British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

In Search of the Trojan War

Synopsis
Investigates the literature and legends of the Trojan War to determine whether Homer’s tale was fact or myth. Filmed in Greece, Turkey and Berlin. Michael Wood narrates. Originally broadcast in 1985 as 6 individual programmes.
1: Examines the work of archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who began the modern search for Troy with spectacular digs in Turkey and Greece, but is now accused of fraudulence.
2: Looks at excavations by Schliemann, Wilhelm Dorpfeld and Arthur Evans.
3: Explores the assumption that when Homer sang the epic he relied on oral tradition passed down through more than ten generations.
4: Asks whether there was ever a Greek queen known as Helen of Troy and if she was actually carried off by the Trojan prince Paris.
5: Archaeological finds in Turkey help to reconstsruct a diplomatic crisis that could have surounded areal Trojan War.
6:Investigates whether Troy was actually destroyed by the Greeks.

Special DVD features include: Interview with Michael Wood. Interactive menus. Scene selectio
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2004
Year of production
1985
Subjects
Archaeology; Classical studies
Keywords
archaeological investigation; Greece - classical; Homer; epic poems; Trojan War

Credits

Cast
Michael Wood 

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£19.99
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
330 minutes
Year
2004

Sections

Title
Age of heroes, The
Synopsis
1: Examines the work of archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who began the modern search for Troy with spectacular digs in Turkey and Greece, but is now accused of fraudulence.

Title
Legend under siege, The
Synopsis
2: Looks at excavations by Schliemann, Wilhelm Dorpfeld and Arthur Evans.

Title
Singer of tales, The
Synopsis
3: Explores the assumption that when Homer sang the epic he relied on oral tradition passed down through more than ten generations.

Title
Women of Troy, The
Synopsis
4: Asks whether there was ever a Greek queen known as Helen of Troy and if she was actually carried off by the Trojan prince Paris.

Title
Empire of the Hittites, The
Synopsis
5: Archaeological finds in Turkey help to reconstsruct a diplomatic crisis that could have surounded areal Trojan War.

Title
Fall of Troy, The
Synopsis
6:Investigates whether Troy was actually destroyed by the Greeks.

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Worldwide Publishing

Web
http://www.bbcworldwide.com External site opens in new window
Phone
020 8576 3560
Fax
020 8576 3570
Address
80 Wood Lane
London
W12 0TT
Notes
Since Spring 2005, for home video releases see BBC, 2 Entertain Video
Name

bbcshop.com

Web
http://www.bbcshop.com/ External site opens in new window
Phone
0870 241 5490
Fax
01795 414 555

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