gomer being placed by Ezekiel northward of Judaea, near Togarmah (which Bochart takes to be Cappadocia), long before the Gauls passed over into Asia. We are willing to let Gomer enjoy the fine country which Bochart is pleased to give him, and allow him the honour of being the progenitor of the Phrygians, since we know no other person on whom it can be conferred with any degree of probability.

The ancient Phrygians are described as superstitious, voluptuous, and effeminate, without any prudence or foresight, and of such a servile temper, that nothing but stripes and ill usage could make them comply with their duty; which gave rise to several trite and well-known proverbs (A). They are said to have been the first inventors of divination by the fingering, flying, and feeding of birds. Their music, commonly called the Phrygian mood, is alleged by some as an argument of their effeminacy.

This government was certainly monarchical; for all Phrygia was, during the reigns of some kings, subject to one prince. Ninnaeus, Midas, Manis, Gordius, and his descendants, were undoubtedly sovereigns of all Phrygia. But some time before the Trojan war, we find this country divided into several petty kingdoms, and read of divers princes reigning at the same time. Apollodorus mentions a king of Phrygia contemporary with Ilus king of Troy. Cedrenus and others speak of one Teuthran, king of a small country in Phrygia, whose territories were ravaged by Ajax, himself slain in single combat, his royal seat laid in ashes, and his daughter, by name Tecmessa, carried away captive by the conqueror. Homer makes mention of Phoreys and Ascanius, both princes and leaders of the Phrygian auxiliaries that came to the relief of Troy. Tantalus was king of Sipylus only, and its district; a prince no less famous for his great wealth, than infamous for his covetousness and other detestable vices. That Phrygia was subdued either by Ninus, as Diodorus Siculus informs us, or by the Amazons, as we read in Suidas, is not sufficiently warranted. Most authors that speak of Gordius tell us, that the Phrygians having sent to consult an oracle in order to know how they might put an end to the intestine broils which rent their country into many factions and parties, received for answer, that the most effectual means to deliver themselves and their country from the calamities they groaned under, was to commit the government to a king. This advice they followed accordingly, and placed Gordius on the throne.

Apamea was the chief emporium of all Asia Minor.—Thither resorted merchants and traders from all parts of Greece, Italy, and the neighbouring islands. Besides, we know from Syncellus, that the Phrygians were for some time masters of the sea; and none but trading nations ever prevailed on that element. The country produced many choice and useful commodities, which afforded considerable exports. They had a safe coast, convenient harbours, and whatever may incline us to think that they carried on a considerable trade. But as most of the Phrygian records are lost, we will not dwell on conjectures so difficult to be ascertained.

We have no set form of their laws; and as to their learning, since we are told that for some time they enjoyed the sovereignty of the sea, we may at least allow them a competent skill in geography, geometry, and astronomy; and add to these, from what we have said above, a more than ordinary knowledge of music.

Some have been of opinion that the Phrygian language bore a great resemblance to the Greek; but

(A) "Phryges fero sapiunt, Phryx verberatus melior, Phryx non minus quam Spyntharus, &c.;" which proverbs intimate their servile temper; and show that they were more fit to bewail misfortunes in an unmanly manner, than to prevent them by proper measures. Their music, too, was suited to their effeminate temper. The Doric mood was a kind of grave and solid music; the Lydian a doleful and lamentable harmony; but the Phrygian chiefly calculated to effeminate and enervate the mind. But this character is contradicted by others. the contrary is manifest from the few Phrygian words which have been transmitted to us, and carefully collected by Bochart and Rudbeckius. To these we may add the authority of Strabo, who, after attempting to derive the name of a Phrygian city from the Greek, concludes, that it is a difficult matter to discover any similitude between the barbarous words of the Phrygian language and the Greek. The Phrygian tongue, after the experiment made by Plemmetichus king of Egypt, was looked upon by the Egyptians as the most ancient language of the world. But other nations, particularly the Scythians, refused to submit to their opinion, as founded on an argument of no real weight. "As the two children (say they) had never heard the voice of any human creature, the word bec, or bekkos, the first they uttered, was only an imitation of the goats that had suckled them, and happened to be a Phrygian word signifying bread (B)."

We have already said, that the Phrygians were superstitious; their idols were consequently very numerous. The chief of these was Cybele, who went by a variety of names. (See CYBELE.) They also worshipped Bacchus under the name of Sabazios; and his priests they called Saboi.

The history of their kings is dark and uncertain, and the dates of their several reigns and actions cannot now be fixed; we shall refer such of our readers, therefore, as wish to know what is certain respecting them, to the Ancient Universal History, already quoted more than once in the present article. See also Gordius, Midas, &c. For Phrygia Minor, see Troy.