The history of Troy, known from Homeric epics and archaeological excavations, is traditionally linked to the Hittite Empire, as the name "Wilusa" frequently appears in Hittite records. However, a lesser-known theory brings to light another aspect: the alleged subjection of the ancient city to the powerful Assyrian Empire. How well-founded is this view, and where does it originate?
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The first reference to a connection between Troy and Assyria comes from the Greek writer Ctesias, who lived in the 4th century BCE. In his account of the Assyrian Empire, Ctesias claimed that Priam, King of Troy, was a vassal of the Assyrian king during the Trojan War.
This view is also notably supported by Plato in his dialogue Laws. In it, he explicitly states: "For since Troy was a part of the Assyrian empire, the second capture of Troy formed a grave charge against the Greeks."* The fact that Plato mentions this without hesitation suggests that this tradition was widespread in the Greek world of the 4th century BCE.
Despite these written testimonies, modern historical research is more cautious. The Assyrian Empire, at its height, never reached the western coast of Asia Minor, where Troy was located. Its territory extended to about two-thirds of Anatolia, leaving the Troad outside its immediate sphere of influence.
Historians today believe that the "myth" of Assyrian rule in Troy arose from a misinterpretation of historical events from the Iron Age:
1. The Alliance with the Lydians: According to Homer, the Lydians were allies of the Trojans. Historically, the Assyrians indeed maintained close diplomatic ties with Lydia and offered military aid to the Lydian king Gyges against the Cimmerians.
2. Confusion of Eras: It is likely that Ctesias connected these later diplomatic contacts (Assyrian-Lydian) with the events of the Trojan War, creating an association that passed into Greek literature as historical fact.
Although there is no archaeological evidence to confirm that the Assyrians ruled Troy, the existence of this belief among ancient Greek writers highlights the complex diplomatic relationships that developed in the wider Anatolian region in antiquity. Troy, as a key hub for trade and politics, was undoubtedly at the center of developments, even if the Assyrian "occupation" remains more of a historical myth than reality.
