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==Homer’s epics as an historical source==__NOTOC__[[File:608px-J_G_Trautmann_Das_brennende_Troja.jpg|thumbnail|left|The primary source Burning of information we have about Troy and by Johann Georg Trainman]]The foundation of Western literature can be traced back to the Trojan War come from Homer’s IliadAncient Greek epic. Unfortunately the Illiad is primarily a work of oral fiction that was passed down for generations before it was finally recorded in writing. This long history The Homeric works are known as an oral document casts doubt the on accuracy of the story ''The Iliad'' and ''The Odyssey'' is among the descriptions of events that take place most well-known literary works in the book are dubiouswestern canon. Moreover, They tell the Trojan War happened sometime in the 13th century BCEstory, a staggering five centuries before the date ten-year siege of a city called Troy by the earliest known written copy of The IliadGreeks. Thus, The Iliad tells us more about societyhow King Menelaus, war Helen, was kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris. To bring Helen back and culture in punish the 9th century BCE than it does about the Bronze AgeTrojans for Paris’s crime, Menelaus led a massive Troy invasion by Achean troops.<ref>FinleyFor ten years, M.I. et al.. “The Trojan War” ''The Journal the Greeks laid siege to the city of Hellenic Studies 84'' (1964): 1–9. Web. 1 Dec, 2015, p. 9Troy until finally it fell and was ransacked and destroyed.</ref>

==Are Homer’s epics the only historical source for the Trojan War?==The primary source of information we have about Troy and the Trojan War comes from Homer’s Iliad. Unfortunately, the Iliad is unquestionably one of the most important pieces primarily a work of literature and has been compared to The Bible oral fiction passed down for generations before being finally recorded in its ability to influence writing. This long history as an oral document casts doubt on Western artthe story's accuracy, literature and moralitythe descriptions of events in the book are dubious. The Greeks, and many other ancient commentators such as HerotodusMoreover, absolutely believed that the Trojan War was an historical event that took place happened sometime in the “Golden Age” 13th century BCE, a staggering five centuries before the date of their historythe earliest known written copy of The Iliad. Thus, The Iliad tells us more about society, war, and culture in the 9th century BCE than it does about the Bronze Age. <ref>BryceFinley, Trevor RM.I. et al.. “The Trojan War: Is There Truth Behind the Legend?”War” ''Near Eastern Archaeology 65.3The Journal of Hellenic Studies 84'' (20021964): 182–1951–9. Web. 1 Dec. 2015, p.182</ref> Many modern archaeologists agree, believing that at the very least there was some type of conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans in northwest Turkey at some time in the late Bronze Age. However, it is also true that the details have been heavily dramatized and the kidnapping of Helen was almost certainly not the cause of the war. Based on documents from other civilizations at that time, experts speculate that the cause was either political or “accidental”, which means that Troy was simply one city out of many that was the victim of Greek raids. <ref>Finley, 5-69.</ref>

==The modern day archaeological site==Iliad is unquestionably one of the most important literature pieces and has been compared to The best known candidate for Troy is a site Bible in northwest Turkey called Hisarlikits ability to influence Western art, literature e, discovered in 1970 by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemannand morality. There are nine levels of settlements at HisarlikThe Greeks, and each level is divided into sublevels. Early archaeologists many other ancient commentators, such as Herodotus, absolutely believed that level VIIa or VIIb were the mythical Troy, but dating Trojan War was a historical event in the “Golden Age” of pottery shards has ruled those levels outtheir history. Today level VIh is the most likely candidate, as it appears to have been destroyed at some time in the late 13th century BCE <ref>Bryce, 185Trevor R.“The Trojan War: Is There Truth Behind the Legend?”''Near Eastern Archaeology 65.3'' (2002): 182–195. Web. 1 Dec. 2015, p.182</ref>Many modern archaeologists agree, believing that at the very least, there was some conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans in northwest Turkey at some time in the Late Bronze Age.

