Troy (tur. Truva), the second name is Ilion, an ancient city in the north-west of Asia Minor, off the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was known thanks to the ancient Greek epics, discovered in 1870. during the excavations by G. Schliemann of the Hisarlyk hill. The city gained particular fame thanks to the myths about the Trojan War and the events described in Homer's poem "The Iliad", according to which the 10-year war of the coalition of the Achaean kings led by Agamemnon - the king of Mycenae against Troy ended with the fall of the city - fortress. The people who inhabited Troy are called Tevkras in ancient Greek sources.

Troy is a mythical city. For many centuries, the reality of the existence of Troy was questioned - it existed like a city from a legend. But there have always been people looking for a reflection of real history in the events of the Iliad. However, serious attempts to search for the ancient city were made only in the 19th century. In 1870, Heinrich Schliemann, during excavations of the mountain village of Gissrlyk on the Turkish coast, stumbled upon the ruins of an ancient city. Continuing to excavate to a depth of 15 meters, he unearthed treasures belonging to an ancient and highly developed civilization. These were the ruins of the famous Homeric Troy. It is worth noting that Schliemann unearthed a city that was built earlier (1000 years before the Trojan War), further research showed that he simply went through Troy, since it was erected on the ruins of the ancient city he found.

Troy and Atlantis are one and the same. In 1992, Eberhard Zangger suggested that Troy and Atlantis are the same city. He built a theory on the similarity of the description of cities in ancient legends. However, there was no distribution and scientific basis for this assumption. This hypothesis has not received wide support.

The Trojan War broke out because of a woman. According to Greek legend, the Trojan War broke out because one of the 50 sons of King Priam, Paris, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. The Greeks sent troops precisely to take Helen. However, according to some historians, this is most likely only the pinnacle of the conflict, that is, that Last straw which gave rise to the war. Prior to this, presumably, there were many trade wars between the Greeks and the Trojans, who controlled trade along the entire coast in the area of ​​the Dardanelles.

Troy held out for 10 years thanks to outside help. According to available sources, the army of Agamemnon encamped in front of the city on the seashore, without besieging the fortress from all sides. The king of Troy, Priam, took advantage of this, establishing close ties with Caria, Lydia and other regions of Asia Minor, which during the war provided him with assistance. As a result, the war turned out to be very protracted.

The Trojan horse really existed. This is one of the few episodes of that war that has not found its archaeological and historical confirmation. Moreover, there is not a word about the horse in the Iliad, but Homer describes it in detail in his Odyssey. And all the events associated with the Trojan horse and their details were described by the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid, 1st century BC. BC, i.e. almost 1200 years later. Some historians suggest that the Trojan horse meant some kind of weapon, such as a battering ram. Others claim that this is how Homer called the Greek sea vessels. It is possible that there was no horse at all, and Homer used it in his poem as a symbol of the death of gullible Trojans.

The Trojan horse got into the city thanks to a cunning trick of the Greeks. According to legend, the Greeks spread a rumor that there was a prophecy that if a wooden horse were to stand within the walls of Troy, he could forever protect the city from Greek raids. Most of the inhabitants of the city were inclined to believe that the horse should be brought into the city. However, there were also opponents. The priest Laocoön offered to burn the horse or throw it off a cliff. He even threw a spear at the horse, and everyone heard that the horse was empty inside. Soon a Greek named Sinon was captured, telling Priam that the Greeks built a horse in honor of the goddess Athena in order to atone for many years of bloodshed. This was followed by tragic events: during the sacrifice to the god of the sea Poseidon, two huge snakes swam out of the water, which strangled the priest and his sons. Seeing this as an omen from above, the Trojans decided to roll the horse into the city. It was so huge that it did not fit through the gate and had to dismantle part of the wall.

The Trojan horse caused the fall of Troy. According to legend, on the night after the horse entered the city, Sinon released from its womb the warriors hiding inside, who quickly killed the guards and flung open the city gates. The city, which fell asleep after violent festivities, did not even put up strong resistance. Several Trojan warriors, led by Aeneas, tried to save the palace and the king. By ancient Greek myths, the palace fell thanks to the giant Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who broke the front door with his ax and killed King Priam.

Heinrich Schliemann, who found Troy and accumulated during his life huge fortune was born into a poor family. He was born in 1822 in the family of a country pastor. His homeland is a small German village near the Polish border. His mother died when he was 9 years old. Father was harsh, unpredictable and self-centered person, who loved women very much (for which he lost his post). At the age of 14, Heinrich was separated from his first love, the girl Minna. When Heinrich was 25 years old and already becoming a famous businessman, he finally asked in a letter for Minna's hand in marriage with her father. The answer was that Minna had married a farmer. This message completely broke his heart. Passion for Ancient Greece appeared in the soul of the boy thanks to his father, who read the Iliad to children in the evenings, and then presented his son with a book on world history with illustrations. In 1840, after a long and exhausting job in a grocery store that nearly cost him his life, Heinrich boards a ship bound for Venezuela. On December 12, 1841, the ship fell into a storm and Schliemann was thrown into the icy sea, a barrel saved him from death, by which he held on until he was rescued. During his life, he learned 17 languages ​​and made a large fortune. However, the peak of his career was the excavation of the great Troy.

Heinrich Schliemann undertook the excavations of Troy because of the disorder in his personal life. This is not out of the question. In 1852, Heinrich Schliemann, who had a lot of business in St. Petersburg, married Ekaterina Lyzhina. This marriage lasted 17 years and turned out to be absolutely empty for him. Being a passionate man by nature, he married a sensible woman who was cold to him. As a result, he was almost on the verge of insanity. The unhappy couple had three children, but this did not bring happiness to Schliemann. Out of desperation, he made another fortune selling indigo paint. In addition, he came to grips with the Greek language. He had an inexorable desire for travel. In 1868 he decided to go to Ithaca and organize his first expedition. Then he went towards Constantinople, to those places where, according to the Iliad, Troy was located and began excavations on the hill of Gissarlik. This was his first step on the way to the great Troy.

