To what extent was the Trojan War a mythological event
Kirilly Yfantis
I.
Introduction
The Trojan War was one of the epically known battle captivating the imagination of many
generational historians, archaeologists, and scholars for centuries but is it all true or did it
even happen? The Trojan war is a take of heroism, love, betrayal, and gods intervention –
with a story immortalised by Homer’s epic poems, the lliad. Archaeological finds and
explorations of Heinrich Schliemann had shed lights on possible evidence that the ancient
city of Troy could have existed. However, beyond the realm of mythology lies the question:
To what extent was the Trojan War a mythological event?
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Hittite_rule_en.svg
Walls of the Acropolis of Troy VII
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walls_of_Troy_(2).jpg
Archaeological plan retrieved showing the layout of the citadel of the actual ancient city of
Troy. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plan_Troy-Hisarlik-en.svg
II.
Homer's Version of the Trojan War
Homer’s epic poem of the Trojan War “The lliad”, is an ancient Greek literature poetry that
provided valuable insights into the events surrounding the Trojan War and Homer’s
interpretation into what he thinks happened. Homer’s narrates that the 10 year conflict
started between the city of Troy and the alliance of the Greek city, which was led by
Agamemnon. The narrative is also enriched in detail about battles between Greek heroes
like Achilles and Hector, as well as divine interventions by Gods such as Zeus and Athena.
However, there are several significant issues for example the with the lliad and the Odyssey
dating to around the eights century BC the Trojan War had supposedly happened in the early
12th century BC, stating that the lliad and the Odyssey had roughly been created 400 years
after the events purport to describe. With some aspects portrayed that in the lliad and the
Odyssey it is displayed as genuine folk remembrance of the Bronze age. For example,
Achilles and Argamnon seemed to have had real named that were using in the Mycenaean
period. Another example is the fact that Homeric heroes where accurately described when
fighting they used mostly Bronze weapon rather than iron weapons that were used during
the eights century BC. The most known example was the memory of the Mycenaean Period
that was shown as preserved in the Homeric epics but does come from the lliad 10.260 –
265, which does describe Odysseus wearing an unusual helmet that was fashioned from
boar tusks.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134:book%3D10:car
d%3D254
The helmets that were described in this passage were believably not worn in the 8th century
BC when the lliad had told to have been worn, they were commonly worn by the aristocratic
warriors during the Mycenaean Period with many helmets had been preserved. Stated in the
lliad, chariots were portrayed as a way of transportation to carry the soldiers to the
battlefield. As the soldiers did not actually fight, instead they rode in their chariots to the
battle then climbed out in order to fight on foot. However, the real issue is that the chariots
were not really used in the Bronze Age. For example, as known in the real life Bronze Age
Warfare, soldiers instead who had chariots fought in those chariots, they did not just carry
them around the battle field or just use them as transport. But because the lliad was only
composed in a time when chariots were mostly used only for races and not for battle Homer
misunderstood how the chariots were actually used. Because of this we cannot view
Homer’s poems as accurate for a historical account of the Bronze Age.
III.
Archaeological Finds and Heinrich Schliemann
The city of Troy Is a real city that existed during the Bronze age. We know this because of
archaeological finds that remain in the city that have been extensively excavated by a
number of archaeologists during the past century and a half since the site was first found at
Hisarlik now in modern day Turkey in 1865 by an English archaeologist Frank Calvert who
lived from 1828 to 1908. With archaeological finds and evidence playing a crucial role in the
understanding of whether or not the Trojan war had any basis in reality. The majority of the
excavations at Hisarlik were conducted and led by Heinrich Schliemann who was a German
businessman and amateur archaeologist who lived between 1822 and 1890. Schliemann had
identified over nine district layers of the Ancient city which was known to be Troy.
Schliemann revealed he discovered in the layers fortified walls, houses, temples and a tomb
filled with treasure, but unfortunately Schliemann destroyed most of the upper layers as he
was reckless to find the lower layers by using aggressive tactics which included extensive use
of dynamite. With the absence of inconclusive archaeological evidence of the Trojan War,
some authors tried to appeal to the earliest surviving sources for example the lliad and the
odyssey arguing that the evidence found by archaeologists is inconclusive. But some aspects
of the methodology and interpretations by Schliemann had been controversial, with some
arguing that his interpretations could have been flawed or biased due to his desire to prove
Troy’s existence according to Homer’s accounts rather than objectively analysing the
evidence. With Archaeologists confirming that there was a presence of multiple ancient
cities at the sight of Troy, these discoveries had indicated that a level of historical reality of
Homer’s account and points towards a significant conflict in the region during the Bronze
Age.
But however, in addition to Homer’s work and Schliemann’s excavations, other Ancient
sources provide glimpses into the Trojan War. Historians like Herodotus, Thucydides, and
Strabo have mentioned or alluded to their writings. While these accounts many do not offer
the same level of details as Homer’s epics, they serve as valuable historical reference that
contribute to our understanding of the war. With archaeologist confirming that there was a
presence of multiple cities at the sight of Troy, with these discoveries archaeologists where
able to indicate that a level of historical reality relating to homers account points towards an
existence of significant conflict in the region during the Bronze age.
