Culture: Key Sites

The Homeric World: Key Sites

Troy

Troy is an ancient city in Asia Minor, with its setting reflected in Homer’s Iliad.
Excavations by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann revealed a series of cities built on top of each other, Troy VII identified as likely Homeric Troy.
Important features include the Mycenaean walls, evidence of destruction by fire, and artefacts resembling descriptions in the Iliad.
However, controversies exist about whether the city was as grand as Homer describes or whether the Trojan War ever happened.

Mycenae

Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, linked with Homer’s Odyssey.
It’s identified as the kingdom of Agamemnon, one of the Greek leaders in the Trojan War.
Site includes the Lion Gate and grave circle with golden death masks - one mistakenly identified by Schliemann as the ‘Mask of Agamemnon’.
Mycenae’s decline around 1100 BC marked the beginning of the Greek Dark Ages.

The Palace of Knossos

The Palace of Knossos is an ancient Minoan palace on the island of Crete, considered Europe’s oldest city.
Revealed by British archaeologist Arthur Evans, it is connected to mythological figure Minos and the Minotaur.
The palace featured multi-story buildings, plumbing systems, elaborate frescoes and was highly developed for its time.
Its destruction possibly linked to the Santorini (Thera) volcanic eruption.

Pylos

Ancient Pylos is identified as the kingdom of Nestor, important character in Iliad and Odyssey.
Excavations revealed a well-preserved Mycenaean palace with frescoes, a bath, and a great megaron (central hall).
Linear B tablets found here gave insight into Mycenaean bureaucracy; one tablet referred to a ‘well-made oar’, linking to a passage in the Odyssey.

Substantial archaeological evidence has provided insight into The Homeric World, although elements remain a matter of historical debate and interpretation. The key sites reflect the merging of historical reality and mythological narrative that typifies our understanding of the Homeric era.