Troy

Discover the truth about the Trojan War and the city of TroySee all videos for this article

Troy, Greek Troia, also called Ilios or Ilion, Latin Troia, Troja, or Ilium, ancient city in northwestern Anatolia that holds an enduring place in both literature and archaeology. It occupied a key position on trade routes between Europe and Asia. The legend of the Trojan War, fought between the Greeks and the people of Troy, is the most notable theme from ancient Greek literature and forms the basis of Homer’s Iliad. Although the actual nature and size of the historical settlement remain matters of scholarly debate, the ruins of Troy at Hisarlık, Turkey, are a key archaeological site whose many layers illustrate the gradual development of civilization in northwestern Asia Minor. The extensive and complex ruins are open to visitors, and there is a museum on the site. There is much potential for future excavations. The ruins of Troy were enrolled as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998.