Troy
Overview
Troy (Hittite: Wilusa) sits at the entrance to the Hellespont (Dardanelles), controlling access to the Black Sea and the rich trade routes to the north. It is wealthy, strategic, and contested—caught between the Hittite Empire, the Mycenaean Kingdoms, and its own ambitions.
Geography
Troy commands the approaches to the Hellespont from a fortified hill near the coast. The straits are narrow here, and no ship passes without Troy's knowledge. Beyond the Hellespont lie the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus, and the Black Sea—routes to grain, slaves, and metals.
The Troad:
The region around Troy, the northwestern corner of Anatolia, is rich farmland and pasture. Several smaller settlements acknowledge Troy's overlordship.
Political Status: The Question
Troy's political alignment is complex and disputed:
- Formally: Troy (Wilusa) is a vassal of the Hittite Empire, bound by treaty
- In practice: Troy trades extensively with Mycenaean Kingdoms, hosts Mycenaean merchants, and sometimes acts independently
- The tension: Both the Hittites and various Mycenaean kingdoms want to control access to the Hellespont
This ambiguity makes Troy rich (playing both sides) and vulnerable (trusted by neither).
The City
Troy VI/VIIa is a fortress:
- Massive walls of dressed stone, sloping inward
- Multiple gates, heavily defended
- The citadel palace crowns the hill
- Lower town spreads outside the walls (more vulnerable)
- Underground cisterns and storage chambers
The city has burned and been rebuilt multiple times. The current walls seem impregnable, but walls have fallen before.
The Royal House
King Priam (if he reigns in 1250 BCE) is a byword for wealth and for having many sons. The Trojan royal house:
- Claims descent from Zeus and the river gods
- Maintains diplomatic marriages with nearby kingdoms
- Hosts foreign princes and heroes
- Honors the Anatolian gods while acknowledging Greek deities
- Walks a tightrope between Hittite and Mycenaean interests
Religion
Troy's religion reflects its position between worlds:
- Anatolian gods - The storm god, the mother goddess, local powers
- Greek gods - Apollo Smintheus (lord of mice/plague), Athena (who has a temple), Poseidon (who supposedly built the walls)
- Protective deities of the city - The Palladion (sacred image of Athena that guards Troy)
- The Judgment - Paris's judgment of the three goddesses (if that story is already unfolding)
Priests watch for omens. The gods are attentive here.
Trade & Economy
Troy's wealth comes from:
- Tolls and trade through the Hellespont - Every merchant pays
- Horses - The Troad breeds fine horses, crucial for chariots
- Grain - From the local region and through the Black Sea routes
- Timber - From the mountains inland
- Textiles and purple dye
Trade connections:
Military Strength
Troy can call upon:
- The Trojan royal army - Elite warriors, chariots
- The city's fortifications - Legendary walls
- Allies from the Troad and nearby Anatolia
- Hittite support (theoretically, if the treaty holds)
But Troy is relatively small. Its strength is its walls and position, not numbers.
Current Situation (circa 1250 BCE)
Tensions are rising:
- Mycenaean Kingdoms are increasingly aggressive in trade negotiations
- Pirates (possibly Mycenaean-backed) raid the approaches
- The Hittite Empire is distracted by other threats and may not be able to protect its vassal
- Succession questions in Troy itself
- Some speak of a great war coming, sung of by poets who haven't yet been born
The question every merchant asks: will Troy hold? And if it falls, who profits?
For Travelers & Merchants
Language: Luwian (local Anatolian language), Mycenaean Greek (trade language), Hittite (diplomatic language).
Opportunities:
- Passage through the Hellespont (for a fee)
- Horse trade (finest in the region)
- Access to Black Sea routes
- Diplomatic intrigue (play multiple sides)
Dangers:
- Being caught in political games between Hittites and Mycenaeans
- Pirates in the approaches
- The coming war (if you believe the omens)
- Offending the gods (who are watching Troy closely)
Customs:
- Guest-friendship is sacred (xenia)
- Trojan hospitality is legendary—and a trap for the unwary
- Horse-racing and chariot competitions are popular
- The Palladion must never leave the city (it is Troy's protection)
The Doom of Troy
Poets and prophets speak of Troy's doom:
- A war that will burn the world
- Heroes who will die far from home
- A horse, a trick, fire in the night
- The fall of walls that cannot fall
Is it fated? Can it be avoided? The gods know, but they aren't telling.
Relationships
"Troy has fallen nine times and risen nine times. Perhaps this time the walls will hold. Perhaps this time the gods will turn aside their faces. Perhaps."