Was there a Trojan War? Flashcards
According to Korfmann, was is not the purpose of the new Troy project?
not purpose of understanding Homer’s Iliad or Trojan War (Don’t discard artefacts not related to Troy to make assumptions)
What archeological activity has been undertaken over the last 16 years?
more than 350 scholars, scientists, and technicians from nearly 20 countries have been collaborating on excavations at site of north western Turkey.
What date does Korfmann give to the destruction of Troy? Evidence?
destroyed in 1180BC (date correspond to level 6 and 7a), probs by war.
evidence include: conflagration, skeletons, heaps of sling bullets
sling bullets would have been put away for another war/attack if defence was successful
What does Korfmann suggest was the status of troy during late bronze age?
had great importance in controlling access to Mediterranean to the Black Sea (dardenelles), and from Asia Minor to South East Europe. Also very large city and its citadel unparalleled to wider region and unmatched anywhere in SE Europe.
Strength and power of troy seen in repeated attacks, indicated by repairs undertaken to citadel fortification:
- strong= relation with superpowers
- location
- access to trade routes and resources
outline finding of new excavation?
- verification of existence of lower city
- surrounded by u shaped fortification ditch (by magnometer survey and 7 excavator)
- existence and quality of buildings within ditch by several trial trenches and excav.
- layout of city (Intensive and systemic pottery survey in 2003)
- cemetery outside ditch to south
- troy 15 times larger than previously thought
Why is the location of Troy not a focus point in Iliad?
As homer mainly concerned with describing wrath of Achilles and its consequences. Used as poetic setting for conflict between men and god.
What does Korfmann conclude about whether or not the Trojan War happened at Troy (Hissarlik)?
conclude that there were several armed conflicts in and around troy at Late Bronze Age . Although don’t know whether all or some of conflicts formed into the “trojan War’ or if there was an especially memorable, single ‘trojan war’
- evidence of continious wars at Wilusa vs Greece
- not enough evidence to approve/disapprove Iliad
- Iliad was a memory of an event that took place
Why hard to prove if Trojan war occurred?
- dont know if several armed conflicts or just one big war.
- based on memory of historical events, which may have changed overtime as believed Homer wrote Iliad years after event.
- mythology
- no location details
- not specific (focus on gods)
- no evidence to support existence of indivi.
Evidence of Troy’s stronger ties with Anatolia than Aegean?
local pottery, cremation burials.
Anatolian specialists showed that Troy in Late Bronze Age was kingdom of Wilusa, powerful enough to conclude treaties with Hittite empire, even Egyptians familiar with city
