Many centuries this city and its history haunt archaeologists and mere adventurers.Half a century ago, Heinrich Schliemann was able to find a place where there is Troy, and in 1988 the interest of scientists to this legendary city rose again.To date, there has been a lot of research and found several cultural layers.
General
This settlement Luwian civilization, also known as Ilium, is an ancient city that was located in the northwest of Asia Minor, near the coast of the Aegean Sea.That's where Troy was located on the world map.The town became famous for the ancient Greek writer Homer's epics and many myths and legends, and was found by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.
main reason why the ancient city was able to gain such popularity is the Trojan War and all its accompanying events.According to the descriptions of the "Iliad", it was a ten-year war that led to the fall of the settlement.
first pit
There is a hypothesis, according to which the area of Troy was much larger than previously thought.In 1992, excavations were carried out, which resulted in the discovery of the moat encircling the city.This ditch runs far enough away from the city walls surrounding an area of about 200 thousand. M2, although the city itself takes only about 20 thousand. M2.German scientist Manfred Korfman believes that in this area was the Lower Town, and up to 1700 years BC.e.There are living people.
second pit
Two years later, in 1994, during excavations it was discovered a second artificially created moat that ran about five hundred meters from the castle.Both the ditch is a system of fortifications designed to protect the fort, since they can not be overcome in the battle chariots.Archaeologists believe that here were sharpened stakes or wooden wall.Such attachment are described in the immortal "Iliad", although it is hardly possible today to rely on historical treatise.
Luvians or Cretan-Mycenaeans?
Korfman archaeologist believes that Troy is the direct heir of Anatolian Civilizations, and not, as is commonly believed, Mycenaean.Modern Troy area contains many findings supporting it.But in 1995 it was made a special discovery is found with the characters printed on the Luwian language, which had previously been distributed in Asia Minor.But, unfortunately, it has not been made new discoveries that would clearly indicate that the three spoke in that language.
However Korfman was absolutely certain that the ancient Trojans were direct descendants of the Indo-European peoples were Luvians origin.It is the people, which is about the II millennium BC.e.He moved into Anatolia.Many items that were found during excavations in Troy, likely belong to this particular civilization, not Greek.There are several factors supporting the possibility of this assumption.In areas where there was Troy, reminiscent of Mycenaean walls and exterior housing is quite typical for the Anatolian architecture.
Religion
During excavations of the set were also found Hittite-Lubian cult objects.Near the southern gate were four steles, which symbolized the god of Hittite culture.In addition, the cemetery, which is located near the city walls, has kept signs of cremation.Given that this method of burial is not typical for the western nations, but the Hittites it resorted to it, is another plus in favor of the theory Korfman.However, today it is very difficult to determine how it was actually.
Troy on the map of the world
Since Troy is caught in the middle - between the Greeks and Hittites - she often had to become a party to the killings.Regularly here in cases of war, and the settlement attacked all new enemies.It is scientifically proven as the place where Troy is, that is the territory of modern Turkey, had found traces of fires.But around 1180 BC.e.here was an accident, which initiated the difficult period in the history of not only Troy, but the entire world.
Trojan War
If specific artifacts found during the excavations, and we can say something specific, the events that took place in the political arena, as well as the truth behind them, remain a big question.The lack of information and a lot of theories that are often illogical, some accept at face value that gave rise to many myths and legends.The same applies to the great Greek epic Homer singer who some scholars due to lack of evidence prepared to consider evidence of the witness, but the war took place long before the birth of the author of the poem, and of course he knew her only from the mouths of others.
Helen and Paris
According to legend, described in the "Iliad", the cause of the war was a woman, the wife of King Menelaus - Elena.Troy, whose history she knew a lot of trouble, not once was attacked by the Greeks and before the war, as the Trojans managed to control the commercial relations in the area of the Dardanelles.According to mythology, the war started because of the fact that one of the sons of the Trojan king Priam - Paris - stole the wife of the ruler of the Greek, and the Greeks, in turn, decided to bring her back.
likely that such an event actually took place in history, but it was not only the cause of the war.This incident was the climax, after which began the war.
Trojan
Another legend concerning the destruction of Troy, tells the story about how the Greeks managed to win the battle.If you believe the literary sources, it has become possible thanks to the so-called Trojan horse, but this version, there are many contradictions.In his first poem "The Iliad", devoted entirely to Troy, Homer does not mention the episode of the war, and in the "Odyssey" describes it in detail.From this we can conclude that, most likely, it is a fiction, especially since no archaeological evidence at the site, where Troy was found.
There is also a suggestion that a Trojan horse Homer meant ram, or so he demonstrated the character of ships that went to the massacre of the town.
Why was destroyed Troy
history of the city, written by Homer, says that the death of the city is called a Trojan horse - this trivial gift of the Greeks.According to legend, the Greeks claimed that if the horse will be in the walls of the city, then he will be able to defend themselves against raids.
Most residents agree with this, despite the fact that the priest Laocoön threw a spear at the horse, and then it became clear that it is hollow.But, apparently, the logic of the Trojans suffered, and they decided to make a present to the city of the enemy, for which he paid dearly.However, this is just a guess Homer, it is unlikely that this is actually happening.
multilayer Troy
on a modern map, this city-state within the territory of a hill Hissarlik in Turkey.During numerous excavations in the area, they found several settlements that were here in ancient times.Archaeologists have found nine different layers, which belong to different years, and the totality of these periods is called Troy.
from the first settlements in safety were only two towers.The study of the second layer is just doing Heinrich Schliemann, believing that it is the one of Troy, in which he lived glorified King Priam.Considerable development, according to the findings, residents reached sixth settlement on the territory.As a result of the excavations it was found that during this period there was carried out active trade with the Greeks.The city itself was destroyed by earthquakes.
Modern archaeologists believe that the seventh layer of the found - this is the Homeric Ilium.Historians say that the city was killed by a fire initiated by Greek forces.Eighth layer - the settlement of Greek colonists who lived here already after Troy was destroyed.They, on the assertions of archaeologists, built temple of Athena.The last of the layers, the ninth refers to the era of the Roman Empire.
Modern Troy is a vast territory, which to this day excavations.Their goal - to find any evidence of history, described in the great Homeric epic.Many myths and legends for several centuries encourage scientists, archaeologists and adventurers adventurous make your own - albeit small - contribution to the discovery of the mysteries of this great city, which once was one of the main shopping arteries of the ancient world.
In the place where Troy was made many discoveries that were extremely important for modern science.But no less mysteries gave excavations carried out a huge amount of professional archaeologists.At present day is to wait as long as they found new, strong evidence of the events described in the "Odyssey" and "Iliad."In the meantime, we will have only guess about the true events that took place in the great ancient city of Troy.
