THE RUINED OF TROY

The replica of the Trojan Horse located near the entrance of ruined.

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Remember the epic film Troy, 
The film features an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Saffron Burrows, Sean Bean, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Vincent Regan, Garrett Hedlund, Tyler Mane, and Peter O'Toole. The film made it into the "Best of Warner Bros - 50 Film Collection (90th Anniversary Collection). It was also nominated for 11 awards. It won 2 at the 2005 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards which were: Top Box Office Film — James Horner and the 2005 Teen Choice Awards and the Choice Movie Actor – Drama/Action Adventure — Brad Pitt. 

Troy (Turkish: Truva or Troya) is an ancient city in what is now northwestern Turkey, made famous in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. According to Iliad, this is where the legendary Trojan War took place. Today it is an archaeological site popular with travelers from all over the world, and in addition to being a Turkish national park, it is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

The first city on the site of Troy was Wilusa, founded in the 3rd millenium BC by the Hittites,  who were the first indigenous Anatolian people to rise to form a state during the Bronze Age. Situated over the Hisarlık Hill on the northwestern tip of Troad Peninsula, it was clear that the reason for the city's existence in the first place was a total control of Dardanelles, which, along with the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus, is today known as the Turkish Straits, a key route connecting Mediterranean with the Black Sea, as well as being where European and Asian landmasses are almost just a stone's throw away from each other.

The abduction of Helen, the daughter of the king of Sparta, by Paris, a Trojan prince, sparked hatred between the Trojans and Achaean's from across the Aegean Sea, that the legendary begin. Having been unable to break into the defensive walls of the city, Achaeans decided to set up a trick—they offered a huge wooden horse as a gift to Trojans, as an amend for the bother they caused with their war galleys on the city's beach. Trojans accepted the offer sincerely, but this resulted in them losing their city, as inside of the horse was full of Achaean soldiers, ready to combat, and now right in the centre of the city.

Remnants of excavated column of  Roman pillar exhibited.

For all its actuality, there was a Trojan War, which possibly took place in the 12th century BC, and it was around this time Hittite Wilusa was converted to Hellenic Illion, and later Troia. However, for some reason, all later invaders from all directions, with the notable exception of Alexander the Great (who founded the city of Alexandria Troas on the coast south of Troy), favored Bosporus to northeast instead of Dardanelles for their intercontinental crossings. The Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306-337) agreed as well, founding a new capital for his empire, Constantinople, on the banks of Bosphorus. As Constantinople flourished, its geographical rival Troy declined, eventually disappearing under layers of dirt.

Since the days of Byzantine Empire, Troy was thought to be nothing but Homer's pure imagination, but in 1868, Heinrich Schliemann, a German businessman and a self-proclaimed archaeologist, proved otherwise, after taking the hint that Troy might be a real place buried under the Hisarlık Hill from Frank Calvert, a British archaeologist who visited the site three years earlier. As Schliemann's excavations were totally amateurish, it damaged the integrity of much of the remains, but Schliemann obtained what he yearned for anyway—his Greek spouse Sophia Schliemann is immortalized in a photo showing her wearing the treasures found at the Hisarlık Hill (part of the treasure was later taken by the Red Army from Berlin to Moscow at the end of World War II).

Urns and earthen pots from the excavations.

Although almost a century and a half passed since the days of Schliemann, Troy still hasn't been unearthed completely yet, and the excavation works still continue to this day.

Once a harbour city on the edge of a deep bay of Dardanelles, the site now lies 5 km inland from the coast due to the alluvial material carried by the River Scamander (modern Caramenderes), which filled the bay, turning it into the fertile, flat farmland stretching out to the sea that it is.

In modern Turkish, there is a tendency of shifting of the name of the site from Truva, which reflects the pronunciation of French name of the place (Troie) as that was the language of choice among the Turkish elites up to 1950s, to Troya, which is closer to the original Greek name, although both can still be heard interchangeably.

The ruined of Troy, the central area of the city.

  Troy is a city which existed over 4000 years and known as the center of ancient civilizations. Many years, people believed that it was the city in tales and never existed until it was first found. At this time it was known as Ilium or New Ilium. Today Troy or New Ilium places in Hisarlik at Canakkale. The remains of the city - the remains from the thieves and destructors - can be visit in here. Most of what was left is the remains of the destruction of Schliemann, the famous archaeologist. Today an international team of scientists brings the Troy of the Bronze Age back to life under sponsored project by Daimler - Benz and another team is at law wars - called as Second Trojan Wars today- with Russia and Germany to get stolen Trojan treasures.And Trojan Golds are at Pushkin Museum.

Another name of Troy over the decades.

 
At first, Troy appared in Greek and Latin literature. Homer first mentioned story of Troy in Iliad and Odyssey. Later it became most popular subject in Greek drama and told its story eloborately to next generations. The book of Virgil's Aeneid contains the best known account of the sack of Troy. In addition, there are untrue stories under the names of Dictys Cretensis and Dares Phrygius.

