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Friday, July 3, 2015

City of Troy treasures to be housed in Turkish museum


The city of Troy. Some question whether this city was real at all, like the fabled city of Atlantis. The city of Troy is more than real, and now Turkey is taking the steps to share the priceless treasures of Troy from countries scattered around Europe by creating a museum to house the artifacts in the ancient city in the country’s northwest. Construction of the museum began just last year, and works will be accelerated for the repatriation of the Troy treasures from some European countries and Russia.

Located in Tevfikiye village, the Troy Museum is set to be finished by the end of next year. The ancient city receives more than 500,000 visitors every year.

“With a new $25 million tender that will be made in the coming days, we will focus on the ‘fine work’ of the museum. The ministry is also working on projects to bring back the Troy treasures in other countries. When the museum is finished, it will pave way for their return,” Culture and Tourism Director Kemal Dokuz recently said.
Troy Museum
© Hurriyet Daily News

Most parts of the museum construction has been completed. The building will have a closed area of 10,000 square meters, including exhibition halls on a 3,000-square-meter area. Artifacts unearthed in Troy and other archaeological sites in Çanakkale will be displayed at the museum.

Ancient Troy, which received UNESCO world heritage status in 1998, will grow in importance once the museum project is done, according to officials.

It is expected that the number of visitors will exceed 1 million and that Trojan artifacts that were smuggled abroad will return to the country.

According to data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Troy ranked ninth on a Turkish list of most-visited museum and ancient sites and eighth on a list of most-profitable sites, Dokuz said. “Troy is a very important brand of Çanakkale. Everyone knows Troy in the world.”

Dokuz said this important brand should be promoted in the best possible way, adding that the ministry had initiated the museum project to promote the treasures of Troy.

The official said the main goal in Troy was to attain the status of the Hagia Sophia Museum, which tops the list of visitor numbers to Turkey, or at least to grab one of the top three places.

The museum is critical in Troy’s efforts to reach the goal, Dokuz said. “When the artifacts return to the country and are put on display at the museum, we believe that Çanakkale will have more importance in Turkish tourism.”

Dokuz said the ancient city’s entrance gates, the surroundings of the Trojan Horse and walking routes had been rearranged. “Three million liras was spent for this rearrangement. Now visitors will be more comfortable when walking around the ancient site. They will get more information about the region.”

Trojan Treasures were smuggled abroad in the 1870s by amateur German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemannn, and they are now in 44 countries, especially Russia.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Hattusha (Hattusa) Archaeological Site In Bogazkoy Turkey


Arial View of Hattusha Archaeological Site in Bogazkoy Turkey
Source

The archaeological site of Hattusha is situated in Anatolia, now modern day Turkey. Hattusha sits 90 miles east of Ankara, first occupied in the third millennium BCE.

The Hittites arrived at Hattusha during 1700 BCE and were one of the greatest powers of the ancient world. Ruled by King Hattusili , ruled from 1650-1620 BCE. The Hittites conquered Babylon, overshadowed Troy, and constructed an empire that rivaled the Assyrians and Egyptians.
Hattusha remained a site of great importance for the Hittites until its destruction in 1190 BCE. Later it was occupied by Galatians and Phrygians.

The archaeological site of Hattusha, although smaller is scale as opposed to its counterparts in neighboring areas, does outline several achievements.

Hattusha archaeology site, discovered in the early 19th century, did not gain significant importance until the 20th century when Hugo Winckler and Theodor Makridi Bey conducted the first excavations in 1906, 1907, and 1911–13.

Later, archaeological excavation resumed in 1933 under Kurt Bittel, followed by Peter Neve (site director 1963, general director 1978–94).

One of the most important discoveries at the site has been the cuneiform royal archives of 10,000 clay tablets. One of the clay tablets inscribed included a peace treaty, one of the oldest ever found.

The site at Hattusha also consisted of official correspondence and contracts, as well as legal codes, procedures for cult ceremony, oracular prophecies and literature of the ancient Near East. 

Excavations by archaeologists at Hattusha revealed the size of the city. The city spanned over 450 acres and included seven temples, the largest containing shrines to the weather god, Hatti, and sun goddess Arinna.

The Hittites excelled at sculpture, taking immense care at crafting the massive guardian spirits which flanked the gateway. These include lions, warriors, and sphinxes.

Hattusha: the Hittite Capital, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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