Are you caught up in “Odyssey” fever after Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster? Then you don’t have to travel too far to experience ancient myths up close. Right here in Berlin, the incredible legacy of Heinrich Schliemann awaits you—the man who discovered the legendary city of Troy in the 19th century and is an honorary citizen of Berlin.
Immerse yourself in this fascinating world at the Neues Museum on Museum Island, marvel at Trojan antiquities, and if you haven’t seen“The Odyssey”yet, you can get tickets here!
Heinrich “Troja” Schliemann: From a Merchant in Mecklenburg to an Honorary Citizen of Berlin
Schliemann was a fabulously wealthy businessman who, at the age of nearly 50, decided to live out his childhood dream. Using Homer’s epic “The Iliad” as a treasure map, he proved to an astonished world that Troy was no fairy tale.
Out of deep gratitude for the scientific recognition of his work, he donated his epoch-making finds to the German people and was named an honorary citizen of Berlin in 1881.
The Dark Secret of the Discoverer of Troy
But Schliemann was not a trained archaeologist. Driven by his obsession, he had workers relentlessly excavate the Hisarlık mound in what is now Turkey.
With the infamous “Schliemann Trench,” he plowed through history and irrevocably destroyed precisely those younger layers (Troy VI/VII) that presumably dated from the time of the actual Trojan War.
When he stumbled upon magnificent gold in 1873, he was certain he had found the “Treasure of Priam.” Today we know: The find is about 1,000 years older than Homer’s war.
As a PR strategist, however, he staged it masterfully. The photo of his (very, very!) young wife Sophia wearing the ancient gold jewelry (see image below) remains unforgettable. He brazenly smuggled the loot past the Ottoman authorities to Athens, in violation of the treaty.
The Golden Legacy at the Neues Museum
His life’s work is celebrated today in the collection of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History. Although the original gold treasure has been held in Moscow as looted art since the end of World War II, the masterfully crafted electrotypes and hundreds of original ceramics are sure to amaze you.
At the Altes Museum, you’ll also find an ancient vase depicting the returning Odysseus shooting his wife Penelope’s suitors with his bow. (see image above)
Tip: If you’re still not done after your museum visit, take a detour to Prenzlauer Berg. Stroll down Schliemannstraße and reflect a bit on the eccentric visionary who changed our view of antiquity forever.
How to get there:
🚇 By public transit: The best option is to take the U5 subway line to the “Museumsinsel” station. Alternatively, take the S-Bahn to “Hackescher Markt” or “Friedrichstraße,” from where it’s just a short walk along the Spree.
🚗 By car: Finding a parking spot right on Museum Island is practically a modern-day myth. So it’s best to use the paid parking garages at “DomAquarée” or under “Bebelplatz.”
📍 Neues Museum, Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin
📆 Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed Mondays)
⏳ Plan on spending about 1.5 to 2 exciting hours
💵 €14, reduced rate €7
ℹ️ More info and tickets
