Heinrich Schliemann’s groundbreaking discovery of the Priam’s Treasure marked a pivotal moment in the field of archaeology, unraveling the mysteries of ancient Troy. In the late 19th century, fueled by his belief in the historical accuracy of Homer’s epic poems, Schliemann embarked on an ambitious quest to locate the legendary city.
In 1873, his efforts, based on the Iliad depiction of Priam hiding his treasure, bore fruit when he unearthed a trove of priceless artifacts in the ancient city of Troy, located in modern-day Turkey. The cache, famously known as Priam’s Treasure, included gold and silver jewelry, vessels, and weaponry, providing tangible evidence of a sophisticated civilization dating back to the Bronze Age.
While Schliemann’s methods were criticized for their lack of precision and potential damage to the site, his determination and vision forever changed our understanding of ancient history. Doubts about the authenticity of the treasure have been voiced. The artifacts did not belong to Priam but to an earlier period of Troy. They are exhibited in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.