Çanakkale, Troia, Turkey

Çanakkale, Turkey

First settlement started by beginning from B.C. IV. Thousand, around Çanakkale Province, located in Anatolian side of the strait, which is called with its own name, and connecting Sea of Marmara and Aegean Sea to each other. The oldest settlement place is Troia. There are important ancient cities such as Assos, Alexandria Troas,Khyrsa in the vicinity other than Troia. It witnesses great land and sea wars, which are made between Entente Powers, demanding to pass through Dardanelles Strait and Ottoman army under the commandership of Mustafa Kemal in 1915 during The First World War, and concluded with success of Ottoman army. Çimenlik, Kilitbahir, Bigalı and Nara, Çamburun and Karaburun, and Seddülbahir and Kumkale Castles are situated in two sides of the Strait, having an important position strategically. Canakkale Museum,in which archaeological and ethnographic works are exhibited, is one of the places, which are required to be visited. Gallipoli Peninsula, witnessing The First World war in 1915, has been declared as National Park in 1973. Canakkale Martyrs Monument is located in the southern end of Peninsula.  Martyrs Monument Museum is situated  under this monument. There are twelwe martydoms in the peninsula. There are also monument and cemeteries of foreign soldiers.

Troia

It is known as Willion-Wilus Hittite language. It is an historical city, comprising 9 layers in the height of 20m, and located in Hisarlık district in 30km southern west of Canakkale Province. It is demolished and established again for nine times in the history. First settlement here dates back B.C. 3000 years. Troia creats Bronze Age Civilization from B.C. 3000 to B.C. 1250, it lives Iron Age between B.C. 1250-B.C 1000 years. Troia is destroyed during campaign of Peoples of the Sea in B.C. 1200 and its period, passing until B.C. 700, is dark. This period is now known. At the end of this period, Troia is constructed into old Troia is mentioned in Iliad Epopee of Homer and witnesses the wars about B.C. 1240. Roman period starts in Troia in B.C. 85. Roman emperors accept that their origins are based on Trojans and pay special attention and give special importance to Troia. They are interested closely in the city and equip it with the architectural structures. Even Constantine the Great intends to move capital city Roma to Troia in 306-337 A.D. 4th Century. Life quality in Troia starts to fall back by beginning from 6th Century. Life fnishes in the city in the 1st thousand year and it starts to play the role of the site.

Remains of VI. Troia Walls (B.C. 1800-1275), Megaron houses, and also, Temple of Athena, used between B.C. 350-A.D. 400 years, Great theatre, sanctuary, Monumental Fountain, small theatre and assembly building can be seen in Troia site. First excavation in Troia is started by Henrich Schliemann in 1870. He assumes that valuable works, which he finds during the excavation, are the treasures, belonging to Troia king Priamos and he takes them and escapes there. While these works are exhibited in Berlin Museum, Russians occupy Berlin during The Second World War abd they collect these works and they take them away to Moscow. These works are still located in Pushkin Museum in Moscow Mount Ida, located within boundaries of Canakkale Province, is the place, where the first beauty contest is organized in the world history. This beauty contest causes the occurrence of Trojan War due to its results. According to the myth, goddess of vengeance Eris is not invited by gods, to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, which is organized in Mount Olympus,in order not to stir up trouble. Goddess Eris, who is angry with this, throws a golden apple, on which it is written as “to three beautifuls”, in front of head god Zeus. Zeus can not decide to which goddess he shall give such apple. There fore, he appoints Paris, who is the son of Troia king Priamos,living in Mount Ida, as arbitrator. Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, who are the goddesses, claiming to be beautiful, participate into the contest. All godesses, promise to make great donations to Paris in order to to ensure him to give olden apple to them. However, Paris gives the golden apple to Aphrodite, promising the most beautiful woman of the worldwide to him. Then Paris sees the beautiful Helena during his voyage to Isparta and falls in love with him. Aphrodite fill heart of Helena with love flame for Paris in accordance with her promise to Paris. Thereupon, Paris takes Helena, who is the beautiful wife of Menelaos, one of Akhaioi brave men and escapes with her to Troia. Thereupon, Akhaioi start Trojan War.