Description:
PROSE Award for Excellence in Archeology and Ancient History Finalist 2019
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.Brief description: Thomas Harrison is Professor of Ancient History at the University of St Andrews, UK. His publications include Divinity and History: the religion of Herodotus (2000), The Emptiness of Asia: Aeschylus' Persians and the history of the fifth century (2000); as editor Greeks and Barbarians (2002) and the Edinburgh Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome (2006).
Review Quotes:
"[A] little gem of a book ... Troy is a perfect addition to a course on ancient epic, Aegean archaeology, or reception studies, and includes an extensive bibliography and suggestions for further research. In sum, Troy is a pleasant and enlightening read for scholars of all levels and a very handy reference. Summing Up: Highly recommended." --CHOICE
"[A] fascinating volume. The text skilfully weaves together numerous categories of evidence to craft an engaging read that is simultaneously wide-ranging and focused." --Current World Archaeology "[Mac Sweeney] has succeeded brilliantly in making 'hope and history rhyme' with her clear style, judicious use of quotations ... and peppering of memorable anecdotes ... With three maps, a chronological table and twenty six illustrations, this book is to be highly commended and warmly recommended, an invaluable addition to the library not just of anyone-undergraduate, academic or general reader-interested in Troy, the Trojan War and the ever-changing responses to one of the most potent of all myths, but of all visitors to the site." --Classics for All Reviews "No one, not even Homer, has ever tried to tell the whole story of Troy. But this slim volume comes incredibly close. The author guides us briskly through 5,000 years of fact, fiction and folklore ... We wind up in the Troy of today with a broad understanding of how and why ancient lives and literatures affect us still. Travelers to the site of Troy need this book in their backpacks. For everyone else staying at home, reading this volume is the next best thing to being there." --AramcoWorld "[F]or an expert in one area looking for a strong overview of the others, or for a comprehensive overview of the city, its myths and its cultural significance, this book is a fine place to start. In bringing these three strands together, the book becomes more than the sum of its parts." --International Journal of the Classical Tradition "Well written and fast paced, the story of Troy comes alive in these pages, from historical city to cultural icon. Chock full of information in an easily digestible form, this accessible volume will be of interest to students, professionals, and the general public alike. Highly recommended!" --Eric Cline, Professor of Classics and Anthropology, George Washington University, USA "Naoise Mac Sweeney has produced a fascinating exploration of the city of Troy and the way its name has resonated throughout the ages, capturing the imagination of so many." --Andrew Erskine, Professor of Ancient History, University of Edinburgh, UK