For centuries, the city of Troy was considered nothing more than a myth, immortalized in Homer’s epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Many scholars and historians debated whether Troy ever existed or was merely a product of poetic imagination. However, in the late 19th century, archaeological discoveries provided tangible evidence that the legendary city was real. This article examines the discovery of Troy, its historical significance, and how modern archaeology continues to unravel its mysteries.

Troy occupies a central place in Greek mythology. According to The Iliad, the city was the site of the legendary Trojan War, where Greek forces, led by King Agamemnon, waged a ten-year siege against King Priam’s city. The war was ultimately won through deception—the infamous Trojan Horse. While the story has captivated audiences for millennia, many historians initially dismissed it as a work of fiction, akin to other mythical tales of gods and heroes.

In the 19th century, German businessman and self-taught archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann set out to prove that Troy was not a mere legend but a real historical site. Inspired by the writings of ancient historians like Strabo and Pausanias, Schliemann conducted excavations in Hisarlik, a site in modern-day Turkey, in the 1870s. His efforts led to the discovery of multiple layers of ancient settlements, revealing that Troy was not a single city but rather a series of cities built atop one another over centuries.