Wooden ramp to view the ruined.

At first, Troy appared in Greek and Latin literature. Homer first mentioned story of Troy in Iliad and Odyssey. Later it became most popular subject in Greek drama and told its story eloborately to next generations. The book of Virgil's Aeneid contains the best known account of the sack of Troy. In addition, there are untrue stories under the names of Dictys Cretensis and Dares Phrygius.
Ilium was for a considerable period to the Heathen world, what Jerusalem is now to the Christian, a 'sacred' city which attracted pilgrims by the fame of its wars and its woes, and by the shadow of ancient sanctity resposing upon it. Without abusing language, we may say that a voice speaking from this hill, three thousand years ago sent its utterances over the whole ancient world, as its echoes still reverberate over the modern', says Charles Maclaren, The Plain of Troy Described (1863). [From the book 'In Search of Trojan War', written by Micheal Wood].

The part of city facing the Aegean Sea.

 
I would as soon as go in guest of Utopia, or of the Carib Island of Robinson Crusoe, and his Cabin; and I should return with equal emolument,' said the redoubtable Jacob Bryant of the search for Troy, which he thought never existed (1799) [From the book 'In Search of Trojan War', written by Micheal Wood].
 
Troy (Truva) located on Hisarlik at Canakale , one of the Turkish city in west of Turkey, the city of Dardanels, the heart of history at the World War I - Galliboli where Turks wrote the history at the World War I, Gallipoli Champaign. Canakkale has been a crossing point for armies, traders, migrating people since before history.

Excavation of the ruins continue..

 

Charles Mclaren in 1822 found the ruins of Troy left from Helenistic and Roman Ilion at Hisarlik, Canakkale in Turkey. The German archiologist Heinrich Schlieman excavated Troy third times from 1870 to 1890. His theft of treasure from Troy and his damage (destruction) to Troy will be always remembered in Turkish archological history. Today the remains of Troy what left from Schiemann. A new German excavator team is still working to rebuild Troy ruins by using new advanced technologies since 1988. I believe after their study, Troy has a new apperance and visitors will enjoy it very much. You can find detail information about Troy excavating and high technology using in here. Also thanks to Daimler - Benz because of sponsoring troy excavating. In some writings, Schileman's credibility was began questioning. Troy, treasure and the truth is one of them.

Part of the excavated ruined.

 

Wihelm Dorpfeld followed to excavate after Schliemann. They found nine levels at Troy. Troy I to V relates roughly with early Bronze Age ( 3000 to 1900 BC ). Its inhabitants were known as Trojan in this period. Troy VI and VII were built in the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Troy VIII to IX belongs to Helenistic and Roman Ilion (Latin Ilium). 

 

In the history, Troy was destroyed many times and rebuilt. Until now archeologists have founded 9 level of Troy leveled from I to IX. Perhaps many other levels are still hidden in it. Troy is one of the most famous city in the old history, including Hector, Achilles and Archaian Greeks, the sake of Helen. Its story is written in ever language, Trojan horses, Achilles' heels and Odysseys have become figures in poems.

Secret passage for escaping Trojans

 

From Alexander the Great to Lord Byron, they stood and gawd on the site of the great deeds of the heroes. In the history people always wondered whether the Trojan War happened or not. There Troy was. Did Helen of Troy exist? Was there a real wooden horse? Here is the famous tale of Trojan War and city of Troy.

The city area of  Troy....4000 years ago.

 

The Aegean Sea far back, where the Greeks army landed.

The tale of Troy is told by Homer with the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer was drawing on a vast cycle of stories about Trojan War. The Iliad includes a few weeks in the tenth year of the war.

According to Greek sources, Troy stood near the Dardanelles. There was no dispute about its location in the story were al familiar: the Dardanelles, the islands of Imbros, Samothrace and little Tenedos, Mount Ida to the south east, the plain and the river Scamander. It was an ancient city an its inhabitants were known as Teucrians or Dardanians but also as Trojans or Ilians which got this name from eponymous heroes, Tros and his uncle Ilus, the inventors of the city. In other source mentioned that Troy and Ilius were two seperate places but Homer insists on using these two names for Troy. there was no explanation about that.

Information of certain part of the ruined.

 
The most famous tale in Homer epic about Trojan War and wodden horse. On the mainland of Greece in this time , the most powerful king was Agamemnon. His residance was at Mycenae. At this time, the inhibitants of Greece called themselves as Arhaians, Danaans, or Argiues not Greeks or Hellenes. Agamemnon had married Clytemnestra, dauther of Tyndareus of Sparta and sister to Helen. Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. she had married with Agamemnon's brother Menelaos who became king in Lakonia. Two brothers had a great power in southern Greece.

