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How was Troy VIIa destroyed?

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Schliemann, Heinrich — Heinrich Schliemann Heinrich Schliemann, detail of an engraving by A. Weger, after a photograph.

The destruction of Troy VIIa was characterized by a devastating fire. Archaeological evidence, including the presence of human remains in streets and houses, suggests that the city was captured, looted, and burned by enemies.1

The site of Troy VIIa was a short-lived settlement built by survivors following a violent earthquake that destroyed the previous city, Troy VI. The layout of Troy VIIa—featuring crowded housing and large storage jars sunk into the ground—indicates that the inhabitants had made specific preparations to withstand a siege. While the expedition led by Carl Blegen concluded that this destruction occurred around 1260 BCE and likely represented the capital of King Priam described in Homer's Iliad, more recent investigations have dated the event to between 1220 and 1180 BCE, which has introduced uncertainty regarding the identity of the attackers.1