Troy, Greek Troia, also called Ilios or Ilion, Latin Troia, Troja, or Ilium, ancient city in northwestern Anatolia that holds an enduring place in both literature and archaeology. The legend of the Trojan War is the most notable theme from ancient Greek literature and forms the basis of Homer’s Iliad. Although the actual nature and size of the historical settlement remain matters of scholarly debate, the ruins of Troy at Hisarlık, Turkey, are a key archaeological site whose many layers illustrate the gradual development of civilization in northwestern Asia Minor.
Geography
Ancient Troy commanded a strategic point at the southern entrance to the Dardanelles (Hellespont), a narrow strait linking the Black Sea with the Aegean Sea via the Sea of Marmara. The city also commanded a land route that ran north along the west Anatolian coast and crossed the narrowest point of the Dardanelles to the European shore. In theory, Troy would have been able to use its site astride these two lines of communication to exact tolls from trading vessels and other travelers using them; the actual extent to which this took place, however, remains unclear.
The Troad (Greek Troias; “Land of Troy”) is the district formed by the northwestern projection of Asia Minor into the Aegean Sea. The present-day ruins of Troy itself occupy the western end of a low descending ridge in the extreme northwest corner of the Troad. Less than 4 miles (6 km) to the west, across the plain of the Scamander (Küçük Menderes) River, is the Aegean Sea, and toward the north are the narrows of the Dardanelles.
Archaeology
The search for Troy at Hisarlık
The approximate location of Troy was well known from references in works by ancient Greek and Latin authors. But the exact site of the city remained unidentified until modern times. A large mound, known locally as Hisarlık, had long been understood to hold the ruins of a city named Ilion or Ilium that had flourished in Hellenistic and Roman times. In 1822 Charles Maclaren suggested that this was the site of Homeric Troy, but for the next 50 years his suggestion received little attention from Classical scholars, most of whom regarded the Trojan legend as a mere fictional creation based on myth, not history. The German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann deserves full credit for adopting Maclaren’s identification and demonstrating to the world that it was correct. In seven major and two minor campaigns between 1870 and 1890, Schliemann conducted excavations on a large scale mainly in the central area of the Hisarlık mound, where he exposed the remains of a walled citadel. After Schliemann’s death in 1890, the excavations were continued (1893–94) by his colleague Wilhelm Dörpfeld and later (1932–38) by an expedition from the University of Cincinnati headed by Carl W. Blegen. After a lapse of some 50 years, excavations resumed (1988–2005) under the leadership of University of Tübingen archaeologist Manfred Korfmann and continued after his death.
Questions of Troy’s physical size, population, and stature as a trade entrepôt and regional power became subjects of intense scholarly dispute following the resumption of excavations at Hisarlık in the late 1980s. Although Homeric Troy was described as a wealthy and populous city, by this time some scholars had come to accept the probability of a lesser Troy a relatively minor settlement, perhaps a princely seat. Beginning in 1988, Korfmann’s team investigated the terrain surrounding the citadel site in search of wider settlement. Korfmann’s findings at Hisarlık, drawn from geomagnetic surveying and isolated excavations, led him to conclude in favour of a greater Troy that is, a settlement of some size and prosperity. His presentation of this perspective in a 2001 exhibition, accompanied by a controversial model reconstruction of the city, sparked especially intense scholarly debate over the city’s true nature.
Trojan War
Helen of Troy
Troy,
Troy is one of the best ancient city in Turkey. Troy is thirty minutes out of Çanakkale near the mouth of the Dardanelles. Çanakkale is theTroys built on top of one another is fascinating. The nine levels of Troy are well documented and easy to follow.The Roman amphitheatre is very well preserved. You can see the troy ruins at site…
It is not worth paying 60 lira for the tour. You can go by yourself by getting a minibus in Çanakkale – that is what I did and spent 25 lira. The site is good, but in my opinion is not a mandatory place to visit.
Compared to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities on the Mediterranean, the ruins of Troy are a disappointment, but for any fan of Homer or lover of mythology, the trip is well worth your time. (even if does include a few fake Trojan horses.) or more info read my blog. http://havefunflysafe.com/2013/02/13/in-ruins/
Troy is one of the most famous cities of Ancient World.City was subject to Legends Iliad and Odyssey of Homer. If you are around Canakkale you must see Troy. Most of the parts of city is underground and not excavated. So If you consider to see a big ancient city like Ephesus or Ancient Rome, it would be a frustration….
That is one of a spectacular place in Turkey realy nice to see that antique city and what they build so long time ago includig sewage under the city. But what I get crazy last time I have visited this city with my Chinese client, they make renavation for the entrance and the walk way they use Chinese granite all…
In order to understand Troy, one must read the Homeros' s Iliada. Troy is very important for humankind. this ancient ruins still hides many important messages for humanity. The excavations still goes on. Not only the Troia but the region as a cultural park has many things to say. Ida mountain, Troy, river gods of the region. Please make a…
It's a place full of different period of history throughout the centuries and milleniums, all visible in the layers of ruins! Strongly recommend to engage a knowledgable guide for the visit. Some reading on Troy/Troia history, or watch any Trojan War movie before visiting, will make the trip more interesting too. We visited the 2000 yrs old Pompeii ancient city…
There really isn't that much to see and what is there is poorly described. You only need about an hour to go around the site. It's much better to go on to Pergamon/Bergama and spend more time there. The wooden horse and the guys dressed up as soldiers are particularly cheesy.
Fascinating – you stand on centuries of history. There's not a lot of ruins to see, but if you have an interest in history it's a must-do.
Unfortunately, at the gate there's what's claimed to be a replica of the wooden horse – this version has glass windows!
And say hello to the many stray cats that live here -…
The weather was gray and cool, and suitably moody. Our Gate 1 group toured Troy for about an hour and I wished for a bit longer, but we were tightly scheduled and, in truth, there's not that much to see. The city of Homer's Iliad is the sixth or maybe seventh settlement, sandwiched into a whole series of settlements since…