Troy Written Sources

Question 1

The Illiad

Information about the Trojan War

Answer 1

• Formed the Trojan myth and the Epic Cycle

Question 2

The Illiad

Usefulness and Reliability

Answer 2

Usefulness

• Offers the most information we have about the Trojan War

Reliability
Pros:

• Alludes to the world of the Mycenean Bronze Age

Cons:

• Written 400 years after the event took place (good guacamole that is a long time after)
• Derived from historical and legendary materials that were based on oral tradition
• The world described by Homer is closer to the Archaic period in which he lived

Question 3

Linear B

Information about the Trojan War

Answer 3

• Used for economic administration of the Mycenaean palaces (Knossos, Pylos etc.)
• References a large group of slave women and their children at Pylos → foreigners from the coast of Asia Minor or even as far as Troy who had been captured by Myceneaen raiding parties
• Troop dispositions → Homer’s famous catalogue of ships in which the Greeks sailed to Troy

Question 4

Linear B

Usefulness and Reliability

Answer 4

Usefulness

• Gives some clues to events relating to the Trojan War

Reliability
Pros:

• Literally none, these are some pretty unreliable pieces of clay

Cons:

• The evidnece is indirect and inconclusive
• Does not contain any recognisable reference to Troy or anyone mentioned in the Illiad

Question 5

Hittite Diplomatic Archives

Information about the Trojan War

Answer 5

• Identified Troy as Wilusa, known in Greek as “Ilios”
• Identified Wilusa’s king as Paris
• Recorded that three wars had been fought there since 1300 BCE, the probable time of the Trojan War

Question 6

Hittite Diplomatic Archive

Usefulness and Reliability

Answer 6

Usefulness

• One of the more useful sources

Reliability
Pros:

• Aligns with probable time of the Trojan War
• Identifies “Paris”

Cons:

• Does not specifically reference “Troy”, Achilles, or any of the events of the Trojan War
• OLD.

Question 7

Euripides’ Women of Troy

Information About the Trojan War

Answer 7

• A tragedy that depicts the fate of women of Troy after the city fell
• Explores the suffering of the innocent civilians

Question 8

Euripides’ Women of Troy

Usefulness and Reliability

Answer 8

Usefulness

• Offers some insight into the post-war consequences and lives of the conquered Trojans

Reliability
Pros:

• noopity noop

Cons:

• Dramatised version
• Written in 450 BCE - the Trojan War happened in the 12th Century BCE