Modern Myths about the Age of Homer

When 19th-century archaeologists began to excavate the remains of Bronze Age Greece—especially Mycenaean gold and imposing palaces—they often interpreted their discoveries through the lens of Homer’s Trojan War. Associations between archaeological finds and legendary figures such as Achilles dazzling Helen and wise Nestor of Pylos have endured in both scholarship and the popular imagination. Join archaeologist Bryan Burns as he surveys the legacy of stories and treasures and provides a more realistic look at Homeric society and Mycenaean Greece supported by the latest evidence.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher getty communications