VI. The Tawagalawa letter
The Hittites were known as ancient people who had an empire that thrived in the eastern
Anatolia during the late Bronze age dating from around 1600 BC to around 1178 BC. They
spoke Hittite which was possibly known as one of the earliest Indo – European language
known to date. The main capital Hittite was known as the city of Hattusa which was known
to have been located about 200 kilometres east of Ankara, which is now the present day
capital of Turkey.
The Hittites were in fact well aware of both the existences of the Mycenaeans Greeks and
the city of Troy. The Hittite name for the Mycenaeans Greek Aḫḫiyawā which is believed to
have been related to the later Greek names Ἀχαιοί which in fact is one of the several
different names that Homer used in the lliad to refer to the Greeks. However, the Hittite
name for the city of Troy is Wilusa, which is related to the Greek name that is used for the
city of Troy in the lliad. There is a number of Hittite texts that have survived that refers to the
Greeks and the city of Troy, one including the be particular relevance in the historicity of if
the Trojan War was real. The document is known as the “Tawagalawa letter”. The letter was
originally written in Hittite language created and written by an unnamed Hittite king who
was most commonly identified as Ḫattušili III who ruled from 1265 to 1240 BC.
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pagevieweridx?c=acls&cc=acls&didno=heb31289.0001.001&idno=heb31289.0001.001&node=heb3128
9.0001.001:7.4&rgn=full+text&seq=00000117&view=image
It was very easy for people to read this type of proof relating to the historicity of the Trojan
War, but
1. The wording in the letter is extremely vague and we should be very careful about
trying to read anything into it based on our own twenty-first-century familiarity with
the story of the Trojan War.
2. All the letter says is that there was some kind of hostile incident. This does not in any
way translate to mean that there was a ten-year-long siege of Troy by the Greek
armies led by a real king Agamemnon to avenge the capture of Helen by Paris, the
prince of Troy.
3. The letter predates the destruction of Troy VIIb by at least several decades.
VII. The Trojan Horse: Fact or Fiction?
One of the most ironically known elements that is associated with the Trojan War is the
story of the Trojan Horse. The Trojan horse was evidently known as a wooden horse used by
the Greek solders to infiltrate Troy’s army defences. Although there in a lot of evidence
against the realness of the actual Trojan War, archaeological discoveries prove that a
significant city that resembles Troy possibly could have existed, while there are other factors
that raise high scepticism regarding the overall reality of the Trojan War. One of these being
the legendary Trojan Horse. As the Trojan Horse was described in various texts and poems
including Virgil’s “Aeneid”. As Virgil states “Trojans do not trust this horse. Whatever it may
be, I fear the Greeks, Even when they bring us gifts.”
The ideas that the Greeks solders where feared by the Trojan as they were scared of their
gifts. However, although it seems like an entire Greek army was hiding within the wooden
horse does seem implausible, causing some scholars to even argue that it was all purely
fictional as there is a lack of evidence that supports the use of such mechanisms while
others have proposed alternative explanations based on archaeological evidence or strategic
military tactics employed during the warfare.
VIII. Evaluating Overall Evidence: Was it Mythological?
After looking at various sources – including Homer’s epic poems, archaeological findings,
critiques against Schliemann’s methodology, other historical accounts, and the crucial role of
mythology in Ancient Greece – it is important to assess whether there is significant enough
evident to classify weather or not the Trojan War is a mythological or historical event.
While some aspects of the Trojan War remind shrouded in doubt due to limited evidence or
conflicting interpretations, is it evidence that some aspects are both mythical and historical
elements intertwined within the Trojan War. Homer’s poems provide invaluable insights into
the Ancient Greek society while also incorporating divine intervention attributed to Gods in
their mythology
Hisarlik offers compelling archaeological discoveries of a city that could potentially have
been Troy, but the exact connection between the Trojan War remains uncertain. Certain
number of critiques against Schliemann’s findings serve as a reminder to approach
archaeological findings and interpretations with caution and objectivity.
Other ancient sources that contribute to more perspectives on the Trojan War is literary
analysis and the understanding of mythology in the ancient times of Greece further showing
how historical events were mythologised for Greek culture, societal and political purposes.
The extent to which the Trojan War was a mythological or historical event may never be
discovered or definitively determined due to a high lack of available evidence and
discoveries within ancient narratives. However, It is undeniable that the significance of the
Trojan war hasn’t left a major impact on human culture through its enduring tales of
heroism and tragedy.
IX. Conclusion
In conclusion, the Trojan War lies between the mythological and historical narrative that in
intertwined within Ancient Greek and Trojan society. Homer’s epic poem “The lliad”
provides valuable insights into the War with many factors arguing that it represents actual
historical occurrences. With archaeological examinations which Heinrich Schliemann led
further supports that there was a physical existence of a city that resembled Troy. However,
the legendary Trojan Horse does bring reasonable doubt about the actual historical reality of
the War.
There are many limitations of historical sources that still remain unfound and vigilant when
interpreting ancient texts and artifacts relating to the Trojan War. While we might not be
able to prove the Trojan War actually took place due to lack of evidence it allows us to
explore the Greek culture and society and considering all evidence we to date have available
including literature, archaeology, critiques, other source accounts and the roles played by
mythology we can ultimately show that whole many aspects remain open to interpretation
and investigation there is significant support to consider the Trojan War is both historically
significant and mythologically impactful upon the ancient Greek society.
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