Song of a Lost City

From the ashes of legend rises archaeological truth—the definitive story of humanity’s most famous lost city.

For three millennia, Troy has existed in two worlds: Homer’s epic battlefield where heroes clashed with gods, and the windswept hill of Hisarlık in Turkey where archaeologists uncover Bronze Age reality. In this captivating volume of the acclaimed Sunset in Bronze series, archaeologist R Jay Driskill reveals how these two Troys—one of legend, one of stone and soil—finally converge to tell history’s most extraordinary detective story.

When myth meets archaeology, the truth is more remarkable than fiction.

Through groundbreaking excavations and the decipherment of ancient Hittite texts, we now know that Troy was real: a powerful Bronze Age city controlling the strategic Dardanelles strait, documented in diplomatic correspondence between ancient superpowers. The very Mycenaean Greeks of Homer’s epic appear in clay tablets as “Ahhiyawa,” conducting the conflicts that may have inspired the Trojan War itself.

Discover the true story behind the legend:

• How Heinrich Schliemann’s romantic treasure hunt launched modern archaeology
• Why Troy’s destruction around 1180 BCE coincided with civilization’s collapse across the Mediterranean
• How four centuries of oral tradition transformed historical events into Homer’s immortal poetry
• What bronze arrowheads embedded in ancient walls reveal about Troy’s violent end
• How modern technology has revealed Troy as a major urban center, not just a hilltop fortress

A journey from Bronze Age reality to cultural immortality

Driskill masterfully weaves together archaeological evidence, ancient texts, and cultural analysis to show how Troy achieved something no other ancient city could: true immortality through the power of story. From the site’s earliest excavations to cutting-edge research revealing its role in Bronze Age geopolitics, this is the definitive account of how humanity’s most famous lost city was found—and why it continues to captivate us today.

Perfect for readers of Mary Beard, Eric Cline, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of archaeology and legend, Song of a Lost City proves that sometimes the most incredible stories are true.

Volume 4 in the groundbreaking Sunset in Bronze series exploring the collapse of Bronze Age civilization.