Located in northwestern Turkey are the remains of the city where battles, of Homer’s Iliad, were fought four thousand years ago. Travel to the location of the legendary site where the Epic says Achilles perished and Odysseus fooled the Trojans.
The mound, where the ruins are found, is now open to travelers and history buffs who can wander through the real remains of the epic poem.
Whether travelers wish to explore the nine layers of the mound on their own or as part of the Troy Day Tour from Istanbul, here is what to expect from the ruins of Troy.
History Of Troy
Troy’s golden age occurred during the Bronze Age when it was able to take advantage of its strategic location to control trade through the area. The city was deserted after the Trojan War in 700 B.C. though it would later be inhabited by Greeks who would resettle the region.
In the fourth century BC, Alexander the Great, who was believed to be a descendant of Achilles, would claim the city on his way to Asia. He would take some time to honor the heroes from the stories as he passed through.
Eventually, Rome would take control of the region in 85 BC. The area was then known as New Ilium. Even during this time, the area flourished as a destination for those who knew the legend of the Trojan war.
As Constantinople to the north flourished, the city began to fade in importance and many even began to think of Troy as simply having been a place invented by Homer for his epic poem. That was until Heinrich Schliemann, a self-proclaimed archeologist, uncovered the site and confirmed that it was indeed the legendary city of Troy.
Site information
Located at Tevfikiye in northwestern Turkey, visitors can explore the mound that has nine different layers showing the history of what was once the city of Troy. Here are locations of interest on the site.
Roman Odeon (Music Theater)
A small theater for musicals was built close to the agora, consisting of a semicircular orchestra planned separately from the stage.
Roman Bouleuterion (Council Chamber-Senate)
The Roman Bouleuterion was a site for political gatherings that offers a great view of the entire city's ruins. Travelers can visit to see its podium and marble seats that date back to Augustus’s reign.
South Gate
Visitors can see the remains of what is known as the south gate is the paved road along with a water channel at its center.
Altars and Temple of Athena
The shrines and monasteries of the once great temple of Athena remain here to be visited. The temple was built by Lysimachus, as promised by Alexander the Great. River plains can still be seen in the background with what is known as the “burnt town” which was to be the town of Priam by Schliemann.
Fortification Walls
The walls here were built in several steps and are not equal in height. However, the limestone blocks were placed in the way they were to maximize durability. On average, the walls are four meters thick and nine meters high.
Defensive Tower of Troy VI
Having been about ten meters in height, these were durable defensive structures that remain to be visited today.
Mycenaean Houses of Troy VI
These remarkable homes were built before iron and steel were available for use making their stonework quite impressive.
Schliemann’s Trench
This trench allows tourists to see the walls of homes and the dwellings of ancient settlers. These structures were made with stone and mortar. The eastern wall was restored and made with air-coated clay bricks. There are also large, long buildings. The end of the ramp is crossed by a wooden bridge and passes through the three-ring walls of Troy II.
The Ramp of Troy II
This ramp is used to access the interior of Troy II. The ramp was found to pass below a large tower. Near this location, Schliemann claimed to discover Priam’s Treasure, though he misdated it.
East Gate
The wall of the East Gate is superposed by a Roman stone wall. There are columns on the east end of the temple, and a curving passage about 10 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. The massive North-Eastern Tower can be found here on the Mycenaean walls.
Troia Museum
Open in 2018, and announced as “The Year of Troy” but the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, This site was honored on its 20th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage List. The museum takes up 11,000 square meters and exhibits more than 2,000 sculptures, inscriptions, sarcophagus, altar, milestone, ax, and similar cutting tools, terracotta ceramics, bone objects, figurines, glass bracelets, metal pots, gold caches objects, jewelry, guns, coins, ornaments, glass/terracotta scent bottles, and tear bottles.
- Address - 17100 Tevfikiye/Çanakkale Merkez/Çanakkale, Turkey
- Contact - +90 286-217-67 40
Troy Day Tour from Istanbul
Take an adventure through the legendary city of Troy. Explore the ruins of the true location of Homer’s Iliad. Take a guided look at the history of both Turkey and Ancient Greece while learning a bit about mythology.
- Cost - $82.51
- Includes - ferry fee, entrance fee, lunch, guided tour, hotel pick-up, and drop-off
- Not-Including - drinks