Homeric Questions: Archaeology and Ancient History of Homer's Trojan War

Some of the greatest pieces of western ancient literature come down to us from Homer, the blind Greek poet of whom most school kids have heard; but ancient historians know very little. Despite centuries of scholarly research, several questions remain. Who was Homer? How much of the Iliad and Odyssey were based on fact? Who identified Hisarlik as the likely site of Troy, and is it in fact Troy? What cultural group do archaeologists and ancient historians identify with Troy and Mycenae? For the answers to these and other burning questions, you must investigate Homeric Questions: Archaeology and Ancient History of Homer's Trojan War.

Archaeological Questions:
• Heinrich Schliemann and the Discovery of Troy: Did Schliemann find Troy?
• Troy and Hisarlik: Is Hisarlik really Troy?
• The Mycenaeans: Archaeology of Homer's People: Where are the ruins of the cities of Odysseus and Priam?
• Deciphering the Ancient Greek Language of Linear B: Did Homer invent the first Greek written language, and have scholars deciphered it?

Ancient History Questions:
• The Great Homer Nodding: When were the Iliad and Odyssey written, and by whom?
• A Tale of Troy or Iliad?: Is the Iliad the complete story of Troy?
• Odysseus the Stranger: What was the culture of Odysseus's day like?
• Homeric Geography: What was the political climate of Greece like?

The picture at the top is of Mycenae, capital of the Mycenaean culture; and it was taken by Michael Condouris. The picture of Schliemann dates to 1861 and appeared in David Traill's 1995 book, Schliemann of Troy: Treasure and Deceit. The ruins at the bottom are of Hisarlik, taken by Jon Eben Field.