The ancient tradition recorded by Homer's Illiad maintains that the great city of Troy was destroyed by Mycenaean Greek forces around 1200 BC, all caused by the abduction of the Spartan queen Helen by the Trojan prince Paris.

How far do more recent archaeological finds either confirm or challenge the ancient legends? What have archaeological excavations revealed about the site; looking from the initial excavations by Heinrich Schliemann to more recent finds. New interpretations and discoveries at the site will be presented as well as the current disputes over ownership of the the so-called 'lost treasure of Troy'.

Dr Jennifer Lawless was previously NSW History Inspector for NESA. She currently leads history tours to Turkey, Greece and Crete for Academy Tours. She has published over a dozen history text books, winning the NSW Premier's History Prize and twice the Australian Publisher's Prize. Her research has taken her to Turkey over many years and Troy is a particularly favourite site.

Image Credit: Tourists explore an imagining of the Trojan Horse at the Troy archaeological park. [Wikicomons.org]