The “Decline” of Bronze Age wanax: The Phrygian vanak-, the Priest-King, the ‘Wanax to Basileus Model’ and the Power Relations in Phrygian Society

Abstract

The article discusses the nature of the Phrygian ruler’s institution in order to elucidate its place in the potestary-political system of the Phrygian society. On the basis of the assumption that the inscription on the Midas Monument’s rock-cut façade was consecrated not to the king Midas, but to the goddess Mida, an attempt has been made to stress the necessity of further analysis of the questions concerning the meaning of the titles lavagt-, vanak- and others, the origins of the supreme titles in Phrygian titulature, the presence of the priest-king in the Phrygian potestary-political system, the validity of the so-called ‘Wanax to Basileus Model’ in view of the Phrygian example, etc.