Troy Burns: The Legendary City Falls in 1184 BC
The ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes calculated that the city of Troy fell in 1184 BC, a date that has become the conventional dating for the event described in Homer's Iliad. Archaeological excavations at Hisarlik, Turkey, identified by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870s as the site of Troy, revealed a destruction layer (Troy VIIa) dating to approximately 1180 BC, remarkably close to Eratosthenes' calculation. Whether this destruction was caused by a Greek siege, an earthquake, or internal revolt remains unknown. The Trojan War narrative was foundational to Greek and Roman identity: Greeks traced their heritage through the victorious Achaeans, while Romans claimed descent from the Trojan prince Aeneas. The archaeological evidence suggests Troy was a real city, but the historicity of the war itself remains unproven.
June 11, 1184 BC
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on June 11
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