Schliemann tried on the jewelry of Helen of Troy for his second wife. Heinrich was introduced to his second wife by his old friend, it was the 17-year-old Greek Sophia Engastromenos. According to some sources, when in 1873 Schliemann found the famous treasures of Troy (10,000 gold objects), he brought them upstairs with the help of his second wife, whom he loved immensely. Among them were two luxurious diadems. Putting one of them on Sophia's head, Heinrich said: "The jewel worn by Helen of Troy now adorns my wife." In one of the photographs, she is indeed depicted in magnificent ancient jewelry.

Trojan treasures were lost. There is a deal of truth in it. The Schliemanns donated 12,000 items to the Berlin Museum. During World War II, this priceless treasure was moved to a bunker from which it disappeared in 1945. Part of the treasury unexpectedly showed up in 1993 in Moscow. There is still no answer to the question: "Was it really the gold of Troy?".

During excavations at Hissarlik, several layers-cities of different times were discovered. Archaeologists have identified 9 layers that refer to different years. They are all called Troy. Only two towers remain from Troy I. Troy II was explored by Schliemann, considering it to be the true Troy of King Priam. Troy VI was the highest point of the development of the city, its inhabitants traded profitably with the Greeks, but this city seems to have been badly damaged by an earthquake. Modern scientists believe that the found Troy VII is the true city of Homer's Iliad. According to historians, the city fell in 1184 BC, being burned by the Greeks. Troy VIII was restored by the Greek colonists, who also erected the Temple of Athena here. Troy IX belongs to the Roman Empire. I would like to note that the excavations have shown that Homeric descriptions very accurately describe the city.

Troy, otherwise called Ilion, Dardania and Scamander - an ancient fortified settlement in Asia Minor, off the coast of the Aegean Sea, not far from the entrance to the Dardanelles. This is the city sung in the poem "Iliad", the author of which is considered Homer. The events described by Homer, in the current view of historians, belong to the Cretan-Mycenaean era. The people who inhabited Troy are called Tevkras in ancient Greek sources.
History of the city of Troy
Türkiye is a country with a lot of attractions. The ancient city is one of the world famous Troy. This mythical city was located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, on the Hissarlik hill near the entrance to the Dardanelles. The second name of the city of Troy is Ilion. There is a legend about the origin of the ancient city of Troy. The Phrygian king gave Il a cow and ordered him to build a city on the spot where the cow would lie down to rest. It happened on the Ata hill. Zeus himself approved the act of Il and threw down the statue of the daughter of Triton to the ground.
The city has centuries of history, but its exact location was discovered just over a hundred years ago. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann conducted excavations of the mountain village of Gissrlyk, and discovered the ruins of the ancient city of Troy, this was in 1870. His surprise was even greater when he discovered not just the ruins of one city, but nine, arranged in layers, one under one. All of them date back to different centuries and were conditionally numbered from one to nine.
The bottom layer was named Troy I and dates back to 3000 - 2600 years. BC e. It was a small settlement with a diameter of no more than 100 meters. It was a fortress with massive walls and gates, as well as defensive towers. Two of which were discovered during excavations. This settlement existed for a long time and, most likely, was destroyed by fire.
Troy II(2600-2300 BC) was erected on the ruins of the former fortress and occupied an area of ​​125 meters. In the center there was a palace, surrounded by a courtyard, on which there were warehouses, residential buildings. It was in this layer that Schliemann found a treasure, with jewelry, weapons and various trinkets.
Troy III- IV -V - these are already larger settlements that existed from 2300-1900. BC e. In these settlements, groups of houses are already observed, separated by small streets.
Troy VI. Settlements 1900-1300 BC e, testified to wealth, prosperity and power. It was about 200 meters in diameter, the wall thickness was 5 meters, there were four gates and three towers along the perimeter. Large buildings, palaces, terraces. There is also evidence of the presence of horses. The strongest earthquake destroyed everything.
Troy VII. (1300-900 BC) After the earthquake on the site of the destroyed settlement, life began to emerge again, the remaining blocks and columns were used. Houses were built on a smaller scale than before, and densely packed together. It is this Troy that refers to the events mentioned by Homer in the Iliad and the Trojan War. After the war, the city of Troy was sacked and destroyed by the Greeks, and then captured by the Phrygians.
Troy VIII.(900-350 BC) The city already belonged to the Greeks and was considered quite comfortable. On the territory there was a temple of Athena, as well as a sanctuary for sacrifices. However, he had no political significance, and after part of the population left the city, it fell into decay.
Troy IX(350 BC - 400 AD). It was during this era that the city of Troy was called Illion. The Roman emperors from the Julio-Claudian dynasty did everything for a large-scale reconstruction of the city. The top of the hill was leveled, a sacred site was made near the temple of Athena, a theater was erected on the slope, and on level ground public buildings. Constantine the Great even wanted to make the city the capital, but this idea lost its significance with the rise of Constantinople. The city of Troy was captured by the Turks and destroyed. Now the ancient city of Troy is an object world heritage UNESCO.
Archeology of Troy
Among contemporary historians of Heinrich Schliemann, the hypothesis was widespread that Troy was located on the site of the village of Bunarbashi. The identity of the Hisarlik hill with Homer's Troy was suggested in 1822 by Charles MacLaren. A supporter of his ideas was Frank Calvert, who began excavations in Hisarlik 7 years before Schliemann. The section of the Hissarlik hill that belonged to Calvert turned out to be away from Homeric Troy. Heinrich Schliemann, who was familiar with Calvert, began a focused exploration of the second half of the Hissarlik hill in late XIX century. Most of Schliemann's finds are now kept in the Pushkin Museum (Moscow), as well as in the State Hermitage. To date, archaeologists have found traces of nine fortresses-settlements that existed in different eras on the territory of the excavations in Hisarlik. The first settlement found at Hissarlik (the so-called Troy IX) was a fortress less than 100 m in diameter and apparently existed for a long period. The seventh layer belongs to the Homeric era, which represents Troy in the form of a vast settlement surrounded by strong walls with nine-meter towers. Major excavations in 1988 showed that the population of the city in the Homeric era was from six to ten thousand inhabitants - at that time, a very impressive number. According to Korfman's expedition, the area of ​​the lower city was approximately 170,000 m2, and that of the citadel was 23,000 m2.
Language and writing
The question of the language of Hector and Priam has long occupied scholars. Some ancient Greek historians suggested that their speech could be close to Phrygian. Then the opinion was expressed that the inhabitants of Homeric Troy were the ancestors of the Etruscans. In the mid 1980s. N. N. Kazansky published several fragments of clay vessels from Troy with incomprehensible signs resembling the Cretan letter - he called these signs the Trojan letter. However, according to other experts, these could not be inscriptions, but only an imitation of writing. In 1995, a seal with Luvian hieroglyphs was discovered in the layers of Troy VII. Combined with the latest evidence that the names of Priam and others Trojan heroes most likely of Luvian origin, in the scientific world, the opinion that the ancient
The Trojans spoke Luvian. In a monograph published in 2004 by the University of Oxford, Joachim Latache concludes that Luvian was official language Homeric Troy. The question of the everyday language of Trojans is still open. Troy was under strong Hellenic influence, many noble Trojans simultaneously wore local and Greek names. The fact that the Greek names of the Trojans are not an invention of Homer is confirmed by the Hittite inscriptions mentioning the names of the rulers of Taruisa. Currently, most orientalists agree that the Trojan state was multinational. This is supported by the rather mixed composition of the “peoples of the sea”, who migrated, as expected, as a result of the Trojan War.
Trojan War
The Trojan War broke out because of a woman. According to Greek legend, the Trojan War broke out because one of the 50 sons of King Priam, Paris, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. The Greeks sent troops precisely to take Helen. According to some historians, this is only the pinnacle of the conflict, that is, the last straw that gave rise to the war. Before that, there were many trade wars between the Greeks and the Trojans, who controlled trade along the entire coast in the area of ​​the Dardanelles. Troy held out for 10 years thanks to outside help. According to available sources, the army of Agamemnon encamped in front of the city on the seashore, without besieging the fortress from all sides. The king of Troy, Priam, took advantage of this, establishing close ties with Caria, Lydia and other regions of Asia Minor, which during the war provided him with assistance. As a result, the war turned out to be very protracted.
Trojan horse actually existed. This is one of the few episodes of that war that has not found its archaeological and historical confirmation. Moreover, there is not a word about the horse in the Iliad, but Homer describes it in detail in his Odyssey. And all the events associated with the Trojan horse and their details were described by the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid, 1st century BC. BC, i.e. almost 1200 years later. Some historians suggest that the Trojan horse meant some kind of weapon, such as a battering ram. Others claim that this is how Homer called the Greek sea vessels. It is possible that there was no horse at all, and Homer used it in his poem as a symbol of the death of gullible Trojans. The Trojan horse got into the city thanks to the trick of the Greeks. According to legend, the Greeks spread a rumor that there was a prophecy that if a wooden horse were to stand within the walls of Troy, he could forever protect the city from Greek raids. Most of the inhabitants of the city were inclined to believe that the horse should be brought into the city.

