Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:50 AM Sayfa
years 85 BC-AD 500 was named Troia IX. This last layer is the Troia of
the Roman Era.
Excavations in the antique city of Troia have been at least as colorful
and eventful as its mythological history. The excavations started in
1871 with Schliemann. Since his childhood, he grew up with the dream
of finding Troia. He was so in love with Troia that he could recite
the Iliad by heart in many languages. Knowing that he needed a lot
of money to find Troia, he engaged in trading and became rich.
Afterwards, he devoted himself to finding Troia. After many attempts,
he finally found Troia. However, the unsystematic excavations by this
amateur archaeologist to find the treasure of Priamos destroyed Troia.
Finally in 1873, he found a treasure, which he thought was that of
Priamos but was actually from Troia II, and smuggled it overseas.
Having toured many countries, this treasure ended up in Germany at
a time when World War II started. The renowned treasure was found
by the Russians in chests and was sent to Russia. Today, there exist
pieces from the Treasure of Troia in seven different countries, but the
substantial part of it is being exhibited in Petersburg Museum. A small
part of it is in the ‹stanbul Archaeological Museum. After Schliemann,
the architect Wilhelm Dörpfeld excavated Troia from 1893 to 1894, and
Carl W. Blegen of the University of Cincinnati USA from 1932-1938.
These excavations led to important information.
Excavations were continued during the years 1982-1987 in Beflik Cove
7 km. to the west of Troia, by the University of Tübingen and it was
proven that this was a port of Troia. In 1988, Troia excavations were
resumed by a team of Turks, Germans and Americans on behalf of the
University of Tübingen, headed by Manfred Osman Korfmann and very
important results were achieved. Most importantly, it has been
revealed that Troia, as opposed to common belief, was not a part of
Greek civilization, but was a Hittite principality named Wilusa, namely
an Anatolian tribe. The findings from the excavations are preserved
and exhibited in the Çanakkale Archaeological Museum. These
excavations continue in the discovered Troia, as well as in the lower
city. It became evident that this city covered and area of 200,000 m 2
and matched what had been told by Homeros. After Prof. Korfmann
died in 2005, Ernst Pernicka and Peter Jablonka of the University of
Tübingen continue the excavations with the same team.
Having learned about its legend, history and excavation background, we
can now start touring Troia. If we take a short walk after seeing the
wooden horse, we arrive at where the ramparts of Troia VI are seen. Let
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