Schliemann, Heinrich: Troy and its remains: a narrative of researches and discoveries made on the site of Illium, and in the Trojan Plain (London, 1875)

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CHAPTER VIII.

Hindrances through Greek festivals — Thickness of the layers of debris
above the native rock — Date of the foundation of Troy — Impos-
sibility of the Bnnarbashi theory — Homeric epithets suitable to
Hissarlik — Etymology of "IAios, signifying probably the " fortress of
the Sun " — The Aruna of the Egyptian records — Progress of the
platform, and corresponding excavation on the south — The bulwark
of Lysimachus — Ruins of great buildings — Marks of civilization
increasing with the depth — Vases, and fragments of great urns •—
A remarkable terra-cotta — A whorl with the appearance of an
inscription.

On the Hill of Hissarlik, May nth, 1872.

Since my report of the 25th of last month I have only
been able to have ten days' digging, owing to the various
Greek festivals, for even the poorest Greek of this district
would not work on a church festival even if he could earn
1000 francs in an hour. Turkish workmen were not to be
had, for they are at present occupied with field work. The
weather has been and still is very favourable for making
excavations, as the heat during the day does not yet rise
above io° Reaumur (770 Fahrenheit) in the shade, and
then it never rains here from the beginning of May till
October, except during thunderstorms, and they rarely last
more than half an hour at a time. Moreover, the Plain
of Troy is at present still healthy; the notorious Trojan
fevers do not actually begin till July, when the many stag-
nant waters have evaporated, and the pestilential miasma
arises from the decomposition of the millions of dead frogs,
and from the dried-up marshes, the ground of which cracks
with the heat of the sun. My wife and I have therefore