Bryges and Phrygians: Parallelism between the Balkans and Asia Minor through Archeological, Linguistic and Historical Evidence

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to the efforts to delineate the relations between the Balkans and Asia Minor, notably between the Bryges and the Phrygians, through archaeological, linguistic and historical evidence. There are close analogies between the matt-painted geometrical pottery from the south of the central Balkans of the Early Iron Age and the Phrygian geometric painted pottery of the 8th century B.C. There are also similarities between the onomastic material from this Balkan area and Phrygia Maior. Historical sources confirm numerous contacts between the Balkans and Asia Minor in the Transitional Period and the Early Iron Age, related with the Brygian migration.