However, there were also opponents. The priest Laocoön offered to burn the horse or throw it off a cliff. He even threw a spear at the horse, and everyone heard that the horse was empty inside. Soon a Greek named Sinon was captured, telling Priam that the Greeks built a horse in honor of the goddess Athena in order to atone for many years of bloodshed. This was followed by tragic events: during the sacrifice to the god of the sea Poseidon, two huge snakes swam out of the water, which strangled the priest and his sons. Seeing this as an omen from above, the Trojans decided to roll the horse into the city. It was so huge that it did not fit through the gate and had to dismantle part of the wall. Trojan horse caused the fall of Troy. According to legend, on the night after the horse entered the city, Sinon released from its womb the warriors hiding inside, who quickly killed the guards and flung open the city gates. The city, which fell asleep after violent festivities, did not even put up strong resistance. Several Trojan warriors, led by Aeneas, tried to save the palace and the king. According to ancient Greek myths, the palace fell thanks to the giant Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who broke the front door with his ax and killed King Priam.
Excavations of Troy. During excavations at Hissarlik, several layers-cities of different times were discovered. Archaeologists have identified 9 layers that refer to different years. They are all called Troy. Only two towers remain from Troy I. Troy II was explored by Schliemann, considering it to be the true Troy of King Priam. Troy VI was the highest point of the development of the city, its inhabitants traded profitably with the Greeks, but this city seems to have been badly damaged by an earthquake. Modern scientists believe that the found Troy VII is the true city of Homer's Iliad. According to historians, the city fell in 1184 BC, being burned by the Greeks. Troy VIII was restored by the Greek colonists, who also erected the Temple of Athena here. Troy IX belongs to the Roman Empire. I would like to note that the excavations have shown that Homeric descriptions very accurately describe the city.
Search for the legendary Troy

Among archaeologists there are ambitious and dedicated people. And, perhaps, a wealthy German businessman who threw himself into adulthood his prosperous business for the search for unfound stones, - Heinrich Schliemann- refers to the category of the most famous masters of the ancient profession. The whole life of this man, who was born in a poor village in 1822 and became one of the very rich scientists of his time, consists of secrets and contradictions. He visited many countries of the world, studied in Paris, at the age of 45 he suddenly began to study the Greek language and archeology, and a year later he began to search for the most mysterious, most famous according to the stories of ancient authors, the city - the legendary Troy. The Trojan War became one of the central events Greek mythology. Ancient sources see its reason in the fact that the supreme god of the pantheon Zeus wished to enable numerous heroes to become famous and leave a mark on history. A serious reason for the outbreak of war was the beauty of the daughter of Zeus - Helen. And the impetus for battles, tricks, betrayal and conquest was a purely female dispute of three goddesses: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite about who is the most beautiful of them. The apple of discord was given by the young shepherd Paris to the goddess of love Aphrodite because she promised him the possession of the most beautiful woman. The beautiful Helen was the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, and Paris, using the help of Aphrodite, sailed to Sparta on a ship and took the beauty to Troy, which brought the wrath and strength of the Greek army to the city-state. The war became famous even not so much because of the just retribution for the desecrated honor of the royal family, but thanks to the participation in it on the side of the Achaeans Odysseus, Ajax, Philoklet, Agamemnon, Achilles. Only 10 years after the abduction, as a result of many trials and adventures, the fleet of comrades-in-arms arrived near Troy to demand justice from the old Trojan king Priam. Hector, at the head of the Trojan army, approached the ships of the Spartans, killed one of the brilliant warriors - Patroclus, but the brother of the latter, Achilles, rushes into battle and kills Hector himself. The battles were merciless, filled with cruelty and heartlessness, and the gods watching from Olympus helped one side or the other. Achilles destroys many helpers of the Trojans - the leader of the Amazons Penfesilia, the king of the Ethiopians Memnon and many defenders of the fortified city, surrounded by mighty walls that remained impregnable.

