For thousands of years we have been enthralled by tales of Troy and its heroes. Achilles and Hector, Paris and the famed beauty Helen remain some of the most enduring figures in art and literature. But did these titanic characters really walk the earth? Was there ever an actual siege of Troy? In this extensively revised edition, historian Michael Wood takes account of the latest dramatic developments in the search for Troy. His wide-ranging study of the complex archaeological, literary and historical records has been brought up-to-date. Detailing the rediscovery in Moscow of the so-called jewels of Helen and the re-excavation of the site of Troy begun in 1988, which continues to yield new evidence about the historical city, In Search of the Trojan War takes a fresh look at some of the most excited discoveries in archaeology. A dazzling and exhaustive analysis. Washington Post This beautifully illustrated book vividly evokes themes that are central to our civilizations quest for its past. The New York Times Book Review

Surveys the historical underpinnngs of the Heroic Age in ancient Greek tradition.

The Trojan War occurred more than 3,000 years ago. Since then, starting with Homer's epics, people have been writing, painting, sculpting and creating music about this event and its participants. This book starts with an overview of the Bronze Age when the Trojan War occurred, and then follows a selection of the major literature about this war from Homer down through the ages and on to the Internet. Each retelling of the Troy story is discussed in its historical context and includes a synopsis of the story itself. The ways of telling the story change over time. The main versions considered include Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; a selection of Classical Greek Dramas (especially Iphigenia at Aulis); Virgil's Aeneid; Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde; Guido delle Colonne's History of the Destruction of Troy; Racine's Iphigenia (at Aulis); Goethe's Iphigenia in Tauris; Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida; Joyce's Ulysses; and two feminist Troy novels, Sheri Tepper's The Gate to Women's Country and Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Firebrand. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the history of the Trojan War in next to no time with this concise guide. 50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of the Trojan War. When Menelaus, king of Sparta, returned home after visiting his dying father in Crete to discover that his beautiful wife, Helen, had been kidnapped by Paris and taken to Troy, he was furious. He declared a war on Troy that would last ten years, lead to a considerable loss of life, and eventually end in the famous saga of the Trojan horse. In just 50 minutes you will: • Understand the context surrounding the Trojan War, leading up to the fearless kidnapping of Helen, the wife of Menelaus, by Paris • Discover the sacrifices made by both sides and the intricacies of ancient warfare, particularly in the face of the impenetrable defence of the walls of Troy • Recognise the final blow to the Trojans when the Greeks sent in their famous wooden horse, and finally captured the city and recovered Helen ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | History & Culture 50MINUTES.COM will enable you to quickly understand the main events, people, conflicts and discoveries from world history that have shaped the world we live in today. Our publications present the key information on a wide variety of topics in a quick and accessible way that is guaranteed to save you time on your journey of discovery.

In this new volume, Jan Haywood and Naoíse Mac Sweeney investigate the position of Homer's Iliad within the wider Trojan War tradition through a series of detailed case studies. From ancient Mesopotamia to twenty-first century America, these examples are drawn from a range of historical and cultural contexts; and from Athenian pot paintings to twelfth-century German scholarship, they engage with a range of different media and genres. Inspired by the dialogues inherent in the process of reception, the book adopts a dialogic structure. In each chapter, paired essays by Haywood and Mac Sweeney offer contrasting authorial voices addressing a single theme, thereby drawing out connections and dissonances between a diverse suite of classical and post-classical Iliadic receptions. The resulting book offers new insights, both into individual instances of Iliadic reception in particular historical contexts, but also into the workings of a complex story tradition. The centrality of the Iliad within the wider Trojan War tradition is shown to be a function of conscious engagement not only with Iliadic content, but also with Iliadic status and the iconic idea of the Homeric.

A detailed guide to some 900 films and videos covering fine arts, archaeology, decorative arts, crafts, and related topics, produced from 1976 to 1990, and noteworthy for their production values or for the importance or uniqueness of their content. Five essays provide an intellectual context for the annotated listings of documentaries and feature films. Includes 34 pages of bandw photographs, a list of subject headings and indexes by subject, director, name, series, and film distributor. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

In Search of the Greeks offers an engaging introduction to the societies of Classical Greece. Making extensive use of ancient sources and illustrated with some hundred and fifty photographs, drawings, maps and plans, many now for the first time in colour, the book introduces key topics of ancient Greece. The new edition opens with a new chapter that provides an historical overview of the key events, figures and eras, and continues with updated chapters on key topics in Greek history: religion and thought, Athenian democracy, Athenian society, Athenian drama, the Olympic Games and Sparta. Activity boxes and further reading lists throughout each chapter aid students' understanding of the subject. Appendices provide further information on Greek currency values, Greek musical instruments and the Greek calendar. Review questions throughout this book challenge students to read further and reflect on some of the most important social, political and cultural issues of classical Greece. Many topics raise issues of contemporary relevance, such as the rights of citizens in a democracy, forced marriage and approaches to education. The book is supported by a website which, contains comprehensive resources on the social, political and cultural issues of classical Greece.

With her virtuoso translation, classicist and bestselling author Caroline Alexander brings to life Homer’s timeless epic of the Trojan War Composed around 730 B.C., Homer’s Iliad recounts the events of a few momentous weeks in the protracted ten-year war between the invading Achaeans, or Greeks, and the Trojans in their besieged city of Ilion. From the explosive confrontation between Achilles, the greatest warrior at Troy, and Agamemnon, the inept leader of the Greeks, through to its tragic conclusion, The Iliad explores the abiding, blighting facts of war. Soldier and civilian, victor and vanquished, hero and coward, men, women, young, old—The Iliad evokes in poignant, searing detail the fate of every life ravaged by the Trojan War. And, as told by Homer, this ancient tale of a particular Bronze Age conflict becomes a sublime and sweeping evocation of the destruction of war throughout the ages. Carved close to the original Greek, acclaimed classicist Caroline Alexander’s new translation is swift and lean, with the driving cadence of its source—a translation epic in scale and yet devastating in its precision and power.

"The Trojan War and Its Aftermath: Four Epic Poems Retold" by David Bruce is a captivating retelling of the timeless tales surrounding the legendary conflict of the Trojan War and its far-reaching consequences. Drawing from ancient sources such as Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," as well as other classical works, Bruce weaves together a rich tapestry of myths, heroes, and gods to create a compelling narrative that brings the ancient world to life. Through vivid prose and meticulous attention to detail, Bruce guides readers through the epic events of the Trojan War, from the famed duel between Achilles and Hector to the cunning stratagems of Odysseus and the tragic fall of Troy. Along the way, he introduces readers to a host of unforgettable characters, from the valorous warriors to the cunning goddesses, each with their own motivations and desires. But Bruce's narrative doesn't end with the fall of Troy; instead, he explores the aftermath of the war and its impact on the heroes and heroines who survived. From the trials of Odysseus as he struggles to find his way home to the tragic fate of the Trojan women, Bruce delves deep into the human drama and emotional resonance of these timeless stories, revealing the enduring power of myth to illuminate the human condition.

Drawing on archaeological research, an expert account of the famous historical battle confirms many details recounted in Homer's epic account, from Troy's alliance with the Hittite Empire to the significant fire at the end of the twelfth century and facts