Troy, where archeology, mythology, and history all come together, has a very important place in cultural history.
The name Troy signifies more, much more than an ancient city in the land of Anatolia. Troy is an important part of the history of Europe and the world. The Iliad epic that talks about this city, told by the poet Homer of İzmir (Smyrna), became one of the masterpieces of world literature since 730 B. C. E. in which it was recited. The Romans, who ruled the world of Antiquity and are accepted as the predecessors of European culture, believed that their ancestry originated from Troy, just like many emperors in the Middle Ages. On the other hand, Turks have been interested in Troy for many years as well. Mehmet the Conqueror too visited Troy in 1462 and said "We have taken revenge for Troy by conquering Istanbul." He too considers himself to be a Trojan. In other words, Troy is the intersection of the East and the West both in geographic and cultural terms, as well as in political and historical terms. Troy has a past of uniting and integrating the East and the West. It is for this reason that the future of Troy should be in line with such a rich cultural legacy: An internationally respected Peace of Troy Museum, a well-organized Troy Historic National Park where one can relive the Iliad epic all with its natural environment and history, and a Troy historical site that teaches us again not only about Troy but also about all of Anatolia.
