In Search of the Trojan War
Over six hour-long programs, Michael Wood marshals the disparate strands of evidence to present as fully rounded a portrait as possible of both the historical and the legendary city of Troy, its central place in Western culture, and the Mycenaean Age itself. From Schliemann's initial cavalier bulldozing of the mound at Hisarlik, to Homer's epics, the Hittite Empire, and the role of slave women, Wood journeys back and forth across the Aegean and elsewhere, from a pre-unification Berlin to Liverpool, to illuminate the dawn of Western literature, myth, and history. Did the Trojan war ever happen, or was the city destroyed by natural causes? Wood doesn't claim to find a definitive answer, of course, but for the viewer it's rewarding enough simply to accompany him on this fascinating journey.
- 1985-1985
- 1 season
- Documentary
Over six hour-long programs, Michael Wood marshals the disparate strands of evidence to present as fully rounded a portrait as possible of both the historical and the legendary city of Troy, its central place in Western culture, and the Mycenaean Age itself. From Schliemann's initial cavalier bulldozing of the mound at Hisarlik, to Homer's epics, the Hittite Empire, and the role of slave women, Wood journeys back and forth across the Aegean and elsewhere, from a pre-unification Berlin to Liverpool, to illuminate the dawn of Western literature, myth, and history. Did the Trojan war ever happen, or was the city destroyed by natural causes? Wood doesn't claim to find a definitive answer, of course, but for the viewer it's rewarding enough simply to accompany him on this fascinating journey.
Season 1 Episode Guide
6 Episodes 1985
Episode 1
The Age of the Heroes
56 mins
The search begins for the real story behind the myth of the Trojan War.
Episode 2
The Legend Under Siege
57 mins
Conflicting interpretations of evidence lead some experts to believe that the Trojan War never happened at all.
Episode 3
The Singer of Tales
56 mins
Even if the Trojan War took place, it was hundreds of years before Homer's time; how did he come up with the story?
Episode 4
The Women of Troy
60 mins
Michael Wood uncovers some mysteries surrounding Helen of Troy.
Episode 5
The Empire of the Hittites
60 mins
Discoveries from the Age of Agamemnon have a lot to say about the diplomatic crisis surrounding the Trojan War.
Episode 6
The Fall of Troy
59 mins
After surverying all the evidence, Michael Wood offers his take on the Trojan War.