Homer and Troy, the first lieux de mémoire for Ancient Greek civilization and a fundamental part of the collective identity of European nations, also inspired the Ottoman Turkish imagination and cultural traditions. Yet despite all the valuable historical research into Homer, the archaeology of Troy and Heinrich Schliemann's archaeological activities in the Ottoman Empire of the late nineteenth century, most scholars rely heavily on Western sources. Little attention has been paid to the archaeological concerns and interests of the Ottomans themselves. This book explores Ottoman-Turkish involvement and interest in Homer and Troy between 1870, when Schliemann started excavating on Ottoman soil, and the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915, when Troy became part of the heroic epic of the Turks. It explores long neglected Ottoman sources and brings the Ottoman and European experience and tradition regarding Homer and Troy together.
