Flashcards
Study guide
Troy has two identities, literary and archaeological. This dual nature gives the study of Troy a particular fascination. Be sure you know the background to the excavations at Troy: why did Schliemann undertake explorations at Hisarlık?
- Characterize the nature of the site of Troy/Hisarlık. Is it a city, a town, or simply a citadel? What architectural features have been found in Troy II and Troy VI that illustrate your answer?
- Do archaeological discoveries confirm that the Trojan War truly took place? What are the arguments, for and against?
- Who were the Hittites? The book gives more detail than you need to remember. Nonetheless, a basic knowledge of how the Hittites fit into the larger context of Near Eastern, Egyptian, and Aegean civilizations of the Late Bronze Age is worth learning.
- Studying the city plan of Hattusa, aim to get a sense of what types of buildings have been uncovered, where they are located, and how they relate to each other. This site is large and located on sloping ground; it’s hard to grasp the lay of the land without actually going there. Internet resources may furnish helpful photographs (start with the website of the Hattusa excavations, here).
Useful websites
- Hattusa excavations (in English, German, and Turkish): http://www.hattuscha.de
- Kuşaklı-Sarissa excavations (in German): http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~kusakli/welcome.html
- Troy excavations (in English and German): http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/troia/
Images
Figure 8.1
Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age.
Figure 8.2
Plan, the Citadel, Troy: Major Buildings.
Figure 8.3
Troy II, ramp and south-west gate
Figure 8.4
City plan, Hattusa (Boğazköy)
Figure 8.5
Reconstructed fortification wall, Hattusa
Figure 8.6
The Lion Gate, Hattusa
Figure 8.7
Plan, the Sanctuary at Yazılıkaya.
Figure 8.8
Meeting of the Gods, relief sculpture, Yazılıkaya.