Troad

The Troad, also known as Troas, is a historic geographic region in the northwest of Asia Minor (Anatolia), centered on the coastal plain around the ancient city of Troy. The name is derived from Troy, and the area has long been identified with the zone surrounding the legendary and archaeological site at Hisarlık.

Geography and extent: The Troad runs along the Aegean coast of what is now northwestern Turkey, bounded by the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles to the north, and by the Aegean Sea to the west and south. The interior includes hills and the Ida (Kazdağı) range, with fertile plains and several historic ports. Notable sites associated with the region include Troy, Assos, Alexandria Troas, and Cyzicus, as well as the island of Tenedos (Bozcaada) off its coast.

History and significance: In antiquity the Troad was part of the Persian Empire, then passed to Hellenistic kingdoms, and thereafter to the Roman and Byzantine empires. It served as a key cultural and commercial link between the Greek world and the Anatolian interior. The region is closely tied to the mythic Trojan War and hosts numerous ancient settlements that rose and declined over the centuries. In the 20th century, the Gallipoli Peninsula, within the Troad, became the site of a major Allied campaign in 1915.

Modern status: Today the Troad largely corresponds to parts of Turkey’s Çanakkale Province and neighboring districts. It remains important for archaeology and cultural heritage, attracting scholars and visitors to its ancient cities, battlefield memorials, and coastal landscapes.

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