There are finds in the history of archaeology that shock the world no less than the discovery of ancient civilizations themselves. One of them is the famous \"Troy Treasure\" found by Heinrich Schliemann in 1873 at the legendary site of Troy. This collection of precious objects became not only a scientific sensation but also a symbol of passion, adventure, and disputes over who truly owns the great cultural heritage of antiquity.

The Day That Changed Archaeology

On May 27, 1873, as Schliemann himself claimed, became the day of his greatest triumph. During the excavations on the hill of Hisarlik, which he believed to be the site of ancient Troy, Schliemann stumbled upon a large collection of precious items. To protect the discovery from theft and disputes with Turkish authorities, he secretly transported it from the excavation site, later announcing that it was the treasures of King Priam, the legendary ruler of Troy.

Schliemann himself described the discovery as an extraordinary sight: gold diadems, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hydrias, and many other items emerged from the ground, covered with a layer of centuries-old dust. The discovery immediately became a worldwide sensation. For the first time, the material evidence of the Homeric era was presented to scientists and the public, seemingly confirming the reality of the events described in the \"Iliad.\" However, it was later established that the treasure was composed of items found in different places and layers and was artificially assembled by Schliemann to create a more impressive impression.

What Was Included in the Treasure

The Priam Treasure represented an incredibly rich collection of jewelry and household items. It included:

• Two famous golden diadems with long chains and pendants.
• Eight thousand small golden beads and pendants.
• Six golden bracelets adorned with twisted wire.
• Sixteen golden fibulas and three golden earrings.
• A golden drinking bowl, several golden vessels.
• Silver cups, vases, and flutes.
• Knives and spearheads, including those made from rare materials.

According to estimates, the total weight of gold in the treasure was nearly 9 kilograms. The style of the ornaments indicated that they were created during the heyday of Troy (around 2500–2300 BC) and most likely belonged to the local Trojan culture, not the Mycenaean craftsmen.

The Fate of the Treasure

After the discovery, Schliemann tried to donate the treasure to Greece, but was refused. He then offered it to France, Italy, and the United States, but everywhere he encountered reluctance to create a separate museum for it. In the end, the treasure was gifted to \"the German people\" and has been stored in the Berlin Museum of Ancient History since 1881. However, with the rise of the Nazis to power, the treasures were moved to a bunker for protection against bombings.

At the end of World War II, in August 1945, Professor Wilhelm Unverzagt handed over the treasures of Troy to the Soviet authorities. After that, they were transported from Germany to the USSR as war trophy property. For many decades, their location was kept secret. It was only in 1993 that Russia officially confirmed that the \"Troy Gold\" is located in Moscow, and in 1996 it was first exhibited at the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Today, the Priam Treasure (or most of it) is part of the permanent exhibition at the Pushkin Museum. Some items from the same collection are stored in the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Disputes over its ownership continue to this day: Germany and Turkey have repeatedly claimed their rights to the treasures, but Russia considers them a legitimate war trophy.

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