Comparing Raaflaub's Homer, The Trojan War, And History

For nearly three millennia, Homer’s Iliad has captured the imagination of countless readers with the tale of the Trojan War, and for this is often considered one of the greatest works of Western literature. However, the debate regarding the historicity of the Trojan War, especially Homer’s account, has been waged for years. Modern scholarship using various evidence from primary sources to archeological records have presented different theories as to whether the Trojan War happened or not, and if it did just how accurate is Homer’s account. In Homer, the Trojan War, and History, modern scholar Kurt A. Raaflaub provides evidence for the historicity of the Trojan War, but also evidence against such an event, especially Homer’s account. This paper will analyze Raaflaub’s Homer, the Trojan War, and History, and his arguments for and against the historicity of the Trojan War, and against its relationship with Homer.

From this Raaflaub begins to cite evidence for both sides of this argument, beginning with the evidence that indicates that such an event took place and its relation to Homer. Raaflaub first provides evidence of the significance of Bronze Age Troy, and archeological records showing the city’s repeated destruction over the centuries by natural disasters and war. Second is the appearance of Mycenaean pottery located at Troy that shows that the two societies had connections. Raaflaub uses some remaining written records that seem to indicate confrontation between Troy and possibly Mycenae. The use of this evidence shows that it is likely that war between the Greeks and Trojan could have