TROY

The ancient city of Troy, famous as the site of Trojan War that Homer described in his epic poem The Iliad, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. It dates back to the 4th century BC and is located on the lower slopes of the ancient Mount Ida, within the boundaries of Çanakkale province. It is one of the most famous archaeological sites of the world.

Troy was first mentioned in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, where it is described as the ancient site of the Trojan War. According to the Trojan Legend, the sea goddess Tethys and the titan of the Atlantic Sea, Oceanus, had a daughter called Electra. Electra would become Zeus’ wife and would give birth to Dardanus. Dardanus’ son Tros would found the city called Truad, and his son Ilus would found the city of Troy. The site of the infamous beauty contest that gave rise to the Trojan War was close to Mount Ida. The three beauties of the contest were Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, and Paris was the judge. Paris chose Aphrodite, as Aphrodite promised Paris the love of Helen, wife of the king of Sparta. Paris abducted Helen and took her to Troy, provoking the war.

Troy is known to have 9 archaeological layers, and, to date, house foundations, theatres, public bath houses, a sewage system and various artifacts have been found in the various layers.  According to the excavations in Troy, the city was founded and devastated several times in its history. Consequently, layers of settlements marked 1 to 9 can be seen simultaneously in cross-sections.

The Trojans replaced the Sardis satrapy of the Herakleid dynasty, and ruled Anatolia for 505 years until the Lydian King Candaules’ reign (735-718 BC).

Archaeologist Schliemann’s excavations, starting in 1871, unearthed 9 ruins of ancient cities and 42 dwellings, and the treasure of Troy was also found during those excavations.

World Heritage List: Archaeological Site of Troy