Achilleion (Troad)

For the Neolithic site in Thessaly, see Achilleion (Thessaly). For the neoclassical palace on Corfu, see Achilleion (Corfu). For other uses, see Achilleion (disambiguation).
Achilleion
Ἀχίλλειον
Achilleion (Troad) is located in Turkey
Achilleion (Troad)
Shown within Turkey
LocationYeniköy, Çanakkale Province, Turkey
RegionTroad
Coordinates39°54′54″N 26°9′9″E / 39.91500°N 26.15250°E / 39.91500; 26.15250
TypeSettlement

Achilleion (Ancient Greek: Ἀχίλλειον, romanized: Achilleion; Latin: Achilleum) was an ancient Greek city in the south-west of the Troad region of Anatolia.[1] It has been located on a promontory known as Beşika Burnu ('cradle promontory') about 8 km south of Sigeion.[2] Beşika Burnu is 2 km south of the modern village of Yeniköy in the Ezine district of Çanakkale Province, Turkey.[3] The site considered in classical antiquity to be the tomb of Achilles is a short distance inland at a tumulus known as Beşiktepe.[4] Achilleion in the Troad is not to be confused with Achilleion near Smyrna and Achilleion in the territory of Tanagra.[5]

A tumulus that was traditionally considered to be that of Achilles: from Heinrich Schliemann, "Troy and its remains," (1875), opp. p. 178.
  1. ^ The spelling Ἀχιλλήιον (Achillēion) is found in Herodotus 5.94.2, reflecting his Ionic dialect.
  2. ^ John Manuel Cook (1973) 180-1, 185-6, Mitchell (2004).
  3. ^ Cook (1973) 185-6.
  4. ^ Cook (1973) 186, Korfmann (1988), Kosatz (1988).
  5. ^ O. Hirschfeld, RE I (1893) s.v. 'Achilleion (2-3)' col. 220.