Ancient Civilisations The Trojan War
Mar 6, 2026
Armand D’Angour, classical scholar at Oxford and presenter of It’s All Greek (And Latin) To Me, offers expert insight into Homeric context and ancient Greek history. He discusses Homeric composition and the Epic Cycle. He explores archaeology versus myth, Schliemann’s dramatic digs and the Priam treasure controversy. He examines Hittite links to Wilusa and the archaeological layers of Troy.
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Schliemann's Theatrical Arrival At Hisarlik
- Heinrich Schliemann arrived at Hisarlik convinced it was Troy and celebrated his partnership with Frank Calvert by toasting Homer and the site.
- Schliemann brought horses, carts, hundreds of workers and explosives to dig aggressively through the mound seeking the Iliad-era city.
Troy Is Layered Not Single Moment
- Hisarlik is a tell with many habitation layers spanning millennia, so Homeric Troy sits mid-mound, not at the deepest level.
- Archaeology shows Troy existed from ~3500 BC with a Late Bronze Age phase c.1200 BC matching Homer's description.
The Dramatic Discovery And Misclaim Of Priam's Treasure
- Schliemann blasted through layers and found a silver pot hiding a golden hoard which he declared the treasure of Priam.
- He dug a massive trench, used dynamite, and announced he'd located Homeric Troy despite later dating showing the hoard was much older.