Prince Paris, with the help of the god Apollo, kills Achilles with a magic arrow, and the war is suspended. But those who came for the beautiful Helen and the treasures stolen from Sparta cannot retreat and come up with an insidious trap for the Trojans - a wooden horse, in the belly of which several warriors are hiding. Accepted as a conciliatory gift, the horse released scouts at night, who opened the gates for the Spartan army. Troy was destroyed and burned, and for many years historians and archaeologists have been looking for either the real or the mythical city of Troy in the land of ancient Turkey. Heinrich Schliemann ignored all local stories and suggestions. As the place of his excavations, he chose a hill, an hour's walk from the sea, called Hisarlyk. And the choice of the newly-minted archaeologist was made on the basis of the study of ancient reports about the sources and the channel of the Scamandros River, indicated quite definitely. Mythical events took place in his imagination, ancient warriors performed, famous beauties and, of course, treasures appeared.
In this rich city there were many artistic products that the Greek world was famous for, here, to King Priam, the shepherd prince Paris, together with Helen, brought part of the Spartan treasures that were never found by the winners during the assault and burning of the city of Troy. Schliemann addresses European art patrons with a proposal to invest in future excavations of ancient Troy. No one believed in the newly-minted explorer, and Schliemann invested his own capital in the excavations organized in 1870.
Schliemann's workers went deep into the ground. Schliemann skipped layer after layer, completely ignoring the classical methods of excavation. Shovels reached the rocky ground, and there the remains of a certain city-settlement, conventionally called "Troy I", were opened. The researcher was completely disappointed, revealing shabby buildings, a miserable layout and, most importantly, almost complete absence art products characteristic of the era of Homer. It was then that the novice archaeologist remembered that together with the workers he dug several more layers, which means that other time periods of the existence of Troy may be closer to the surface, that is, above the uncovered remains of the settlement. And yet, Schliemann doubted that "Troy II" - the city of the times of King Priam, Hector and Paris, the prison of the beautiful Helen. And then, among the architectural ruins, traces of a giant fire began to appear that destroyed the ancient buildings. The fire, apparently, blazed here for more than one day and destroyed everything that remained undestroyed by the hands and weapons of the attacking Spartans.

Homer left to Schliemann exact descriptions of the disaster, the traces of which were preserved by the land of Hissarlik. Three years of grueling searches, resistance to rumors, envy of metropolitan archaeologists, denials of funding - everything was redeemed by the discovery made. The stones did not deceive the scientist, who proved to the whole world his perseverance and luck. It was possible, having sketched everything found and described the finds for a future book, to complete the season, but something delayed Schliemann with his young Greek wife. This happened on June 15, 1873, when a cache was discovered among the massive walls and ancient ruins of Troy II, which occupied a significant space near the western gates of the fortified city. Schliemann sent, under an insignificant pretext, all the workers from the excavation site to their homes, and he himself proceeded to open up some empty space. The only witness to the finds in the cache was the Greek woman Sophia, who later helped the archaeologist to take out what was found. The discovered ancient treasure contained two golden diadems with 2271 golden rings, 4066 heart-shaped plates and 16 images of gods made of pure gold. Next to these unprecedented items were 24 gold necklaces, earrings, buttons, needles, bracelets, a golden bowl weighing 601 grams, a lot of dishes made of gold and silver, electron and copper.
Schliemann had only a few hours of free time before his departure from the excavations. A delay in the planned plans would lead to suspicion, and the only thought of the archaeologist at that moment was the idea of ​​hiding the discovery from the Turkish authorities. He was sure that in his hands were the treasures of King Priam, hidden in ancient times from prying eyes and military hard times. The treasure consisted of 8700 gold items, and the spouses simply needed to take it to Germany, bypassing all obstacles. It was decided that the treasure, disguised as cabbages and vegetables, would be transported in large baskets across the Hellespont to Athens, and from there a route to Germany would be laid. Turkish officials were surprised, but did not protest, when they saw off the young and rich European capricious Mrs. Schliemann, who was carrying vegetables from Hisarlik to Athens with her ... And these very baskets and Mrs. Sophia herself have since entered the history of world discoveries.
Schliemann's Antiquities of Troy was published in 1873., who described the powerful walls of the fortress of Troy, towers erected on heavy stone foundations. The stories about the palace buildings were interspersed with descriptions of the fire, which played a terrible role in the fate of the defeated Troy. The brightest pages were devoted to the gold of King Priam, which, by its materiality, confirmed the authenticity of the discovery of the "young" successful historian. The book brought Schliemann great fame, divided the entire scientific world into his supporters and opponents. Some accused him of dilettantism and barbaric excavations, of outright theft of valuable exhibits. Others recognized the luck of the former businessman, his intuition and, most importantly, the desire to carry out the plan by any means.

Many powerful states and civilizations have sunk into oblivion. One notable example of this is the ancient city of Troy, which is also known as Ilion. This legendary settlement is familiar to many people from the war of the same name. IN Homeric poem The Iliad describes in detail the epic confrontation between the inhabitants of Troy and the ancient Greeks. This famous city at all times excited the minds of various scientists, from historians to archaeologists. During the excavations of the 19th century, the legendary Troy was discovered on the territory of modern Turkey. Why did this ancient city deserve such close attention of contemporaries? There are extremely interesting legend its rise, existence and fall. Where was Troy? And what can be found in its place now? Read about all this in the article.

The ancient world and the date of the formation of Troy

Before the advent of the legendary Troy, the ancient permanent settlement of Kumtepe was located on the Troad peninsula. Its founding date is generally considered to be around 4800 BC. The inhabitants of the ancient settlement were mainly engaged in fishing. Oysters were also included in the diet of the settlers. In Kumtepe, the dead were interred, but without any funeral gifts.

In the region of 4500 BC, the settlement was abandoned, but around 3700 BC it was revived again thanks to new colonists. The new population of Kumtepe was engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture, and also lived in big houses with multiple rooms. Goats and sheep were bred by the inhabitants of the settlement not only for meat, but also for milk and wool.

