The Hill That Contains Nine Cities

The mound of Hisarlik, rising above the floodplain near the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey, is one of the most layered archaeological sites in the world. Nine distinct settlement periods — each called “Troy” followed by a Roman numeral — are stacked one on top of the other, spanning from around 3000 BC to approximately 400 AD. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Its fame derives not only from archaeology but from Homer: the Iliad’s story of the ten-year Greek siege of Troy has haunted European culture for 2,800 years.

The Scale of Reality vs. the Epic

One of the most disorienting things about visiting Troy is its size. The Bronze Age citadel of Troy VI or VIIa — the most likely candidate for Homer’s Troy — measures approximately 200 meters across. The settlement that witnessed whatever historical events inspired the Iliad was a small fortified hilltop town, not the vast gleaming city of golden towers that Priam rules in Homer’s telling. The epic scale belongs entirely to the poem. The archaeology belongs to a prosperous but compact Aegean Bronze Age community that dominated a strategic point on the sea routes between the Aegean and the Black Sea.

Heinrich Schliemann and the Gold of Troy

The identification of Hisarlik as the site of Homer’s Troy is attributed to the geologist Frank Calvert and the amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who began excavating in 1871. Schliemann’s methods were catastrophic by modern standards: in his determination to reach the deepest layers, he carved a massive trench through the mound, destroying much of the Bronze Age Troy he was seeking. In 1873 he discovered a cache of gold, silver, and copper objects which he called “Priam’s Treasure” and illegally smuggled to Greece, then to Germany. The treasure was seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II and is now held at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, where it remains a subject of ongoing diplomatic dispute.

Troy VI and VIIa: The Most Likely Candidates

Modern scholarship identifies two layers as the most plausible settings for a historical Trojan War: Troy VI (c. 1700-1300 BC), a prosperous city with impressive walls that shows signs of destruction by earthquake; and Troy VIIa (c. 1300-1180 BC), which shows evidence of violent destruction by fire and human remains consistent with siege warfare. The current consensus leans toward Troy VIIa as the most likely candidate for the conflict that inspired the Homeric tradition, though certainty is impossible. Recent excavations by Ruestam Aslan of the University of Canakkale have revealed Troy VII to be more extensive than previously mapped.

Alexander’s Sacrifice and the Hellenistic City

In 334 BC, before crossing into Asia to begin his campaign against the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great stopped at Troy. He sacrificed at the Temple of Athena, poured libations at what he believed to be the tomb of Achilles, and held athletic games in honor of the Trojan heroes. For Alexander, Troy was not archaeology but living mythology — the original model of the hero’s quest. The Hellenistic city of Troy VIII, built over the Bronze Age ruins, became an important center precisely because of this Homeric prestige. Julius Caesar later visited and contemplated making Troy the capital of his empire.

What to See Today

• The Circuit Walls: Sections of the massive Troy VI fortification walls, built in ashlar masonry, are the most visually impressive Bronze Age remains.
• The Megaron Buildings: Rectangular palatial structures within the citadel from multiple periods.
• Schliemann’s Trench: The slash through the center of the mound made by Schliemann’s excavations — visible, and sobering.
• The Trojan Horse Replica: A full-scale wooden replica at the site entrance; not historical but irresistible.
• Troy Museum (opened 2018): A purpose-built museum 500 meters from the archaeological site, housing finds from Schliemann’s time to the present.

Visit

Location

Tevfikiye village, Canakkale Province, Turkey; 30 km south of Canakkale city.

Opening hours

Daily, year-round; reduced hours in winter.

UNESCO status

World Heritage Site (1998).

Coordinates

39.9572 N, 26.2387 E

Wikipedia: Troy