Key Sites : Troy VI and Troy VIIa Flashcards
What is believed about the Trojan War
That there may have not have been one long war as seen in Homer’s Iliad but actually a series of conflict over a long span of time which Homer condensed
Who discovered Troy
Troy was discovered in the late nineteenth century (1870) by Henrich Schliemann near the village of Hisarlik.
Who was Henrich Schliemann
Schliemann was a German adventurer and who took sole credit for the discovery of Troy, even though he was digging at the site, with the information of British archaeologist Frank Calvert
What was the most significant find at the site
What Schliemann believed to be, Priam’s treasure.
What did Schliemann do to the site
He damaged quite a lot of the various layers of Troy and he didn’t keep detailed records or maps of his finds
What does each layer at Troy represent
A phase in the city’s history. It showed that countless generations lived at Troy and how at times the city grew, sometimes contracted as its peoples fortunes changed
How many layers dose the Hisarlik site contain
The Hisarlik site contains ten layers of ancient settlement (Troy 0-Troy IX), from the first circa 3000 BC to the last around 500 BC.
What is believed about the 6th and 7th layers
That they were when the war took place or could have been King Priams city
Why do some archeologists believe Troy VI was the site of Homer’s Troy
- Troy VI is estimated to have been destroyed at around 1250 BCE and the Trojan war is dated around 1200 BCE
- It had stone walls over 7m high and tall towers - corresponds with the high walls and towers in the Iliad
- Had an estimated population of 10,000 people which would link to the thriving city in the Iliad
Why do some archeologists believe Troy VI is not Homer’s Troy
Troy VI is believed to have been destroyed by an earthquake, not the fire of Homer’s tale.
Why do some archeologists believe Troy VIIa was the site of Homer’s Troy
- Human remains were found which could have been killed in warfare an idea cemented by the three bronze arrow-heads which were also found.
- Troy VIIa revealed single story houses, crowded together and built over a short period. This would fit in with the idea of emergency houses for the Trojans during the Greek attack
Why do some archeologists believe Troy VIIa is not Homer’s Troy
- The crammed houses contrast with Homer’s rich city.
- There were also sunken jars, which might, in fact, not indicate a siege, but a lack of storage space.