The history of Troy dates back to 3000 BC. The fortified settlement was located in Asia Minor on the Troad peninsula. The city was located in a fertile hilly country. In the place where Troy was located, the rivers Simois and Scamander flowed on both sides of the city. There was also free access to the Aegean Sea. Thus, Troy, throughout its existence, occupied a very advantageous position. geographical position not only in the economic sphere, but also in terms of defense in the event of a possible invasion of enemies. It is no coincidence that the city ancient world, in the Bronze Age, that is why it became a key center of trade between East and West.

The legend of the origin of Troy

You can learn about the appearance of the legendary city from an old legend. Long before the construction of Troy, the Tevkrian people lived on the territory of the Troad peninsula (the place where Troy was located). The character of ancient Greek mythology, Tros, called the country he ruled Troy. Consequently, all the inhabitants began to be called Trojans.

One legend tells about the origin of the city of Troy. The eldest son of Tros was Il, who, after the death of his father, inherited part of his kingdom. One day he came to Phrygia, having managed to successfully defeat all rivals in the competition. The Phrygian king generously rewarded Il by giving him 50 young men and the same number of maidens. Also, according to legend, the ruler of Phrygia gave the hero a motley cow and ordered to found a city in the place where she wants to rest. On Ata Hill, the animal had a desire to lie down. It was there that Troy was founded, which was also called Ilion.

Before building the city, Il asked Zeus for a good sign. The next morning, a wooden image of Pallas Athena appeared in front of the tent of the founder of the legendary city. Thus, Zeus provided Ilu with a pledge of divine help, a stronghold and protection for the people of Troy. Subsequently, a temple appeared on the site of the appearance of the wooden image of Pallas Athena, and the built Troy was reliably protected from enemies by high walls with loopholes. The son of Ila, King Laomedont, continued the work of his father, strengthening lower part walled cities.

The defenses of Troy

According to ancient Greek myths, the gods of Olympus themselves participated in the construction of the walls of the legendary city. Once Zeus sent Poseidon and Apollo to Troy for a whole year to serve at Laomedont. Both gods built a solid wall around Troy from large stone blocks. Moreover, if Poseidon dug up stones from the bowels of the earth and brought them to the city, then to the sounds of the lyre of Apollo, the construction of the stronghold was carried out by itself. Not a single external threat was terrible for Troy, if the man Eak had not helped the gods. It was the part of the wall that the mortal had erected that was vulnerable.

The deceived Hercules decided to get even with the king of Troy. On 18 ships, together with the heroes and the army, he set out to take the impregnable city and take revenge on the treacherous Laomedont. An important role in the campaign was played by Telamon, the son of Aeacus. He was the first to enter the city wall in the very place where his father worked. Troy was taken, and the treacherous king was killed by the arrow of Hercules. The young Priam, the son of Laomedont, began to restore the former power of the legendary city. Under the rule of a new ruler, Troy flourished again and became powerful, as before. However, in extreme old age, Priam lived out his days in great sorrow.

Trojan War

The famous ten-year confrontation forever glorified the ancient city. In the region of the 8th century BC, several poems were composed about the legendary war. Only the Odyssey and the Iliad by Homer have survived to this day. They describe the events that took place in the 9th year of the confrontation between the inhabitants of the besieged Troy and the Greeks, as well as the fall of the city.

The wife of the Spartan king, by the will of the goddess of love Aphrodite, fell in love with Paris. The Greeks took Helen's voluntary departure with Priam's son as a kidnapping. The Spartan king Menelaus, together with his brother, gathered a huge army, after which they set off on their ships to conquer Troy.

For almost 10 years, the Greeks unsuccessfully tried to break the resistance of the impregnable city. And only the cunning plan of Odysseus allowed to capture Troy. The story contains information that the Greeks built a large wooden horse and left it to the Trojans as a gift, while they themselves boarded ships and allegedly sailed home. In fact, a group of the best warriors lurked inside the statue. At night, during the jubilation of the Trojans, they got out of the horse and opened the gates to their associates. In the end, the Greeks won the victory thanks to cunning, and the city itself was destroyed and burned. Thus, the famous expression "Trojan horse" appeared.

The final fall of Troy

From 350 BC until 900 BC, the legendary city was ruled by the Greeks. Subsequently, it passed from hand to hand to various rulers. First, the Persians captured Troy during the war with the Greeks, and later the city already belonged to Alexander the Great.

When Troy was captured by the Roman Empire, the city was reborn again. The Romans were very proud of their descent from Aeneas and his companions. In 190 BC, Troy was generally freed from any taxes and was expanded.

In 400 AD, Troy was captured by the Turks and completely destroyed. In the 6th century AD, the last human settlements disappeared in the place where the legendary city used to be exalted. The years of Troy's existence begin around 3000 BC and end around 400 AD.

Excavations of the ancient city

For many centuries, the existence of the legendary city was questioned. Most people were very skeptical of Troy itself. Thanks to the poem "Iliad", most scholars were inclined to think that the ruins of the ancient city could be found somewhere in the north-west of Asia Minor, that is, in the location of modern Turkey.

Now many people know on the territory of which modern state was Troy. Thanks to Heinrich Schliemann, the ruins of the ancient city were discovered in Turkey, 30 km from the village of Canakkale, near the village of Tevfikiye.

Heinrich Schliemann, after receiving permission from the Ottoman authorities in 1870, began to excavate Troy in the northwestern part of the Hissarlik hill. On May 31, 1873, a self-taught archaeologist succeeded in discovering the treasure. Heinrich Schliemann hastily named his find "Priam's Treasure".

Contrary to the agreement concluded with the Ottoman authorities, according to which it was necessary to transfer half of everything found in Archaeological Museum in Istanbul, Schliemann smuggled the treasure to Greece. After unsuccessful attempts to sell the find to major museums different countries of the world, the archaeologist presented them to Berlin. Subsequently, Heinrich Schliemann became an honorary citizen of this city. After the end of World War II, the found Trojan treasures began to be stored in Moscow at the Pushkin Museum im. A. S. Pushkin.

What is located on the site of Troy?

