Troy (Alishia)

Alishia Borton 								Research #1
Ancient Troy

	There is much skepticism regarding the city of Troy and the Trojan war. Some believe that they are the objects of storytellers to create myths; others have no doubt on its credibility. Many of those who accept the idea that Troy is real write about it. Such poems and stories are then studied by later historians, and interpreted in different ways.
	The first mention of the city didn’t come about until Homer mentioned it in his poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey; “Later it became most popular subject in Greek drama and told its story elaborately to next generations” (Kagan). Homer writes of Troy as a destined for ruin city, mentioning that it was built by a few gods whom were being punished. Troy was however, destroyed and built up several times in its existence, both by gods and mortals.
	 The city of ancient Troy was home to the ever-famous Trojan War. The Trojan War was one of the few times in which the city was overturned. Other instances occurred such as when Troy was first built, “[it was] taken by Hercules, Telamon, and Peleus, as a reprieve for Laomedon not giving Hercules the reward of several immortal horses for saving Laomedon's daughter Hesione” (Homepage of the Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid). Approximately nine levels of Troy have been discovered so far, most in different time periods (Kagan). 
	There is evidence to support both theories, Troy existing and not existing. Ancient ruins have been found to sustenance the city, but stories are the only sign of Trojan life. Regardless, there are many people on each side, and even a few in the middle. Did ancient Troy exist, or was it and the notable Trojan war just a myth created to smooth out the rough patches of time?
Works Cited
Kagan , Agun. "TROY (TRUVA) - 4000 years old Ancient City ." July 17, 1998. 1 Oct 2007 <http://www.iit.edu/~agunsal/truva/truva/truva.html>.
"Homepage of the Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid." 1 Oct 2007 <http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2471/Troy.html>.