Tmolus

Mount Tmolus, also known as Mount Bozdağ in modern times, is a mountain located in western Türkiye, near the ancient cities of Sardis and Hypaepa.

In Greek mythology, Mount Tmolus is personified as the god Tmolus, a mountain god and the son of Ares, the god of war, and Theogone.

Tmolus was considered the divine protector of the mountain and its surrounding regions.

One of the most well-known myths associated with Mount Tmolus is the musical contest between Apollo, the god of music and the lyre, and Pan, the god of the wild and rustic music played on the pipes.

The contest took place on the slopes of Mount Tmolus, with Tmolus himself serving as the judge.

Tmolus declared Apollo the winner, but King Midas, who was present at the contest, disagreed and favored Pan.

Mount Tmolus was historically significant due to its proximity to Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.

Sardis was a wealthy and powerful city, known for its riches, particularly gold, which was said to be found in the sands of the Pactolus River, a tributary of the Hermus River that flowed from Mount Tmolus.

Mount Tmolus was also associated with the worship of Cybele, the Phrygian mother goddess who was later assimilated into Greek and Roman mythology.

Cybele was closely connected to nature and the wild, and her worship often involved ecstatic rites conducted in mountainous regions like Tmolus.

The Pactolus River and King Midas Another famous legend associated with Mount Tmolus involves King Midas, who, after receiving the golden touch from Dionysus, bathed in the waters of the Pactolus River to rid himself of the curse.

The sands of the river, which flowed from Mount Tmolus, were said to have been filled with gold ever since, contributing to the wealth of Lydia and the surrounding region.