Let's find out what is in the place of Troy now. In our time, modern Troy is significantly different from the place that Homer described in his poems. Over the course of many centuries, the coastline was gradually receding, as a result of which the excavated city was located on a completely dry hill.

Every year, the museum city is visited by many tourists from all over the world from May to September. The ruins of Troy from different historical times have a magnificent appearance. If you want to get acquainted with all the exhibits in detail, it is recommended to hire a guide.

The most popular place where Troy was located, among tourists, is a wooden copy of the famous horse. Each person has the opportunity to be inside a large statue, feeling for a while in the role of a cunning Greek hero. You can also be one of those lucky ones who have an unforgettable experience. But it is necessary to choose the time for the trip, taking into account special factors. After all, on some days there are so many people around the Trojan horse in the place where Troy was located that most people cannot even get closer than 100 meters to it.

No less popular in the ancient city is the Museum of Excavations. Its visitors have the opportunity to view a bunch of photographs, models and other other exhibits that will allow them to get acquainted with the process of discovering Troy. Also, inquisitive tourists during the tour can look into the huge temple of Pallas Athena, visit inside the gloomy sanctuary of the ancient Greek gods and appreciate the Odeon concert hall.

Other sights of Turkey near Troy

South of the ancient city of Troy, you can find the ruins of Alexandria of Troas. This ancient city was founded in the 4th century BC by the ancient Greeks. During its existence passed into the hands of the Romans. Subsequently, in honor of Alexander the Great, the city received its final name.

It is worth noting that Alexandria of Troas is mentioned in the New Testament. According to Holy Scripture, in this city the Lord commanded the Apostle Paul to go preach in the lands of Macedonia. Nowadays, the ruins of the city are called Eski-Istanbul.

Near Alexandria Troadskaya on a hill surrounded by dilapidated walls is the ancient city of Ass or Behramkale. During the life of the great thinkers Plato and Aristotle, a famous philosophical school functioned here, where many minds of those times visited. Among the sights of Ass, it is worth mentioning the Murad Mosque, many tombs and caravanserais, which have been transformed into hotels for tourists.

How to get to Troy on your own

To visit the place where Troy was located is like touching a legend. It is no coincidence that many tourists annually decide to see the amazing sights of the famous Troy in Turkey.

The easiest way to get to the legendary city is from Canakkale, which is located 30 km from Troy. Every hour, a regular intercity bus departs from this Turkish administrative center. Approximately half an hour of travel separates each tourist from the famous historical site. It is also possible to get to Troy from Istanbul, Bursa or Izmir thanks to fixed-route taxis.

Visiting the legendary city is not expensive financially. A tourist should actually spend money only for an entrance ticket and travel.

Film "Troy"

In 2004, a filmed story about the legendary city was released. The historical drama was based on the poem "Iliad". The main roles in the film went to such Hollywood stars as Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson and others. famous people. The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff.

In the XIII century BC, the Trojan prince Paris kidnapped Helen the Beautiful, which angered the Greek rulers to the core. The Spartan king Menelaus gathered a huge army and set off on numerous ships to the shores of Troy.

During the fierce confrontation, both the Greeks and the Trojans had alternate success. And only the cunning idea of ​​​​Odysseus made it possible to break the resistance of Troy. Rolling a large wooden horse into the city, the Trojans doomed themselves to death. At night, the Greeks dealt with the inhabitants of Troy without any problems.

Thus, only the ruins of the legendary city have survived to our times. A visit to modern Troy will allow everyone to touch the legend and be inside a large wooden horse.

Troy, a legendary city famous for the decade-long Trojan War, is inextricably linked to some of the most prominent characters in Greek mythology, from the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite (as well as the beautiful Helen) to the heroes Achilles, Paris, and Odysseus. Many are familiar with the legend of the fall of Troy. But is there any truth in this tradition, which says that the cause of the greatest conflict was the love of Paris for Helen? Did it really end only after the Greeks brought the Trojan horse into the city? And in general, was this war? Was the city called Troy?

The myth of Troy begins with the celebration of the wedding of the sea goddess Thetis and King Peleus, one of the Argonauts who, together with Jason, took part in the search for the golden fleece. The couple did not invite the goddess of discord, Eris, to the celebration, but she nevertheless arrived and threw a golden apple on the table with the inscription: "To the most beautiful." Hera, Athena and Aphrodite simultaneously reached for the apple. To resolve the conflict, Zeus entrusted the most beautiful of all living men, Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, with making a responsible decision.
Hera promised Paris great power, if he chooses her, Athena - military glory, and Aphrodite - love itself beautiful woman in the world. Paris decided to give a golden apple to Aphrodite, and she pointed him to Helen, the wife of Menelaus. The young man went in search of the Greek city of Sparta, where he was received as an honored guest. While the king of Sparta was at the funeral, Paris and Helen fled to Troy, taking with them a significant part of his wealth. Upon discovering the loss of his wife and treasures, Menelaus became angry and immediately gathered Elena's former suitors, who swore an oath to protect their marriage. They decided to gather an army and go to Troy. Thus the seed of the Trojan War was sown.

It took more than two years to prepare, and now the Greek fleet of over 1000 ships is ready to sail. The fleet was led by King Agamemnon of Mycenae. He gathered the ships in the port of Aulis ( East End Central Greece), however, a tailwind was needed to go to sea. Then the soothsayer Calchas told Agamemnon that in order for the fleet to set sail, he must sacrifice his daughter Iphisnia to the goddess Artemis. Having performed this barbaric, but apparently necessary sacrifice, the Greeks were able to go to Troy. Battles raged for nine years. During this time, many great heroes of the warring parties died, including Achilles, who was killed by Paris. Nevertheless, the Greeks could not destroy the powerful walls of Troy and enter the city. In the tenth year of the war, the cunning Odysseus decided to build a giant wooden horse, inside which a cavity was deliberately left, where the Greek warriors and Odysseus himself could hide. The Greek fleet sailed away, leaving the horse behind the gates of Troy, as if admitting defeat. When the Trojans saw the departing ships and a huge wooden horse outside the walls of the city, they rejoiced, believing in their victory, and dragged the horse into the city. At night, the Greeks got out of the horse, opened the gates of Troy and let the entire Greek army in. The Trojans were unable to fight back and were defeated. Polyxena, daughter of Priam, was sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles. The same fate befell the son of Hector Astyanax. Menelaus intended to kill the unfaithful Helen, but could not resist her beauty and saved her life.