Archaeologists know However, it is also true that VIh was destroyed in a violent fashion sometime during the 13th centurydetails have been heavily dramatized, but and the nature kidnapping of its destruction is not known. The site Helen was almost certainly not particularly impressive, with a small citadel and only a few broken foundations that remain todaythe cause of the war. As such there is very little evidence of a large settlement and archaeologists Based on documents from other civilizations at that time, experts speculate that this site could have been destroyed by a natural disaster, an invasion the cause was either political or some other destructive event. <ref>Bryce“accidental, 187-188.</ref> Other levels ” which means that Troy was simply one city out of many that was the site are known to have been destroyed by human violence, including VIIa, but most have ruled these levels out as likely candidates for the city victim of Troy from the IliadGreek raids.<ref>Finley, 15-6.</ref>

==Theories about Where is the historical likelihood potential site of Troy?==Troy's best-known candidate is a northwest Turkey site called Hisarlik, discovered in 1970 by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. There are nine levels of settlements at Hisarlik, and each level is divided into sublevels. Early archaeologists believed that level VIIa or VIIb was the mythical Troy, but pottery shards' dating has ruled those levels out. Today level VIh is the most likely candidate, as it appears to have been destroyed at some time in the late 13th century BCE <ref>Bryce, 185.</ref> Archaeologists know that VIh was destroyed violently sometime during the 13th century, but the nature of its destruction is not known. The site was not particularly impressive, with a small citadel and only a few broken foundations that remain today. As such, there is very little evidence of a large settlement, and archaeologists speculate that this site could have been destroyed by a natural disaster, an invasion of some other destructive event. <ref>Bryce, 187-188.</ref> Other levels of the site are known to have been destroyed by human violence, including VIIa, but most have ruled these levels out as likely candidates for the city of Troy from the Iliad.<ref>Finley, 1.</ref> ==Did the Trojan Warhappen?==Due to the lack of useful evidence at Hisarlik, archaeologists continue to disagree on whether or not the Trojan War really took place. Carl Blegen, an archaeologist who excavated at Hisarlik in the 1930s, has said that “it can no longer be doubted” that the Greeks laid siege to the site known as Hisarlik and ultimately destroyed it.<ref>Blegen, Carl William. ''Troy and the Trojans''. New York: Praeger, 1963, p. 20.</ref> However, that opinion was based on the belief that level VIIa was the fabled Troy, and modern experts disagree.

Indeed, many have criticized Blegen for his hasty decision to declare that VIIa is the real Troy. Moses Finley and others have called his conclusion an “act of faith”, and pointed to an almost total lack of evidence to suggest that the fall of Troy was caused by a Greek army <ref>Finley, 1.</ref> Authors such as Finley are far more conservative in their reading of the evidence found at Hisarlik and instead point to contemporary texts from that period, specifically those of the Hittites, that mention a site that may be Troy. The Hittites suggest that this city’s destruction may have been either political or “accidental”“accidental, ” meaning that VIh was invaded as part of a larger scale plundering or raid. <ref>Finley, 5-6.</ref>==What is the most common theory regarding the Trojan War?==The most commonly held theory is that the Iliad's stories are largely untrue but are born out of one or more small truths from the Greeks’ distant past. Perhaps there was some Bronze Age conflict whose story survived the centuries, was passed down orally, and provided the basis for what became a cornerstone of Western literature and thought. Most agree that the cause of such a war was likely politics rather than romance, and far fewer numbers fighters were involved <ref>Bryce, 183.</ref> Until the day when more clues come to light, there is no way to conclude that the Trojan War was a real event.

The most commonly held theory Due to a great lack of evidence even to prove that Hisarlik is that the stories in The Iliad are largely untruereal Troy, but are born out the question of one whether or more small truths from not the Greeks’ distant pastTrojan War really took place remains unanswered. Perhaps there was some Bronze Age conflict whose story survived the centuriesHowever, was given that The Iliad is a work of fiction passed down orallyfor centuries before it was written down, and provided the basis for what became a cornerstone of Western literature and thoughtarchaeologists are hesitant to conclude that such an event took place. Most However, most agree that the cause there is a high degree of such a war was likely politics rather than romance, likelihood that The Iliad and far fewer numbers of fighters The Odyssey were involved <ref>Bryce, 183.</ref> Until at the day when more clues comes to light, there is no way to conclude very least inspired by a large-scale military excursion that occurred some time in the Trojan War was a real eventLate Bronze Age.<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">

Due to a great lack of evidence even to prove that Hisarlik is the real Troy, the question of whether or not the Trojan War really took place remains unanswered====Related DailyHistory. However, given that The Iliad is a work of fiction that org Articles====*[[What was passed down orally for centuries before Plato's academy and why did it influence Western thought?]]*[[Alexander the Great Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Why was written down, archaeologists are hesitant Alexander the Great So Successful In His Conquests?]]*[[What Factors Led to conclude that such an event took place. However, most agree that there is a high degree the Creation of likelihood that The Iliad and The Odyssey were at the very least inspired by a large scale military excursion that occurred some time in the late Bronze Age.First Cities?]]</div>

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[[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Military Greek History]] [[Category:Ancient Greek Near East History]][[Category:ArcheologyAncient Egyptian History]]