Evidence for Troy and the Trojan War

Question 1

History or Myth?

Answer 1

Historical Evidence

• Archaeological evidence from Troy VI and VII suggests that the city experienced conflicts that could have inspired the myth. The destruction layers, fortifications, and references to Wilusa in Hittite texts lend some credibility to the idea that a historical event underlies the legend.
• The core story is a long siege of a powerful city, and may reflect real historical events, possibly embellished over centuries through oral tradition.

Mythological Elements
Many aspects of the Trojan War, as told by Homer and others, are clearly mythological. The involvement of gods, the superhuman feats of heroes, and the intricate prophecies are typical of myth rather than history.

Question 2

Schliemann: Fraud

Amateur Archaeological Methods

Answer 2

• Trespassing on Turkish land against Turkish law
• Did not obtain a permit to excavate from the Turkish authorities
• Dug a huge 45-foot deep gash across the middle of the site
• Threw out many valuable artefacts including Priam’s palace and clay tablets
• Neglected documenting the locations of uncovered artefacts
• Ignored stratigraphy

Question 3

Schliemann: Fraud

Incorrect Identification of Evidence

Answer 3

• Claimed to have discovered the “Mask of Agamemnon” during the excavation of a shaft tomb in 1876, due to it having facial hair and ears to make it stand out more
• Based purely on his own speculation, no gravestone indicating it was where Agamemnon was buried
• Announced that he had found Agamemnon’s mask as he was finishing excavations, desperate to leave with a memorable find
• Claimed that the mask dated back to Agamemnon’s rule in the 16th century BCE, based off his own interpretations of the Iliad and basic stratigraphy
• Modern analysis has determined that King Agamemnon lived during the 12th century BCE (Late Bronze Age) [so Schliemann was wrong about the date and the historical info]
• Also incorrectly named the Jewels of Helen

Question 4

Schliemann: Fraud

Unethical Handling of Artefacts

Answer 4

• Responded poorly to a legitimate claim from the Ottoman authorities to hand over custody of the artefacts found on Turkish land and relating to Turkish history after finding gold in Troy II in 1873
• Smuggled Priam’s Treasure out of Ottoman territory gradually
• Incriminated his wife by claiming she smuggled out treasure in her shawl when she was actually in Athens
• Falsified his journal logs to claim that Sophia Schliemann was present during the discover of Priam’s Treasure
• Schliemann chose to label unrelated artefacts as a part of Homeric Troy = lack of respect towards archaeology, seeing artefacts as trinkets

Question 5

Schliemann: Father

Discovery of Hissarlik

Answer 5

• The uncovering of Hissarlik as the true location of Homeric Troy would not have been possible without Schliemann, who funded primary excavations with Calvert
• Revolutionised the search for Troy
• Discovered multiple layers of Tory

Question 6

Schliemann: Father

Financial Support and Entrepreneurial Nature

Answer 6

• Gained his fortune by dealing in gold dust in the California Gold Rush in 1851 and trading in Europe
• Claimed his search was motivated by a passion for the myth
• His romanticised views led him to Frank Calvert, where he would fund the primary excavations
• Used his lifetime’s savings to finance the dig

Question 7

Troy VIh

Evidence for Different Layers of Troy

Answer 7

• Rebuilt in the Middle Bronze Age
• Wilhelm Dorpfeld published results on Troy VIh and it was believed to be Homeric Troy for 40 years

Destroyed by an earthquake, not warfare

• Walls off-kelter, stones thrown around

Continuity between Troy VIIh and VIIa

• There was not a new people living there after a war

Question 8

Troy VIIa

Evidence for Different Layers of Troy

Answer 8

• Rebuilt after an earthquake
• Great walls
• Houses built much closer together

Homeric Troy? YES
Blegen:

• arrowheads buried in walls
• increased storage capacity: buried jars and divided buildings
• unburied bodies

Korfmann:

• Aegean (Greek) spear- and arrow-heads found
• gathered slingstones
• unburied bodies
• partially-burned young girl
• destroyed by fire