Note 451 — Chapter XIV · FICTION IN THE HOMERIC POEMS.

It has been held that the Aeolic settlements in the Troad itself date only from the seventh century (cf. Meyer, Geschichte des Alterthums, II pp. 203, 463 f.), and there is some evidence that movements of this kind were in operation about that time. But the excavations at Troy brought to light the fact that the district had been occupied, in times long subsequent to the destruction of the fortress, by a semi-barbarous people, apparently from the region of the Danube. The evidence at our disposal seems to indicate that there were Greek settlements in existence before this time, but that they were temporarily overthrown by the barbarians (cf. Brückner, Troja und Ilion, p. 567 ff.). At all events it is clear that the Homeric poets were familiar with the district.