Ancient City of Troy: Legends, Archaeology & History
The Ancient City of Troy is immortalized by Homer’s Iliad. This is one of the world’s most legendary archaeological treasures. When studied archaeologically, there are nine distinct city layers (Troy I-IX) spanning from the Early Bronze Age through the Roman era.
What Makes Troy Special?
The epic lore of the Trojan War is a dramatic story where whole kingdoms are ingaged in a fight, creating divisions even amongst the ancient gods who debated which side should be supported. The war was sparked by the abduction of Helen by Paris from Troy. The events turned into a long ten year war where famous heroes from both sides died. This war also sets the stage for the narrative masterpiece of the Odyssey.
The Legend of the Wooden Horse
According to myth, after trying to breach the walls of Troy and failing for 10 years, the Greeks broke the siege by and retreated. They left behind a giant wooden horse and it was presented as a gift to the Temple of Athena. The Trojans didn’t want to upset the gods by rejecting the offer and therefore carried the wooden horse. What they didn’t know was the fake present was packed with elite soldiers. At night, these warriors opened the gates and the army that approached the city again in silence finally breached the walls and brought about the fall of Troy. Today, a large replica stands at the site entrance and the prop horse constructed for the 2004 Hollywood movie Troy starring Brad Pitt is on permanent display on the waterfront promenade in Canakkale’s city center.
A climbable modern replica of the legendary Trojan Horse welcomes travelers to the ruins.
While the myths are fascinating, the actual archaeology reveals a timeline stretching from 2920 BC to the 12th century AD. To navigate this massive history, archaeologists mapped out the ruins into layers, identifying Troy VI (1740-1180 BC) as the fortified stronghold in Homer’s poetry.
Location & Climate of Troy
Troy sat in a strategic position at the mouth of the Dardanelles Strait. This naval passage controlled the ancient maritime trade lanes between the Aegean and Black Seas. Strong winds blowing from undesirable directions meant the ships before the invention of modern sailing technology had to dock at the harbors of Troy, sometimes for weeks. This turned the city into a wealthy, fortified commercial toll hub.
Excavated by generations of archaeologists, the ancient temples and ruins tell the tale of mythical heroes.
Practical Travel Tips:
- Transit: Troy is located 37 kilometers (23 miles) from Canakkale and roughly 355 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Istanbul. It serves as an excellent coastal stopover point when driving between Istanbul and Izmir.
- Seasonality: Summer temperatures range comfortably between 22°C and 35°C (70°F-95°F). Winter temperatures drop to 3°C to 10°C (37°F-50°F). Due to strong winds in the winter, make sure to bring a wind stopper.
