2.1 Key Sites Troy

Question 1

Where does most of our knowledge of Troy come from?

Answer 1

Homers the illead however it’s contradicted by the actual architecture there which leads to scepticism as to the realism of this epic

Question 2

Evidence for Troy VI being the site of Homer’s troy.

Answer 2

It was destroyed around 1250BC, Trojan wars dated to 1200 (traditionally)
It seems to have been a rich city with numerous large houses
Stone walls over 7m high and the Iliad refers to the high walls of troy
Walls have towers like homer described in the Iliad
Extended over a large area with a high population which indicates a thriving city like in the Iliad

Question 3

Evidently against Troy VI

Answer 3

Archaeologists believe it was destroyed by an earthquake, not the fire that ancient literature suggests

Question 4

Evidence for Troy VIIa?

Answer 4

Around for only 30-40 years
- has large towers
- storage jars underground? where they storing things due to siege
- destroyed by a large fire like the writings of Virgil describe
- partial human remains found which could indicate killed in warfare
- three bronze arrow heads found

Question 5

Evidence against Troy VIIa?

Answer 5

• houses crammed together suggesting the city was not rich unlike homers description of Troy
• sunken jars could not indicate siege but simply a lack of space that people could keep food in.

Question 6

Who excavated Troy and when?

Answer 6

Heinrich Schliemann.
Late nineteenth century.
Many people believe he caused considerable damage to the part where homers Troy could of been
Due to the digging being done quickly and very roughly