The legend of Troy is first mentioned in Homer's Iliad (circa 750 BC). Later the story was expanded and supplemented. The Roman poets Virgil (“Aeneid”) and Ovid (“Metamorphoses”) wrote about Troy. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Thucydides were convinced that the Trojan War was part of historical reality. Referring to the words of Homer, they wrote that Troy was on a hill above the Hellespont (modern Dardanelles) - a narrow strait between the Aegean and Black Seas. It was a strategically important trading center. For hundreds of years, researchers and collectors of antiquities, captivated by the legend of Troy, studied the area, which in ancient times was called Troad (now part of northwestern Turkey). But more than other seekers of Troy, the German businessman Heinrich Schliemann became famous. He managed to find Troy.

Guided only by information obtained from Homer's Iliad, he decided that the city was located on the Hissarlik hill a few miles from the Dardanelles, and in 1870 he began excavations that lasted until 1890. Schliemann found the remains of several ancient cities that existed in the period between the early Bronze Age (3 thousand BC) and the late Roman period. Considering that Troy is located in the lower archaeological layers, Schliemann quickly and casually crossed the upper layers of the earth, irrevocably destroying many important historical monuments. In 1873, Schliemann found many gold objects, which he called the "treasures of Priam", and announced to the whole world that he had found Homer's Troy.

A heated debate erupted as to whether Schliemann really found gold objects there, or whether he deliberately placed them there to confirm that this place is indeed the legendary Troy. It has been established that Schliemann repeatedly distorted the facts: he stated that he himself had found the location of Troy on the hill of Gissarlik during his first visit to the Troad. However, it is known that at that time the British archaeologist and diplomat Frank Calvert was already excavating in this place, since this land belonged to his family. Calvert was convinced that ancient Troy was located on the Hissarlik hill, so he assisted Schliemann during his first excavations. Later, when Schliemann received worldwide recognition as "the one who found the city of Homer", he claimed that Calvert did not help him. Currently, Calvert's heirs, living in England and America, claim their rights to part of the treasure recovered from the Hissarlik hill.

Modern research has shown that the amazing gold finds discovered by Schliemann are much older than he thought, and the city located on the Hisarlik hill, which Schliemann considered Homer's Troy, actually dates from 2400-2200 years. BC e., that is, it existed at least a thousand years before the estimated date of the beginning of the Trojan War.

Leaving aside the selfishness of Schliemann, one should recognize the positive aspect of his activities, if only because he drew the attention of the world community to the antiquities of the Hissarlik hill. After Schliemann research work carried out on the hill: Wilhelm Dörpfeld (1893-1894), American archaeologist Carl Blegen (1932-1938) and a group of scientists from the universities of Tübingen and Cincinnati led by Professor Manfred Korfman. As a result of the excavations of Tron, it was possible to establish that at this place in different periods (they can be divided into a number of sub-periods) there were nine cities that existed from the early Bronze Age (3 thousand BC) - Troy-I and ending with the Hellenistic period (323-30 BC) - Troy-IX. The most likely candidate for the title of Homeric Troy, judging by the dating, is Troy-VIIIa (1300-1180 BC). Many scholars agree that Troy-VIIIa the best way corresponds to the description of Homer. In addition, it was in the city of that time that traces of fires were discovered, which means that the city was destroyed during the war. The connection of Troy-VIIIa with mainland Greece is confirmed by Greek objects of the Mycenaean period (Late Bronze Age), especially a large number of pottery, which, apparently, was imported here.

Moreover, Troy-VIIIa was quite major city, as evidenced by the finds - a number of human remains and several bronze arrowheads forged in the fortress and the city. However, a significant part of the artifacts is still in the ground, and the items found are not enough to confirm the hypothesis that the destruction of the city was the work of human hands, and not the result of a natural cataclysm, such as a strong earthquake. Be that as it may, if Homeric Troy is considered to be a really existing city, then, relying on modern knowledge, it can be argued that Troy-VIIIa fits this role in the best way. Not too long ago, geologists John C. Craft of the University of Delaware and John W. Lewis of Trinity College Dublin discovered evidence for the existence of Troy on Hissarlik Hill. They conducted geological studies of the area: they studied the features of the landscape near the hill and the properties of the soil in the coastal zone. Thus, research in the field of sedimentology (sedimentology is the science of sedimentary rocks and modern sediments, their material composition, structure, patterns and conditions of formation and change) and geomorphology (Geomorphology is the science of land relief, the bottom of the oceans and seas, which studies appearance, origin, age of the relief, history of its development, modern dynamics and patterns of distribution) confirmed the information obtained from Homer's Iliad.

Even the existence of the mysterious huge Trojan horse, which was perhaps the most improbable item in Homer's narrative, is also explained in terms of modern science. British historian Michael Wood is convinced that the Trojan horse was not just a clever ploy to penetrate the city, but rather a battering ram or horse-like primitive siege weapon. Such devices were known in Greece during the classical period. For example, the Spartans used battering rams during the siege of Plataea in 479 BC. e. According to another version, the horse symbolized Poseidon - the ruthless god of earthquakes, so the Trojan horse could well be a metaphor for the earthquake, which irreversibly weakened the city's defenses, allowing the Greek troops to easily penetrate inside. Later, other, albeit controversial, data appeared confirming the reality of the existence of Troy. They are contained in the correspondence and annals of the kings of the Hittite kingdom, found in Anatolia (modern Turkey) and dating back to 1320 BC. BC, which speak of the tense military and political situation in the powerful state of Ahiyawa, controlled by the kingdom known as Valusa. Scientists identify the latter with the Greek Ilion, Troy, and the Greeks called Ahiyava "Aheia" - the country of the Achaeans, whom Homer in the "Iliad" represents as pra-Greek tribes. This hypothesis is controversial, although it was positively received by most scholars, as it gave impetus to the study of relations between Greece and the Near East during the late Bronze Age. Unfortunately, Hittite written sources have not yet been found that mention the conflict, which could be regarded as the Trojan War in Troad.

