Gordion Foundation Altıneller Souvenir Market, which offers breezes of Polatlı history, was opened at Armada AVM on New Year’s Eve.
Altıneller Souvenir Market, which offers different alternatives for those looking for New Year’s souvenirs as we enter the new year, will be open to visitors between 13-15 December at Armada-2 Ground Floor.
WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO HISTORICAL TOURISM
Workshop manager Aytaç Yıldırım, who made a statement to ankaranethaber.com reporter at the souvenir stand opened in Armada AVM and said that Altıneller Production Workshop is located in Polatlı. Yıldırım said, “Our workshop, which we opened two years ago with the support of Ankara Development Agency and Polatlı Municipality, continues its activities through the Gordion Foundation. As Gordion Foundation, we are also working together with Polatlı Historical Areas Promotion Center (POTA) to take the promotions to a higher level.” he said.
Stating that one of the main aims of the production workshop is to provide employment for women and transform their manual labor into their own needs, Yıldırım said, “Another aim is that since Gordion, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is very important to us, we chose to make productions that will contribute to historical tourism in the region. We started this business because we wanted to make this production in our own workshop, together with women. We have souvenirs made of ceramics, polyester, silver and copper, consisting of historical products, objects and sculptures from our region. Since we do not have much of a commercial purpose, we sell these souvenirs slightly above their cost.
We have been here for two days, we are really pleased with the interest here. People are curious, they come, look, buy the products they like and gift them to their friends and loved ones.” he said.
MIDAS WITH THE DONKEY EAR
Stating that the Phrygian King Midas, who lived in the city of Gordion, was one of the most prominent kings of the period, Yıldırım said, “Everyone calls Midas ‘donkey-eared’. But to talk about the real realistic story; In fact, Midas was remembered this way because he had a very good intelligence network in the last period of his reign and heard everything that was going on. Since the animal with the most sensitive ears is the donkey, they actually give it a kind of nickname. They say, ‘This man hears everything we do, at best he has donkey ears.'” he said.
HAND MADE PRODUCTS
Fatma Ayten Yücel, one of the female entrepreneurs who opened a stand at the Altıneller Souvenir Market, stated that she was a painting graduate and said, “I used to paint oil paintings. I have been working on ceramic products for the last three years. “I prepare the ceramic dough of the products I make myself, draw them, and finally bake them in the oven to make the products I handcraft ready for sale.” she said. (source:ankaranethaber.com)
