When Homer's Iliad was first written down in the eighth century BCE, the story of the Trojan war was already an old one. From existing oral tradition, audiences knew the tales of the long siege, the duels outside the city walls, and the trick that finally won the war. In the end, the city was burned to the ground, never to rise again. But had it ever existed? Einav Zamir Dembin investigates. [TED-Ed Animation by Cabong Studios]

Einav Zamir Dembin: Did ancient Troy really exist?

Did ancient Troy really exist?

The enigma of Troy's existence, once deemed a myth, finds grounding in archaeology, revealing a city lost and rediscovered.

Schliemann's ambitious dig unearthed not just artifacts, but layers of history, challenging our understanding of myth versus reality.

Troy VII's relics, hinting at a real conflict akin to Homer's epic, underscore the blurred lines between legend and historical truth.