Troy, City of Dreams
Adrian Mourby visits the site of a city that continues to inspire grandiose visions, as it has done for almost 3,000 years.
Troy holds a special place in our collective imagination. Homer’s walled city with its mighty towers and ramparts stands so clear and golden in our minds that its true appearance rather spoils the illusion. We all know what Troy looks like. Wolfgang Petersen’s new film has captured it well. Why go in search of reality when you can have Camelot?
Earlier this year I toured the Cannakale Peninsula, the area around ancient Troy - which is known as Truva'. There are Truva signs everywhere: Truva Hotel, Truva Minibuses, Truva Souvenirs. Canakkale annually hosts a swim across the Dardanelles in honour of Leander and Lord Byron, and is invaded by Anzacs and their descendants every April 25th in memory of Gallipoli, but these events aside, Canakkale relies on the Truva industry.
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