Heinrich Schliemann is a figure that has been causing irreconcilable disputes for over a hundred years. To some, he is a genius self-taught individual who realized his childhood dream and proved the reality of Homeric Troy. To others, he is an unprincipled adventurer who fitted facts to his theory, destroyed a unique archaeological site, and pocketed treasures. So who was he really? The answer, as often happens, lies somewhere in the middle between these two extremes.

The Great Argument: Troy as Reality

The main achievement of Schliemann, which outweighs any accusations, is the discovery itself. In the 19th century, most scholars considered Troy and the Trojan War to be pure fiction by Homer, without any historical foundation. Armed with the text of the \"Iliad\" and money accumulated in Russia, without any special education but with an obsession, Schliemann proved the opposite. He found a city that had long been considered mythical, making one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. This fact remains uncontested.

Uncontested Accusations: Fraud and Destruction

On the other hand, Schliemann's methods were, to put it mildly, far from scientific. He could be called the antithesis of a modern archaeologist. In the pursuit of fame and sensation, he:

• Destroyed cultural layers: Convinced that Troy must be located at the base of the hill, Schliemann ordered two huge trenches to be dug, destroying the upper layers related to later periods. In this way, he irretrievably lost a significant part of information about the cities of Troy VI and Troy VII, which, as later established by scholars, are the Homeric Troy.
• Forged finds: The most famous example is the \"Treasure of Priam,\" supposedly found in one place. Research shows that this was an artificial collection, assembled from different finds and different layers to create an effect.
• Was inaccurate in details: His diaries and reports often do not coincide with reality. Schliemann could adjust dates or attribute his wife's participation in the excavations when she was not present on the site, just to add drama to his story.
• Violated the law: He secretly exported the found treasures from the Ottoman Empire, violating the excavation permit that required him to share the finds.

Personality and Motives: Why He Acted as He Did

Researchers link Schliemann's pathological tendency to fraud to a difficult childhood. He grew up in poverty, suffered humiliations, was separated from his family, and started hard work at a young age. Perhaps the desire for wealth and fame was a way to compensate for a sense of inadequacy, and lying became a habitual tool for achieving goals and creating a new, heroic biography.

Modern View: Villain or Hero?

Today, the attitude towards Schliemann is ambivalent. On one hand, his scientific heritage is marred by amateurism. On the other hand, many archaeologists acknowledge that, despite all his \"tricks,\" he did indeed find Troy, and his excavations gave a boost to the development of all archaeology. It is important that by the end of his life, Schliemann realized his mistakes, admitted them, and began to use more scientific methods, such as mandatory photo documentation of finds.

The answer to the question \"fraudster or historian\" is not a choice between the two. Schliemann was both and neither. He was a fraudster who used lies and deceit to achieve his goals, and he was also an historian-pioneer whose discoveries changed our understanding of the ancient world. His story is a reminder that even the greatest discoveries can be overshadowed by human vices, and that behind a bright legend there is always a complex, far from perfect truth.

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