9 powerful ancient kingdoms you’ve probably never heard of

Phrygia The Phrygians (pronounced FRIJ-ans) commanded a wide swath of modern Turkey from around 1200 to 700 B.C. Their most famous ruler was the legendary King Midas, who resided in the kingdom’s capital of Gordion.

Gandhara This ancient mountain kingdom in what is now northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan is best known today for its Greek-influenced Buddhist art—the result of Alexander the Great conquering the region in 327 B.C. A serene bodhisattva sculpture from Gandhara embodies the ancient mix of East and West.

Khotan Another Buddhist kingdom, Khotan derived its power from its strategic location on the Silk Road in modern-day western China, thriving for a thousand years before it was conquered in 1006. A.D. The kingdom’s Rawak Stupa is an ancient Buddhist shrine that rises nearly 10 metres (30 feet) above the Taklamakan Desert.

Chimú This powerful kingdom ruled what is now northern Peru for almost 500 years before being conquered by the Inca around 1470 A.D. The Chimú capital of Chan Chan was one of the largest pre-Columbian cities in the Americas.

Nri The medieval kingdom of Nri (also known as Igbo) ruled in what is now Nigeria from the 10th century A.D. until its defeat by British colonial powers in 1911. This bronze ornament, which would have decorated the staff of a powerful Nri authority, is an example of the kingdom’s elaborate metal work.

Kandy The monarchs of Kandy, who once ruled much of the island of Sri Lanka, were charged with protecting a relic tooth of the Buddha, which is still housed in a temple in their historic capital. Kandy was the seat of Sri Lankan kings from the 15th century until their overthrow by British colonial forces in the 19th century.

Saba The Sabean kingdom’s best-known monarch was the Queen of Sheba, who in biblical accounts rivalled King Solomon in her wealth and power. Sheba’s temples, including the Bar’an temple dedicated to the moon god Almaqah, were worshipped at for more than a thousand years and still stand today in Yemen.

Iceni Another powerful queen from history was Boudicca, who led the Iceni against the Roman invasion of Britain around 60 A.D. Archaeologists are still excavating Iceni and Roman sites beneath modern-day Colchester, the seat of the ancient queen.

Colchis Famed in Greek myth as the land of the golden fleece, Colchis was powered by a wealth of gold collected from the Caucasus mountain in what is today the nation of Georgia. The Colchian city of Vani thrived for nearly 700 years before it was mysteriously destroyed in the 1st century B.C.