LAUSR

Abstract Numerous travellers and scientists since the 1st Century B.C. unsuccessfully searched for the hot and cold springs of Troia (Troy)/Turkey mentioned in Homer’s epic poem Iliad. It was therefore suggested that over time, the hot spring might have disappeared after an earthquake. This investigation uses geological, hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical methods to identify potential locations of “hot and cold” springs in the vicinity of Troia. Using statistical analyses of temperature, electrical conductivity, pH-values, redox-potential, and oxygen concentrations, 47 suitable wells and springs were chosen for geothermometric calculations using Si-thermometry based on the equation of Verma. None of the identified springs shows elevated discharge temperatures, no scalings give indication for disappeared springs, and only three springs show elevated reservoir temperatures above 95 °C – none of which is close to today’s Troia. Springs that locals identified as “hot and cold” show nearly constant temperature throughout the measuring period (±0.1–0.3 K) suggesting they appear warm in the winter and cold in the summer months. These results show that a spring sensu Homer never existed in Troia and that Homer possibly meant one spring with warmer and colder temperatures relative to the mean air temperature depending on the time of the year.