"The Turks and Troy: The 'Treasure of Priam' according to Ottoman Documents"
Rüstem Aslan
Director of Excavations at Troy
Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Archaeology
Thrusday
April 12, 2018
4:00–6:00 PM
Breasted Hall of the Oriental Institute
Schliemann's excavation at Hisarlik (Troy) inspired as much writing and discussions during his lifetime as it did after his sudden death in Naples in 1890. In particular, a lively debate followed Schliemann's initial report on 5 August 1873, in the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung on the "Treasure of Priam." Much has already been written about Schliemann's excavations in Troy since 1873. Discussion focused on the following topics: When, how and where did Schliemann find the treasure? How did he smuggle it out of the country? Was it a hoard or was it compiled from various groups of Schliemann's previous finds? To answer these questions, mainly the Schliemann Archive in Athens has been consulted. These documents provide a one-sided picture of the conditions and events of Schliemann's day. Until now, Ottoman documents have remained almost unnoticed. With the help of these previously unknown
documents, the history of the discovery of Priam's Treasure can be understood from a new perspective. Troy's finds and treasures have been dispersed to more than 44 museums of the world. The place where these artifacts, world cultural heritage, are supposed to be exhibited is where they were discovered.
Hosted by the Consulate General of Turkey
Reception to follow in the Edgar and Deborah Jannotta Mesopotamian Gallery
