From the palaces of Homeric epic to the ancestral seat of Roman
emperors, Troy in antiquity was a place couched in myth. But for nearly
four millennia, Troy was also a living city, inhabited by real people.
Troy today is therefore a site of major archaeological and historical
significance. In the modern world, however, Troy has become as much a
symbol as a site. From movies to computer viruses, from condom branding
to reggae records, Troy is a word to conjure with.
This book explores the significance of Troy in three areas: the mythic,
the archaeological, and the cultural, and highlights the continuing
importance of the site today. Including a survey of the archaeological
remains of Troy as they are currently understood, the volume presents an
all-inclusive overview of the site's history, from the Troy of Homer to
Classical Antiquity and beyond. The modern day cultural significance of
the Trojan War is also discussed, including re-tellings of the stories
or representations of the site and myth, and the more abstract use of
Troy as a symbol - as a brand for consumer goods, and as a metaphor for
contemporary conflicts.