Students of antiquity often see ancient Turkey as a bewildering array of cultural complexes. Ancient Turkey brings together in a coherent account the diverse and often fragmented evidence, both archaeological and textual, that forms the basis of our knowledge of the development of Anatolia from the earliest arrivals to the end of the Iron Age. Much new material has recently been excavated and unlike Greece, Mesopotamia, and its other neighbours, Turkey has been poorly served in terms of comprehensive, up-to-date and accessible discussions of its ancient past. Ancient Turkey is a much needed resource for students and scholars, providing an up-to-date account of the widespread and extensive archaeological activity in Turkey. Covering the entire span before the Classical period, fully illustrated with over 160 images and written in lively prose, this text will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the archaeology and early history of Turkey and the ancient Near East.
The tale of mighty Troy has tempted the travellers for thousands of years. The tragic fate of the powerful city of King Priam, sung by the semi-legendary bard called Homer, has been one of the most frequently retold dramas of all times. Even in the ancient times, when Asia Minor was colonised by the Greeks and later controlled by the Romans, the site of Troy was a great tourist attraction. When visiting this World Heritage Site, you will be following in the footsteps of the Persian ruler Xerxes, Alexander the Great of Macedonia, Roman Emperor Hadrian, and the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror. Even if it is difficult to say with certainty that the archaeological site first excavated in the 19th century is the location of the Trojan War, the visit here brings many emotions and evokes the scenes from the Homer's story. By following this guidebook, you will be able to imagine brave Achilles chasing the Trojan prince Hector around the mighty fortifications of Troy. The book will also help you to understand the geography of the site and the surrounding countryside. On a bright day, you will see the remote Aegean Islands where the Greek ships had been hidden before the fall of the city. Looking in another direction, you will glimpse the distant outlines of Mount Ida - the favourite location of the Olympian gods who had played with the mythical heroes' fates like a game of chess. Moreover, this guidebook offers you a tour of the archaeological site that is, admittedly, quite difficult to understand with its multiple layers. All significant locations are described in great detail to add more satisfaction to the experience. Before you come to Troy, make sure to read the chapters devoted to the site's archaeology and history. Finally, the newly opened Troy Museum, located not far from the site, has been thoroughly presented in this book and you might want to visit it before taking a tour of the site. In this guidebook you will find a detailed plan of the site of Troy, showing all the main stops of the tour. The map of the region of Troad will assist you in putting Troy in the wider geographical context. It should be also helpful during the visit to the Troy Museum where the presented exhibits include not only the objects from Troy, but also from other nearby sites. The book provides practical information for the visitors such as ticket prices and opening hours as well as the transportation options from the city of Çanakkale. If all of this is not enough, there is a bibliography to satisfy the needs of the most inquiring readers.
Veteran science writer Michael Balter skillfully weaves together many threads in this fascinating book about one of archaeology’s most legendary sites— Çatalhöyük. First excavated forty years ago, the site is justly revered by prehistorians, art historians, and New Age goddess worshippers alike for its spectacular finds dating almost 10,000 years ago. Archaeological maverick Ian Hodder, leader of the recent re-excavation at this Turkish mound, designated Balter as the project’s biographer. The result is a skillful telling of many stories about both past and present: of the inhabitants of Neolithic Çatalhöyük and the development of human creativity and ingenuity, as revealed in the recent excavation; of James Mellaart, the original excavator, whose troubles off the mound eventually overshadowed his incisive work at the site; of Hodder and his intense, brilliant crew who marveled and squabbled over the meaning of finds in dusty trenches while attempting to reintepret Mellaart’s work; and of the recent history of the theory and methods of archaeology itself. Part story of the human past, part soap opera of modern scholarly life, part textbook on the practice of modern archaeology, this book should appeal to general readers and archaeological students alike.
Filling a gap in available literature, Professor Henry Matthews brings alive the ancient cities of Aegean Turkey. He passionately explores history from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine era while lucidly explaining architectural principles. He guides readers through rugged mountains and fertile river valleys to twenty-one sites, including Troy, where the walls still stand that resisted Agamemnon's warriors; Miletus, the birthplace of Greek philosophy and science; Priene, whose Late Classical ruins express political and artistic ideals; Pergamon, the dramatic mountain-top metropolis; Aphrodisias, Hierapolis and Ephesus, where brilliant Roman architecture prevails and many surprises await.
This definitive sourcebook collates seminal articles from this increasingly important field, to present a comprehensive and well-balanced representation of approaches and interests in a single volume for students, lecturers and researchers.
