Heinrich Schliemann was a German man who declared himself as a pioneer in archaeology, and he dedicated his life into finding legendary Troy city mentioned in Iliad by Homer. Heinrich Schliemann and Treasures of Troy are always remembered together today.
Schliemann started excavations in today’s Troy in 1871 and went on digging deeper everyday till 1873. He believed he would eventually come to the original Troy if he goes on excavating.
He came across the treasure he was looking for on the 27th of May, and he named it Priam’s Treasure. Today many experts claim this treasure belongs to one of the layers of Troy was lived much later than the real Trojan war.
Two years after the excavation began, he believed that the gold items he found among the walls were Priamos’ treasure. Schliemann, who wrote in his diary that he would never have taken the works without the help of his wife Sophia, smuggled the works to Greece.
The intention of Schliemann was to leave the stolen treasures in Russia after learning that the Ottoman authorities had sued him in Greece. However, after the Russian Tsar refused to accept the stolen artifacts, he had to return to Germany.
The next hosting country for Trojan artifacts was Germany. Following the attack of the Red Army into Berlin during the second world war, the treasures were taken to the USSR as spoils of war. The artifacts brought to the USSR did not contain the entire Trojan treasures. Treasures were spread all over the world. Some Trojan treasures found in Russia today is on display at the Pushkin Museum.
Where Is the Treasure of Troy Today?
The Treasure of Troy is split between several museums. The gold, about 260 pieces, is in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. Berlin keeps silver and pottery from the same excavations, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg has bronzes and pots. Some Trojan finds also stayed in Turkey, in Istanbul and at the Troy Museum.
The gold has been in Moscow since 1945, and the museum first showed it to the public in 1996. Today it is part of the permanent exhibition in the main building, among the pieces are the diadems and jewelry that Schliemann called the Jewels of Helen.
Let’s have a look at what stayed in Turkey. The Troy Museum stands in Tevfikiye village, about 800 meters from the ruins of Troy. It opened on 10 October 2018, and the building is cube covered with rust-colored steel. About 2,000 pieces from Troy and its region are on display, including gold jewelry from the Troad.
Some of Schliemann’s finds also went to the Ottoman Imperial Museum in Istanbul, and part of that collection is in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums today. I recommend my guests to visit the museum after the ruins, because it explains the layers of Troy they have just walked through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Jewels of Helen?
Schliemann used this name for the gold diadems, earrings and necklaces of his 1873 find, after Helen of Troy. His wife Sophia posed for a well-known photo wearing them.
How many pieces were in Priam’s Treasure?
Schliemann’s own list counts about 8,750 gold rings, buttons and other tiny pieces, plus diadems, bracelets, cups, silver vases and copper weapons. The gold in the Pushkin Museum today is catalogued as about 260 objects.
Where is the Troy Museum?
In Tevfikiye village, about 800 meters east of the ruins and roughly 30 kilometers from Çanakkale. It opened in 2018, so you can visit the museum and the ancient city on the same trip.
Book Tour Guide to See the Treasures of Troy
Even if many treasured were taken away from Troy ancient city in Turkey today, there is still a great amount of artifacts to be seen in Troy Museum and Troy Ancient City. You can always write to me to learn more on Troy and also to book a professional licensed Turkish tour guide to Troy. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
