Troja (Ilium/Ilion) is a historically attested ancient city in northwestern Asia Minor, near the Dardanelles, traditionally associated with the Trojan War as described in Homeric epic poetry. The site has a long, layered history, with archaeologists identifying multiple successive towns (Troja I–VI, VIIa, etc.) built and rebuilt over centuries, culminating in structures that guarded by substantial walls and a citadel. In modern scholarship, Troja is located on Hisarlık hill near the modern town of Hisarlık in Turkey, about 4–5 kilometers south of the Dardanelles strait. Key points:

• Names and location: Ancient Greek Ilion/Ilium; Latin Ilium; the site sits on Hisarlık hill, near Çanakkale, Turkey.

• Archaeological sequence: Excavations beginning in the late 19th century uncovered multiple occupation layers labeled Troja I through Troja VIIa, indicating a long process of settlement, destruction, and rebuilding. Notable defenses include long curtain walls and a citadel atop the hill.

• Relation to the Trojan War: The city’s fame largely stems from its association with the Trojan War in ancient Greek literature, particularly Homer, though archaeological evidence is interpreted by scholars with varying emphasis on the war as a historical event versus a literary narrative.

• Current status: The site is a well-known archaeological and touristic location in modern Turkey, with museums and ongoing research providing context to the ancient layers and the legendary epic.

If you’d like, I can summarize the main archaeological layers (Troja I–VIIa) with approximate dates and key architectural features, or compare scholarly interpretations of how Troja’s archaeology aligns with or diverges from the Iliad’s depiction.