With the rise of critical history, Troy and the Trojan War were consigned to legend.
However, not everyone agreed with this view.
The dissidents were to become the first archaeologists at Troy.
The true location of ancient Troy had for centuries remained the subject of interest and speculation.
Travellers in Anatolia looked for possible locations.
Because of its name, the Troad peninsula was highly suspect.

Early modern travellers in the 16th and 17th centuries, including Pierre Belon and Pietro Della Valle, had identified Troy with Alexandria Troas, a ruined town approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the currently accepted location.
In the late 18th century, Jean Baptiste LeChevalier identified a location near the village of Pınarbaşı, Ezine, a mound approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the currently accepted location.
Published in his Voyage de la Troade, it was the most commonly accepted theory for almost a century.

In 1822, the Scottish journalist Charles Maclaren was the first to identify with confidence the position of the city as it is now known.
In the second half of the 19th century archaeological excavation of the site believed to have been Homeric Troy began.
As the Iliad is taught in every Greek language curriculum in the world, interest in the site has been unflagging.
Homeric experts often memorize large parts of the poem.
Literary quotes are commonplace.
Since the Calvert family began excavation at Hisarlik, hundreds of interested persons have excavated there.
Fortunately all excavation has been conducted under the management of key persons termed its "archaeologists."
Their courses of excavation have been divided into the phases described below.
Sometimes there have been decades between phases.
Today interest in the site is as strong as ever.
Further plans for excavation have no end in the foreseeable future.
With the rise of critical history, Troy and the Trojan War were consigned to legend. However, not everyone agreed with this view. The dissidents were to become the first archaeologists at Troy. The true location of ancient Troy had for centuries remained the subject of interest and speculation. Travellers in Anatolia looked for possible locations. Because of its name, the Troad peninsula was highly suspect.
Early modern travellers in the 16th and 17th centuries, including Pierre Belon and Pietro Della Valle, had identified Troy with Alexandria Troas, a ruined town approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the currently accepted location. In the late 18th century, Jean Baptiste LeChevalier identified a location near the village of Pınarbaşı, Ezine, a mound approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the currently accepted location. Published in his Voyage de la Troade, it was the most commonly accepted theory for almost a century.
In 1822, the Scottish journalist Charles Maclaren was the first to identify with confidence the position of the city as it is now known. In the second half of the 19th century archaeological excavation of the site believed to have been Homeric Troy began. As the Iliad is taught in every Greek language curriculum in the world, interest in the site has been unflagging. Homeric experts often memorize large parts of the poem. Literary quotes are commonplace. Since the Calvert family began excavation at Hisarlik, hundreds of interested persons have excavated there. Fortunately all excavation has been conducted under the management of key persons termed its "archaeologists." Their courses of excavation have been divided into the phases described below. Sometimes there have been decades between phases. Today interest in the site is as strong as ever. Further plans for excavation have no end in the foreseeable future.
Troy