The lost treasures of Troy

by Caroline Moorehead

Book Overview

One of the enduring mysteries of the last century is the astounding 1873 discovery by the first modern archaeological, Heinrich Schliemann, of the lost gold of Priam, king of ancient Troy. In this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0297815008
• ISBN13: 9780297815006
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.2" x 6.4"

Customer Reviews

A fascinating treasure hunt and biography!

This is the story of the gold unearthed by the archeologist Schliemann in his dig at Hissarlik. Schliemann spent many years excavating this site and in his early years at the site unearthed some fabulous artifacts including a collection of gold jewelry he claimed was Helen's treasure. Schliemann smuggled this treasure out of the country despite an agreement with the Turkish government that he would share his findings with them. This is characteristic of early archeology, more tomb robber than scientist. Despite his bad reputation, Schliemann managed to secure permission to excavate many sites throughout the world, making many important discoveries. This book covers the biography of Schliemann, an autodidact who became rich through trade and then pursued his interest in ancient Greek, particularly the works of Homer, by digging for treasure following the cues of Homer and other ancient authors such as Pausanias. Schliemann was an extraordinary intellect, learning up to 20 languages in his lifetime and publishing several books. He learned archeology by doing and amended his early tomb-robbing style to a more careful study of sites. Schliemann had many critics throughout his life but also some influential supporters such as Gladstone in England. Moorehead provides a balanced view of Schliemann's biography. She also tracks what happened to the treasures of Troy when they were captured by the Russians at the end of WWII. Apparently the Russians confiscated many Nazi caches of art. The Germans had looted and destroyed many Russian works of art in Eastern Europe and the Russians felt they were due restitution for what was lost. According to Moorehead there were millions of artifacts stored in Russia that only recently have been located. At the time of publication the fate of the treasure of Troy was uncertain. This is a fascinating, well researched and well-written account combining history and biography. Highly recommended!

One Passion Two Loves Excavation of Troy

This is not a review but a request in asking anyone reading this if you know of a book on the excavation of Troy; title is;One passion Two Loves, a story of Dr Heinrich Schliemann and his excavation of Troy. Ilost this beloved book in a flood and I would like to purchase a used edition now. Can anyone help me? Thank-you. sandimsheridan@shaw.ca

Schliemann and His Gold

Caroline Moorehead's Lost and Found (the 9,000 Treasures of Troy, Heinrich Schliemann and the Gold That Got Away) is basically a biography of Schliemann with a long epilogue tracing the travels of the gold from Troy in the twentienth century, taking in its journeys through Nazi Germany and, ultimately, Soviet Russia. This section of the book is fascinating but the real meat is the story of Schliemann himself. The author can be a bit of an apologist for Schliemann but considering the vitriol that has been heaped on him in his own time and the following decades, a little defense is not inappropriate. The story is well told and quite exciting. Schliemann may be a hard subject to like but he is always fascinating to read about and this book tells his story very well. A short, interesting read for those with any interest in the peculiarities of nineteenth century archeology.

Staggering

The amount of treasure looted durning World War II was staggering. Moorehead describes convoys of 150 trucks, trains and wagonloads of Europe's artworks carried to and from Germany by avaricious politicians and soldiers alike. The damage done is enormous, but at some point, the description of the cost in human life in Berlin alone eclipses the loss of artworks. As a treasure story, it needs more. As a bio of Schliemann it presents an interesting man, and possibly the greatest catalyst for archeological discovery.

Great book on a great topic

Caroline Moorehead has written a wonderful book about a fascinating topic. She sifts through the legends about Schliemann and the gold of Troy and provides the reader with a clear and sometimes wryly humorous account of the events. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Schliemann and his discoveries.