Analyzing the archaeological finds, the destruction of the ancient city of Troy clearly emerges, with skeletons, arrowheads and other significant finds. Homer really existed and what is narrated in the Iliad reflects historical events, even if it did not unfold exactly as described in the poem. It is likely that there was not a single “Trojan War”, but rather several wars during the Late Bronze Age.
Rustem Aslan, director of the Archaeological Park and Excavations of Troy, says that the story of the Iliad and the figure of Homer are confirmed by history and archaeology. In Hissarlik, Turkey, where the ruins of ancient Troy are located, Aslan argues with Christopher Gorno in the series “Iliad and Odyssey”.
“The Iliad is steeped in legend and myth,” says Gorno. “There are heroes who are the sons of gods; the gods intervene on many occasions. These are purely mythical aspects, but for the ancients the divine presence was tangible.”
During their exploration of the ruins of Hissarlik, Gorno and Aslan find themselves immersed in the landscapes described in the poem. Gorno focuses on the duel between Hector and Achilles, one of the crucial events of the war. He cross-references the verses of the Iliad with archaeological findings that seem to confirm the Homeric tale:
“Hector leaped, swinging his sharp sword, but Achilles leaped too… There Achilles struck him, the point passing straight through the soft neck.”
Aslan concludes that we cannot have definitive proof of the historical existence of characters such as Helen, Paris or Priam. However, since there is a basis of historical reality in the Homeric poems, the possibility remains open: why not?
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