So, was the largest conflict that unfolded on the Hissarlik hill in 1200 BC? e .. The Trojan War? Most likely no. Homer wrote about a semi-mythical age of heroes, a story that had been passed down by word of mouth for at least four centuries. Even if the war really took place, information about it was most likely lost or distorted. It must be admitted that some of the objects mentioned in the Homeric narrative date from the late Bronze Age - various types of armor and weapons that were well known in 1200-750. BC e., that is, in those years when the poet wrote his work. In addition, Homer names the Greek cities of his time, which, in his opinion, played a particularly important role during the years of the Trojan War. Archaeological excavations carried out on the site of these cities have usually proved that they were centers of paramount importance during the late Bronze Age. There is no doubt that located in such an important place, above the Hellespont, on the border between the Hittite kingdom and the Greek world, Troy was bound to become a theater of war during the late Bronze Age. Most likely, the story of Homer is a memory of separate conflicts between the Greeks and the inhabitants of the Troad, which he combined into one decisive epic struggle - the war of all wars. If this is true, then the legend of the Trojan War is based on real historical events, even if the legends of antiquity deep. Passing from mouth to mouth, the storytellers supplemented it with unusual details. Perhaps even the beautiful Helen of Troy appeared in the story much later.

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Troy VI was a maritime power that controlled the entrance to the Dardanelles. Homer called her "guardian of the Hellespont." By controlling shipping in the strait, Troy acquired many enemies. Therefore, to protect against attack, she acquired powerful fortifications. Reefs, strong currents and winds played into the hands of the Trojans, who alone knew how to navigate this difficult area. Of course, in Mycenae they were well aware of the presence of a rich city in the east by the strait.

The prophet Laocoon warned the Trojans not to roll a wooden horse into the city. Cassandra said the same. The history of Laocoön was dramatically described by Virgil in the Aeneid. Even the saying of Laocoön has been preserved: “I am afraid of the Danaans, even those who bring gifts.” At the same time, Laocoön threw a spear at the side of the horse. The sound of an empty barrel was heard, which alerted the guards. A certain Greek named Sinon managed to calm the Trojans, saying that this was just a gift from the Achaeans to the goddess Athena.

A powerful current flows through the Dardanelles, driving water in the direction mediterranean sea at a speed of 2.5-3 knots. The problem is aggravated by the fact that winds blowing to the southwest prevail here. The usual speed of these winds is 16 km/h. The Greeks called this wind meltemi. The wind blows from spring to early autumn, that is, the entire period of navigation in the Aegean. The ancient ships did not have slanting sails, so it was not possible to take it steeply to the wind.

The Mycenaean cemetery in Beshik Tepe lies a few meters from Beshik Bay, a shallow bay with a sandy beach. The entrance to the bay is free, there are no reefs. The bay itself is closed from the prevailing northeast wind and is very close to the entrance to the Dardanelles. There are sources here fresh water. According to the latest data, in the Bronze Age the bay was much deeper than it is now. At present, Beshik Bay has silted up and decreased in size. Located just 8 km southwest of Troy, the bay was the first natural harbor in front of the entrance to the Dardanelles. This bay seems to be intended for the invasion forces to stand in it, about to take Troy by storm. In addition, the bay is convenient for ships that are waiting for the right moment to enter the Dardanelles. Sometimes it happened that ships, waiting for a favorable wind, occupied all 11 km of spaces from Tenedos to the mainland, and also got up in distant bays.

But these were all waters that Troy controlled. Nothing prevented the Trojans from imposing tribute on the ill-fated ships, as well as establishing trade with them. Troy prospered thanks to duties and trade. It is not always possible to draw a line between maritime trade and piracy. The building of increasingly powerful fortifications during the heyday of Troy VI may mean a growing threat to the city from Mycenaean pirates. When Mycenae nevertheless attacked Troy, neither wealth nor powerful fortifications saved the city.

The powerful fortifications of Troy VI, discovered during excavations, were mostly built in the last decades of the city's existence. Troy VIh was at the zenith of wealth, fame and architectural development. Three VIIa is no longer possible to give such a clear description. Before Blegen, Dörpfeld's point of view dominated, according to which Troy VIh, which had received serious damage during the earthquake, was plundered. Dörpfeld found traces of a large fire in different parts of the city at the level of the destruction of Troy VIh. He interpreted these fires and destruction as traces of a military invasion, and not a riot of the elements. Blegen also stated that the destruction of Troy VIh was not caused by a war, but by an earthquake catastrophic in strength. According to Blegen, Troy VIIa had already been plundered.

Blegen's arguments have been cross-checked by Michael Wood and Donald Easton. Both scientists confirmed that an earthquake was the cause of the death of Troy VIh. Many houses of the palace complex collapsed. Adobe superstructures collapsed in some sections of the wall. However, the destruction of Troy VIh was severe but not fatal. The surviving houses were rebuilt. The former wide streets were built up. In a word, the appearance of the citadel has changed. Everything looks as if the city has lost its ruling elite. Wood writes: “It seems probable that large houses ceased to serve as dwellings for royal family". In other words, dramatic changes in city life can be caused by the disappearance of the ruler and the military nobility. Perhaps it was this circumstance that prompted the Mycenaeans to begin the siege of Troy. The era of the rule of Troy is irrevocably a thing of the past.

The dates of the events of the two layers are hotly debated. Korfman states that Troy VIh fell around 1250 BC. e. At this point, the city was at the zenith of its power. Mycenae maintained close contacts with Troy. After the destruction of Troy, the surviving inhabitants, deprived of their former splendor, but still belonging to the same culture, settled in the ruins of the citadel, repaired it, and also built shacks inside. This restored settlement of Troy VIIa was destroyed again around 1180 BC, that is, after the death of the Mycenaean civilization. Wood concludes that Troy VIIa could not be the Homeric Troy, Troy VIh must be.

It is incredible that the Iliad describes the ruin of Troy VIIa, which was only a shadow of Troy VIh. On the other hand, the Iliad describes precisely the destruction of Troy by the Mycenaeans. There is no doubt that the Iliad was written several centuries after the events it tells about. Perhaps over the years, a simple song about a successful raid across the sea has turned into an epic about a fight between Asiatic Troy and the combined army of Greece. An interesting point is that Troy, famous for its horses, was taken with the help of a Trojan horse. In a word, history, which has attracted the attention of mankind for the past 3,000 years, still contains many mysteries.