Trojan Horse of Troy in Çanakkale

Trojan Horse is a legendary story about Greek triumph over the Trojans depicted in the works of Virgil and Homer. Trojan Horse takes part in the Trojan War, in which Greeks used an immense military tactic against the independent city of Troy in order to gain control of its lands. Even though events of the Trojan War and the Trojan Horse can be seen in many ancient depictions, there’s still no hard proof that the Trojan Horse existed. However, Trojan Horse received its popularity through the work of Virgil, Aeneid. According to the legend, the Greek General Odysseus ordered his soldiers to construct a giant wooden horse that could hide his forces inside. Such order was given after battling a fruitless siege that lasted for 10 years against the city of Troy. After constructing this wooden trophy, special forces hid inside and the remaining Greek soldiers pretended to flee. Seeing this as an absolute win, Trojans pulled the horse into the city as a sign of victory. The same night, the Greek forces creeped out the horse and opened the city gates for the Greek army. By this, Greeks guaranteed their victory by destroying the city of Troy. These legends have been an inspiration for countless works as well as a famous Hollywood movie named Troy. The location in which these epics took place is in Çanakkale, Turkey. There is an ancient site in Çanakkale that exhibits ancient city structures and welcomes countless visitors each year.  

Trojan Horse in Çanakkale

As of our day, there are two different structures that represent this famous horse in Çanakkale, Turkey. One of them is the same one used in the Hollywood movie Troy, gifted to the Turkish government. This Trojan Horse is exhibited in the city center of Çanakkale on the coast. Visitors may easily visit and appreciate the architectural structure of this wooden horse. The other one is located in the historically correct location of the Trojan Horse, the ancient city of Troy. Located in the rural parts of Çanakkale, many tourists visit Troy’s ancient site.

Ancient City of Troy

Troy is one of the most famous ancient cities in the whole world. Nine layers that were observed in this ancient site via expeditions show signs of continuous human settlement for more than 3000 years, establishing essential data on how ancient civilizations progressed and developed in Anatolia and the Aegean region. The earliest traces of humankind date as early as 3000-2500 BC in the bronze age. Human settlement in this city lasts until the Roman Empire reign over Anatolia. The first excavations in Hisarlik were started by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann and the Calvert family to search for Troy’s ancient city in 1870. After rapid developments in this site, it attracted the attention of countless researchers and archeologists over the years. Excavations on this site further brightened the first contact between Anatolian civilizations and the Mediterranean world. Troy is located in Hisarlık, which faces the Aegean Sea. This city consists of a big part of Hisarlık and even has its own museum. This ancient city has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1998. As of 1975, there is a replica of the Trojan Horse stationed in the entrance to the city of Troy built by Ahmet Karadeniz. The ancient city of Troy attracts and welcomes many tourists and is one of the most mesmerizing sites that must be visited.