Hellespont: Gateway of Legends
24 September - 1 October 2023 (7 days)
Professor of Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Studies
Price per person excluding international flights
Single supplement £250
Taking a timely look at this geographically pivotal region, explore the fascinating history of the cities surrounding the Sea of Marmara, from the classical legends of Troy to the Allied invasion of Gallipoli. The Sea of Marmara divides Europe from Asia and has been the focus of military ambition since the Bronze Age. The Trojan War, known in the ancient world for the epic struggle between the Achaeans and the people of the Hellespont, is the stuff of legend and literature and recent excavations at Troy help bring the site to life. At Gallipoli, discover the significance of the Dardanelles in WWI, sparking the Gallipoli landings. Conclude with a reminder of the might of the Byzantines and Ottomans at Constantine’s glittering capital, Constantinople.
Highlights
- Learn how the Allied defeat at Gallipoli helped shape modern Turkey
- Visit Hellenistic Assos, the recent excavations at Troy, and the magnificent sites of Pergamon and Ephesus
- Marvel at the jewels and palaces of the Ottoman sultans at Istanbul, and the Byzantine legacy still so evident today in the city
