Canakkale Troy Museum

Troy Museum

The construction of the Troy Museum began in 2013 after the architectural team composed of Ömer Selçuk Baz, Okan Bal, Cenk Kurtel, Mehmet Yılmaz, and Berrin Yavuz won the National Architectural Project Competition. Located in Tevfikiye Village in the central district of Çanakkale, the museum stands on a 90,000 m² plot and features a 12,765 m² closed exhibition and administrative area, along with 37,250 m² of open-air display and landscaped visitor zones.

Designed as a four-story structure (ground floor plus three levels), the museum is organized around a 480-meter-long spiral ramp that guides visitors through its immersive exhibition narrative.

At the Troy Museum, the archaeological history and cultural legacy of Troy and the broader Troas Region—immortalized by Homer in the Iliad—are brought to life through artifacts discovered during excavations.

A Seven-Part Narrative Journey

Visitors follow a storyline divided into seven main themes:

1. Archaeology of the Troas Region

2. Troy in the Bronze Age

3. The Iliad and the Trojan War

4. Troas and Ilion in Antiquity

5. Eastern Roman and Ottoman Periods

6. History of Archaeology

7. Traces of Troy

The museum experience symbolically begins while descending the entrance ramp, where niches along the wall narrate the multiple settlement layers of Troy through gravestones, sculptures, reconstructions, and large-format visuals.Before entering the main galleries, an orientation section introduces visitors to the fundamentals of archaeology—archaeometric dating techniques, ancient period terminology, and concepts such as “Neolithic,” “Chalcolithic,” “Bronze Age,” “Iron Age,” “mound,” “restoration,” and “conservation”—supported by diagrams, texts, and interactive tools.

GROUND FLOOR – Troas and Its Ancient Cities

The ground floor presents the Troas Region in its geographical and archaeological context, showcasing important ancient cities such as:

• Assos
• Tenedos
• Parion
• Alexandria Troas
• Smintheion
• Lampsakos
• Thymbria
• Tavolia
• Imbros

These are accompanied by excavation information and collections featuring:
terracotta figurines, medical instruments, stone and bone tools, marble artifacts, gold objects, terracotta vessels, masks, miniatures, and glassware.

Highlighted Artifacts

Parion Bronze Amphora (4th Century BC)

Discovered in 2005 in Parion’s southern necropolis, this bronze amphora is adorned with scenes of ecstatic satyrs and maenads performing rituals of Dionysos. The handles feature finely crafted Eros figures, and the base is decorated with Ionian motifs inlaid with silver.

Assos – The Musicians Group (4th Century BC)

Found in the western necropolis of Assos, this set of terracotta figurines depicts musicians and performers associated with the cult of Dionysos. Their craftsmanship and rich symbolism shed light on Assos’ social and cultural life during the Classical Period.

Çan – Altıkulaç Sarcophagus (Late 5th Century BC)

A rare example showing exceptionally preserved painted scenes, the sarcophagus reflects the artistic style influenced by Persian rule in Anatolia. The vivid depictions of warriors, garments, and weaponry make this one of the most important Classical-era painted sarcophagi found in Türkiye.

Aphrodite Figurine from Dardanos Tumulus (1st Century BC)

This terracotta figurine with white coating and gilded details represents a local copy of the renowned Knidos Aphrodite. Unlike other copies, it carries a serpent-shaped armlet symbolizing Asklepios, setting it apart in ancient art.

Kouros Statue (6th Century BC)

Originating from Lapseki, this Archaic-era marble kouros stands out with its characteristic stance and bead-like hair rows. It is among the most striking examples of early sculpture in the region.

At the core of this level lies the museum’s treasure:

The Troy Gold Collection,

Displayed in a specially illuminated room.

FIRST RAMP – Early Troas Settlements

Artifacts from early Troas settlements—including Beşiktepe, Kumtepe, and Sivritepe—introduce visitors to prehistoric life:

• Amphora fragments
• Idols
• Grinding stones
• Axes
• Spindle whorls
• Bone needles
• Early Bronze Age copper friezes and tin pieces

This section is enriched with drawings, maps, and reconstructions.

FIRST FLOOR – Bronze Age Troy

This level focuses on the development, layers, and daily life of Troy during the Bronze Age, particularly Troy II and Troy VI–VII, the city’s most powerful phases.

Exhibits highlight:

• Craftsmanship
• Daily life artifacts
• Trade networks
• Architectural techniques preserved in rural traditions
• Pottery production and kilning
• Textile and wall-building practices

A dramatic ship display emphasizes Troy’s maritime significance, while an immersive projection illustrates the destruction of the city at the end of the Late Bronze Age.

The Treaty of Muwatalli and Alaksandu (13th Century BC)

A key feature is the replica of the treaty between the Hittite King Muwatalli II and the King of Wilusa (Troy), Alaksandu—identified by some scholars with Paris of the Iliad. This document provides crucial insight into the political role of Troy during Late Bronze Age conflicts among the Hittites, Mycenaeans (Ahhiyawa), and other regional powers.