The discovery of the Mycean civilization is alone one of the greatest incredible stories and achievements in history of archeology. It is a tale about a man, with heroic vision, determined as those whom he loved so much - Greek heroes from Illiad and Oddyssey; about a man who decided to set on a journey through space and time which eventually allowed him one of the greatest discoveries in archeology. It is a story about a dream that turns real.
Heinrich Schliemann (1822 - 1890) was a clever German businessman who led a life of wealthy traveler seeing opportunities everywhere to just add more money to his fortune.
He learned languages, employing a system that he used his entire life and it took him six weeks to learn a new one. He was writing his diary in the language of whatever country he happened to be in. It is believed that he knew English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian, Greek, Latin, Russian, Arabic, and Turkish and of course, German. (Wikipedia)
He loved Homeric texts above all, and when decided to retire he went to Greece to find the places where the plots of Helen of Sparta and Troy supposedly were taking places ages ago.
As he was an amateur archaeologist and an advocate of myths being an ancient account of real events - of course 'everybody' laughed at him: "These are silly, imaginary stories, don't waste time on fairy-tales!". Very few at that time believed that people and places described in Illiad and Oddysey has anything to do with the real historic events.
To cut the story short (but its worth studying!) Schliemann discovered 'Troy', many layers of it (we cannot be sure hundred per cent that this is THE Troy, but there is great consensus about it), and what is even more important - after discovering the scenery of Troyan War, he set out to mainland Greece to find the legendary compounds of the legendary kings, and... he found them! Moreover, there were ostentatious treasures with huge amounts of gold! This is a story of one happy man!
Schliemann, tracking the ancient heros with passion, surrounded by doubt and laughed at, armed with great faith, love and money, ended up with so great success as the great heroes themselves would be certainly proud of.
From his heroic mission the world learned about the Mycean world, the world where Greek myths were born.
In 2011 there is 140 anniversary of Shliemann's first dig in Troy. The archeological methods has changed over the years enormously and many proffesionals regret that Shliemann discovered Troy and the rest of Mycean world so early...
Background: Lions Gate, entrance to Mycenae, one of the largest centres in Mycean world, where Agamemnon is believed to be the king. Well preserved cyclopean walls, as seen here, are found in many myths of classical Greece.
Above left: Rhyton, a ceremonial cup in the shape of bull with golden horns, found in one of the royal graves in Mycenae.Above right: Maks of Agamemnon - golden funeral mask from around 1550–1500 BCE, one of five discovered in the royal shaft graves at Mycenae
Below left: Sophia, Schliemann's second, Greek wife, wearing the "Jewels of Helen" excavated in 'Troy' (nowadays Hisarlik)
Below right: Heinrich Schliemann. They later had two children, Andromache and Agamemnon. "Schliemann reluctantly allowed them to be baptized, but solemnized the ceremony in his own way by placing a copy of the Iliad on the children's heads and reciting one hundred hexameters." - Wikipiedia
Reconstructive Diagram of Homeric Troy Vanderbilt Dept. of Classical Studies
Images courtesy of:
www.mesogeia.net
www.oneonta.edu
http://millville.sps.edu
