The Search for Troy

Take a look at some of the more recent (2002) archaeological finds from the excavations of Troy, a city in ancient Greece immortalized by Homer’s book Illiad.

The Search for Troy brings to life the archaeological finds of Troy, reenacts how life was in the ancient city and showcases the history behind the fabled city.

According to general history, ancient Greek historians variously placed the Trojan War in the 12th, 13th, or 14th centuries BC: Eratosthenes to 1184 BC, Herodotus to 1250 BC, and Duris of Samos to 1334 BC – while modern archaeologists associate Homeric Troy with archaeological Troy VII (a walled city spanning the centuries c. 1300 to c. 950 BC – around the same time as the collapse of the Bronze Age).

Although Troy was thought to be the stuff of legends for a long time, the rise of critical history saw interest and speculation amongst archaeologists to find the fabled city.

It wasn’t until 1873, where German archaeologist Heinrich Hchliemann identified the position of the city as it is known today: Hisarlik. A location found on the northwestern coast of Turkey, near the modern city Çanakkale.

Since Troy’s supposed discovery, excavations have been on-going.

In more recent years, the Turkish government have stopped numerous dig-attempts by foreign archaeologists. They have however, granted permits (2014) to a privately funded Turkish university called Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The university continue the excavations to this day, rediscovering history from the classical antiquity.