The gate of Sceon facing the Aegean Sea.

On the other hand, in Troy Laomedon was the king of Ilios, the son of Ilus who ha given his name to Troy. Laemedon tried to cheat the gods of their rewards. He would not give up the immortal snow - white horses sent by Herakles (Hercules). But Herakles sailed to the Troad (Troy), attacked, and captured the city. leomedon and his sons were killed except the youngest, Podarces, survived. Podarces was released and took a new name, Priam as a young king of Troy and the city restored again.

Touring the ruined city of Troy.

 
Priam ruled over Troy successfully three generation. he had fifty sons and twelve dauthers. his eldes son was the great worrior Hector. And his one of the sons, Paris, was the important instrument in the Troy History. 

 

Part of Fortress walls.

The famous myth tells , Eris -strife- had thrown down a golden apple 'for the fairest' at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, and Zeus, king of gods, couldn't bring himself to adjudicate in the ensuing dispute between his queen, Hera, Athena (goddess of wisdom), and Aphrodite (goddess of love). The goddesses were led to the Trojan Mount Ida where Priam's most beautiful son Paris was living. Hera offered him lordship of all Asia; Athena, victory in war and wisdom beyond any other man; Aphrodite, the most beatiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta and as usual men being men, stories being stories, Paris gave the apple to her (Helen).

The suggest location and gateway of  Trojan army escaping  from the Greek's army led by Achilles.

The ruined of Troy

  The tale is simple and quite realistic. Paris goes to Sparta to give the apple to Helen. Menelous, husband of Helen gives a feast for him. Whenever Menelous left from there to see the king of Knossos, Helen and Paris run away and sailed to Troy. But there is some contradiction in this part, some source says that Paris carried of Helen by force and plundered elsewhere in the Aegean sea before returning to Troy.

When Menelous heard what happened, he begged his brother Agamemnon to take revenge. The king sends envoys to Troy to demand Helen's restitution but envoys come back with empty hands. Then Menelous collects an army. In the story, great heroes were Archilles, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Ajax. At Aulis, the army seers read the signs that Troy woul fall in the tenth year of the war. Then Menelous army sailed to Asia Minor and in error attacked Teuthrania in Mysia opposite of Lesbos, but they had mistaken according to Trojan territory and the army were beaten at the mouth of the Caicus river and driven back to their ship by Telephus, king of Mysia and ally of Troy.

Exploring the ruined of Troy

  The Greeks assembled again at Aulis but they were windbound and unable to sail. Wings, hunger, evil harbourage, crzing men, routing ships and cables stoped the Greek army, because Agamemnon had offended Artemis and his most beatiful douther had to be sacrificed to change the fortune. 
 

After scarification of Iphigenia, the army reached first Lesbos, then Tenedos which is an island that is visible from Troy. The islands were plundered. At the end, Greek army was at the bay of Troy. The Trojans also had allies from several places in Asia Minor and Thrace. The war took 10 years. in the tenth year of the war, the Greeks stoped raiding Asia Minor and attacked Troy. In a part of Homer's Iliad, Hector falls in a single combat with Archilles, the best Greek warrior, the fight was finished with the death of Hector and Archilles' friend Patroclus. Archilles sacrificed twelve noble Trojan captives over Hector's Funeral pyre. after death of Trojan ally memnon in battle at the Scaeon gate, Paris strikes Archilles in his heel (the famous 'Archilles heel' comes from here) ,the only place where Archilles was vulnerable. And the greatest of all Greek hereos was burned and his ashes burried on a headland overlooking the Helespond. Ajax commited suicide with the silver-studded sword whish had been given to him by Hector as a mark of respect. Somehow Priam's son Paris killed by Philoktetes, but the Trojans stil refused to give Helen up.

A wooden horse was built to gain access to the city as a plan. well armed men among them Odysseus of Ithaca and Menelous himself hidden in it. The horse was left as a thank to Athena and the Greeks burned their camps and sailed as if they had given up. Trojan found the horse and the ashes of the camp and pulled the horse into the city. 'It was midnight', says a fragment from the epic known as the little Iliad, 'and full moon was raising'. The soldiers jumped down from horse and opened the gates by killing the sentries. the Greeks entered the city and killed all Trojans where ever they found them. After the Greek massacre, none of the male sex was left in the city. Neoptolemus killed old Priam on the threshold of his royal house. the male children of Trojan hereos were slaughtered. Hector's little boy was thrown from the walls. Meneleos determined to kill Helen but in front of her beuty, he gave up to kill her. After the Greeks, plundered and burned Troy was left.

But this victory brought only more suffering to the Greeks. They were split up by storms and lost their ways to return. Agamemnon, the king of Greeks was killed by his wife. Philoktetos was expelled from Thessaly by rebels.

At the resting place of Troy.