Ueber Schliemann's Troja

Published in 1875 by N.G. Elwert'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, this work by the German archaeologist and classicist Ludwig von Sybel serves as a critical scholarly response to Heinrich Schliemann’s excavations at Hisarlik, which Schliemann famously claimed was the site of Homeric Troy. At the time of its release, the academic community was deeply divided over Schliemann's methods and his bold assertions regarding the archaeological strata discovered in the Troad.

Von Sybel’s analysis reflects the rigorous, often skeptical atmosphere of nineteenth-century classical studies as scholars grappled with the implications of Schliemann’s findings. The book provides a detailed examination of the topographical and material evidence brought to light during the initial excavations, focusing on the historical legitimacy of the site. It remains a significant text for understanding the early intellectual discourse surrounding the intersection of myth and archaeology during the formative years of the discipline.