Troy: Myth and Reality
November 21, 2019 – March 8, 2020
The British Museum, London

From the museum's website

The legend of Troy has endured for more than 3,000 years.

The story of a great city, plunged into a 10-year war over the abduction of the most beautiful woman in the world, is irresistibly dramatic and tragic. This allure has sent adventurers and archaeologists in quest of the lost city, which is now widely believed to have existed.

But what of the heroes and heartbroken, women and wanderers, who are said to have played a part in the Trojan War? Why have they inspired so many retellings, from Homer to Shakespeare to Hollywood? In this exhibition, you could get closer to these captivating characters as you explored the breathtaking art that brought them to life, from dramatic ancient sculptures and exquisite vase paintings to powerful contemporary works.

You could also examine the fascinating archaeological evidence that proves there was a real Troy, offering tantalising hints at the truth behind the mythical stories.

From Helen of Troy's abduction to the deception of the Trojan Horse and the fall of the city, visitors were able to tread the line between myth and reality in this phenomenal exhibition.

The vengeance that the Greek Achilles wreaks on the Trojan prince Hector is a key episode in the story of the Trojan War. American artist Cy Twombly dramatically abstracts Achilles’ rage into a form that evokes both the first letter of his name and a bloodied spear. The power of Achilles’ emotion seems to burn from the huge canvas and to have inscribed itself into the lines scrawled on its surface.

For further information:
The British Museum, London
britishmuseum.org.