Ilios: The City and Country of the Trojans; The Results of Researches and Discoveries on the Site of Troy and throughout the Troad in the Years 1871-72-73-78-79. Including an Autobiography of the Author
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881. First American edition. Hardcover. 4to. [9], x-xvi, [1], 2-800, [2] pp. Half contemporary brown morocco over marbled paper over boards, spine in six compartments with gold lettering and gold decorations; all edges marbled. Marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Illustrated with a frontispiece, one map of the Troad, six plans showing Troy during different historical periods, 1570 wood-engravings within the text, and 430 wood engravings on plates at the end of the volume. With a preface, appendices, and notes. The illustrations focus on the walls and defensive fortifications of Troy (what is now Hisarlik, Turkey), military weapons found, ancient Trojan coins, plates, cups, brooches and pins, and clay tablets. The illustrations at the rear show the remains of pottery vessels the crew found at the sight. Allan, Susan Hueck, Finding the Walls of Troy. This volume focuses on Schliemann's work on the several different strata of remains dug up by Schliemann and Calvert's crew. In the book Schliemann labels the different layers at the site according to his perceptions of Homeric history, rather than what the geological evidence showed him. He famously called the third lower layer Homeric Troy, when this layer (which contained what he designated as Priam's Treasure, a cache of gold and jewels) greatly predated Homeric Troy. In an effort to get to these lower layers, Schliemann cavalierly worked through the sixth layer, which was actually found to be the Homeric Troy in 1883. Schliemann and Calvert spear-headed the first significant archaeological expedition for historical Troy. Although their methods were somewhat destructive, they brought archaeology and its importance to the public's attention (especially through publications like these). This is Schliemann's third publication on the Trojan ruins, after his second excavation at Troy, which took place from 1878-79. His second publication, Troy and its Ruins, was published in 1875, after his first excavation at Hisarlik. A beautiful copy of a controversial but noteworthy chapter in the history of ancient Mediterranean archaeology. very near Fine. Item #000017379
A hint of wear to the boards' edges, overall a stunning example.
Price: $1,000.00