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Troy or Ilion was an ancient city located in present-day Çanakkale, Turkey.

Troy was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt during its 4000 years of settlement. As a result, nine archaeological layers have been identified at the site, each corresponding to a city built on the ruins of the previous. Archaeologists refer to these layers using Roman numerals, Troy I being the earliest and Troy IX being the latest. Troy was first settled around 3600 BC and grew into a small fortified city around 3000 BC (Troy I). Among the early layers, Troy II is notable for its wealth and imposing architecture. During the Late Bronze Age, Troy is often identified as The final layers (Troy VIII–IX) were Greek and Roman cities which served as tourist attractions and religious centers because of their link to mythic tradition. The current site was excavated by Frank Calvert and Heinrich Schliemann from 1871. Under the ruins of the classical city, they found the remains of numerous earlier settlements. Several of these layers resemble literary depictions of Troy, leading some scholars to conclude that there is a kernel of truth underlying the legends. Subsequent excavations by others have added to the modern understanding of the site, though the exact relationship between myth and reality remains unclear and there is no definitive evidence for a Greek attack on the city.

These names seem to date back to the Bronze Age, as suggested by Hittite records which refer to a city in northwest Anatolia called Wilusa (𒌷𒃾𒇻𒊭) or Truwisa (𒆳𒌷𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭) which is now generally identified with the archaeological site of Hisarlık, near Tevfikiye.

The main literary work set at Troy is the Iliad, an Archaic-era epic poem which tells the story of the final year of the Trojan War.

Troy II is notable for having been misidentified as Homeric Troy, during initial excavations, because of its massive architecture, treasure hoards, and catastrophic destruction. Walls from Troy II may have been reused as part of Troy III (c.

Troy VI–VII was a major Late Bronze Age city consisting of a steep fortified citadel and a sprawling lower town below it. Late Bronze Age Troy includes parts of the archaeological layers known as Troy VI and Troy VII. Troy VI and VII were given separate labels by early excavators, but scholarly consensus holds that the first several sublayers of Troy VII were in fact continuations of the earlier city. As a result, some researchers have suggested relabelling Troy VIIa as Troy VIi and Troy VIIb1 as Troy VIj, with Troy VII beginning at the sublayer standardly known as VIIb2.

Although the city appears to have been within the Hittite sphere of influence, no Hittite artefacts have been found in Troy VI. Troy VI was destroyed around 1300 BC, corresponding with the sublayer known as Troy VIh.

Troy VIIa was the final layer of the Late Bronze Age city. New houses were also built in the lower city, whose area appears to have been greater in Troy VIIa than in Troy VI. Troy VIIa seems to have been built by survivors of Troy VI's destruction, as evidenced by continuity in material culture.

After the destruction of Troy VIIa around 1180 BC, the city was rebuilt as Troy VIIb. Its first phase, Troy VIIb1, appears to be largely a continuation of Troy VIIa. Other remains of the Bronze Age city were destroyed by the Greeks' building projects, notably the peak of the citadel where the Troy VI palace is likely to have stood. Troy VIII was destroyed in 85 BC, and subsequently rebuilt as Troy IX.

However, written records about the city appear starting with the Late Bronze Age Troy VI and continuing into the Greek and Roman era Troy VIII-IX. Troy VI–VII is believed to be the city referred to as Wilusa and Taruisa in Hittite records.

Quick Facts

• As a result, some researchers have suggested relabelling Troy VIIa as Troy VIi and Troy VIIb1 as Troy VIj, with Troy VII beginning at the sublayer standardly known as VIIb2.
• During the Late Bronze Age, Troy is often identified as
• Archaeologists refer to these layers using Roman numerals, Troy I being the earliest and Troy IX being the latest.
• Late Bronze Age Troy includes parts of the archaeological layers known as Troy VI and Troy VII.
• Troy was first settled around 3600 BC and grew into a small fortified city around 3000 BC (Troy I).

Source material: Wikipedia - "Troy". Adapted and summarized for DiscoverScroll. Original contributors are credited through the linked Wikipedia article. Read original on Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes were made from the original.