Troy, Troas and Assos

An hour and a half drive from our accommodation in Assos put us in the legendary ruins of Troy. A great story (Thanks Hollywood, Brad Pitt, Eric Bana etc) but perhaps Troy’s strategic placement near the Dardenelles, the very fertile soil and the presence of fresh water may have been factors apart from Helen.

The glitzy wooden horse was great for the kids of all ages but the ruins are quite fascinating. A large mound (perhaps 1km – 1.5 km wide) in extensive fields covers about 6 layers or periods of Troy (or Troia) habitation.

Plains surrounding the 'mound' of Troy


Part of the ancient walls around Troy

Archaeologists are gradually uncovering these but a slow expensive process. The big trench which the German archaeologist, Schliemann bulldozed (or butchered?) through in the 1890s is evident in the photo with each layer marked.

Schliemann trench showing 6 periods

At this site, no spectacular ruins to which we have become accustomed, but a great experience nonetheless.

Alexandria Troas is not an archaeological dig, but it is a significant place where Paul, in Acts 16, is called or decides to go further west to Greece or Macedonia as Northern Greece was called then. The entrance to the ancient harbour is still evident along the shore and it was quite powerful to stand there on the rocks knowing Paul spent seven days there and almost certainly would have walked and stood in these places in his quiet, reflective moments. This spot was a surprise in that I expected little but found much more.

Listening to Acts at Troas

Troas. The ancient shoreline and harbour entrance.

Back to Assos and we explored the ancient village on the side of the hill leading up to the Acropolis. It was very hard walking past some of the impoverished locals who were trying to carve out an existence by selling little hand-crafted items which nobody wanted. Also many other stalls and stands on the road, but still did not buy. Probably should have bought some of the jewellery but it was a bit kitsch, so still hanging out for the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The ruins up the top of Assos were quite good.

Remnants of Athina's Temple at Assos

The only regret? Our accommodation is away from the traditional fishing port, of which I have seen photos, but we leave at 6.30am in the morning and I won’t get to see it up close, only from the distance overlooking it.

View from Assos Acropolis.

Some of us went for a walk before dinner tonight to find the village but the rain and dead-end roads forced us to a little road side tavern with dirt floors and cold Efes, the local beer – so all is not bad. Must go.