Digging for Troy From Homer to Hisarlik

Jill Rubalcaba is the author of THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WORLD, co-written with Eric H. Cline, THE EARLY HUMAN WORLD, cowritten with Peter Robertshaw, and THE WADJET EYE. Jill lives in Middletown, Connecticut. Eric H. Cline serves as the chair of the department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at George Washington University. He lives in Washington, DC.

It started as a legend told to each new generation-a war between the Greeks and the Trojans, with heroes battling over a beauty named Helen. While some question if this war and even the city of Troy itself existed, the tales have enticed people to look for clues in order to elicit fact from fiction and in some cases, to gain their own glory. Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline did into many archeological expeditions at Hisarlik, the modern-day site believed to have been ancient Troy. The recount Heinrich Schliemann's quest for renown, Wilhelm Drpfeld's meticulous digs, carl Blegen's timeline of troy's layers from 2900 BCE to 550 CE, and Manfred Korfmann's controversial picture of troy as a political entity with Anatolian-not Aegean-ties.

The fall of Troy is a legend that has been passed down for thousands of generations. It is the tale of an epic war, brave heroes, meddling gods and goddesses, and the face that launched a thousand ships. Although some have questioned whether Troy was ever anything more than a legend, the Iliad has inspired many to go searching for proof of Troys existence.

Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline first offer an abridged version of the Iliad before delving into the many archaeological expeditions at Hisarlik, the modern-day site believed to have been ancient Troy. They recount everything from Heinrich Schliemanns quest for glory and renown to Manfred Korfmanns controversial picture of Troy as a political entity with Anatolian—not Aegean—ties. Whether the legend of Troy is fact or fiction remains up to the reader to decide.