Glossary Terms
Homer's Illiad
Archaeological Dig
Written Sources
Legacy of Ancient Troy
100
A long poem, usually derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the past history of a nation.
What does "epic" mean?
100
The woman who ran away with Paris leaving her husband Menelaus and daughter Hermione behind. Her actions are often said to be the catlyst for the start of the Trojan War.
Who is Helen of Troy?
100
The location of the dig site, now recognised as Troy, from Homer's Iliad.
What is Hissarlik?
100
The main (and one of the oldest and most complete) written source we have about the Trojan War.
What is Homer's Iliad?
100
The character in Homer's Iliad and played by Brad Pitt in the the movie Troy (2004). He was said to be the best fighter in Homer's Iliad on the Greek side and is also represented on many scenes from Ancient Greece, both in black-figure and red-figure pottery.
Who is Achilles?
200
A three-legged structure given as a gift exchanged between hosts and guests, or as a prize to those successful in games.
What is a tripod?
200
The name that identifies the Mycenaean Greeks in Homer's Iliad.
What is Achaean?
200
The analysis of the order and position of layers (or strata) of archaeological remains.
What is stratigraphy?
200
The account, written by Virgil, of King Priam's nephew who fled Troy and later travels to Italy and becomes an ancestor of the Romans.
What is the Aeneid?
200
A trick the Greeks played to sneak into Troy. Many historians now argue that it did not exist. Some argue that it was a seige engine covered in horse skin. Others argue that it was a ship, or an earthquake both of which are representations of poseidon, the god of the oceans, earthquakes and horses.
What is the "wooden horse"?
300
Something that is not in its correct historical or chronological time.
What is anachronism?
300
A female slave, awarded to Achilles as a prize in recognition of his heroic exploits. Seized by Agamemnon to make up for the slave he had to return. Also the cause of conflict between the two men, leading to Achilles refusal to fight and the main story line of Homer's Iliad.
Who is Briseis?
300
A German amateur archaeologist and self-mad millionaire, began to dig at Hissarlik in 1871. He wished to prove, through archaeology, the truth of Homer. During 3 years of excavations, he discovered evidence of seven heaviy fortified settlements, which he named Troy, and identified each by a Roman numeral, the earliest being Troy I. He concluded that Troy II, which contained evidence of burning and destruction, was the Troy of Homer's Iliad.
Who is Heinrich Schliemann?
300
They record economic transactions and are written in Mycenaean script. Dating to the Mycenaen period c. 1600-1200BC, Michael Ventris is attributing with cracking the code and finally being able to decipher the early form of Greek. Some may give clues to events relating to the Trojan War, such as large slave groups at Pylos.
What is Linear B tablets?
300
The author of The Aeneid (written between 29 and 19 BCE), in which we can find the quote:
"...beware Greeks bearing gifts."
Who is Virgil?
400
Historical quality or character, especially in relation to establishing the authenticity of people and events.
What is historicity?
400
The mother of Achilles. Said to have dipped Achilles into the River Styx as a baby to make him immune to injuries, only missing the heel. She asked the god Hephaestus to make a suit of armour for Achilles. Begged Zeus to sway the tides of the war in favour of Achilles whims (for them when he was fighting and against them when he was angry at them e.g. fighting with Agamemnon).
Who is Thetis?
400
An American archaeologist, dug in areas untouched by Schliemann and Dorpfeld. He was able to establish a more scientific sequence of buildings and artefacts. He identified VIIa as the 'real' Troy of Homer as the houses were poorly built and cramped, but its walls were strong. It also appears to having been destroyed by fire after only 30 years of habitation.
Who is Carl Blegen?
400
Written records of a warlike and powerful civilisation of Anatolia that existed the same time as Mycenaeans. They identified Arzawa (now believed to be Troy) as a threat and a bone of contention between themselves and the Ahhiyawa kingdom (now believed to be the Mycenaeans).
What are the Hittite diplomatic archive?
400
A scene from many works and plays.
By François-Xavier Fabre (1808), portrays the scene with Paris and three godesses, in which he chooses Aphrodite as the fairest.
What is the Judgement of Paris?
500
A peron who studies language in historical literary texts or written records, determining their authenticity, their original form and their meaning.
Who is a philologist?
500
The funeral of Hector, the Trojan prince and a great warrior, held after Achilles kills him in battle and then finally returning the body after first refusing to as vengeance for his friend Patroculs' death.
How does the Iliad end?
500
The layer at Troy (from the Hissarlik site) dated to c. 1700-1280. It contained most highly developed level of occupation and Mycenaean pottery. This included a city rebuilt with large buildings similar to Mycenae, freestanding large houses, advanced engineering , great walls, towers, gates, palace complexes, well-made bronze weapons, new loom weights, large amounts of horse bones, cemetary of cremated bodies nearby,imported ivory and large storage jars, new pottery styles and evidence of earthquake damage, burning, arrow heads, spearheads and slingshots.
What is Troy VI?
500
Often called the "father of history". He wrote about many histories, including stories about Helen and Paris fleeing to Troy via Egypt. Helen and the treasures they stole are said to be taken from Paris and held in wait for Menelaus to come and claim them back. He argued then that Helen was never at Troy, otherwise they would have given her back to avoid the war, or at the very least end it.
Who is Horodotus?
500
The writer of Doctor Faustus (1604), in which we can find the quote:
Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships
And burnt the toplesstowers of Ilium?
Who is Christopher Marlowe?