The British archaeologist, topographer and cartographer William Gell (1777-1836), studied at Cambridge and was one of the most important scholars specialized in Greece. He travelled in Ithaca (1801 and 1806), Troy (1801), the Ionian Islands (1803), the Peloponnese, Argosaronic islands, Central Greece and Thessaly (1805). In 1812 Gell visited the Greek Orient for the last time, as a member of a mission of the Society of Dilettanti. He also travelled through Italy, where he died.

A prolific artist, he produced about 800 drawings, published numerous works and was especially interested in identifying the place names recorded in the Homeric epics. His conclusions, often arbitrary and ingenuous in spite of his thorough research and documentation, were commented upon by travellers who visited the same places. The personalities of W.M. Leake, E. Dodwell and Lord Byron in the end overshadowed Gell, who although a sincere philhellene had no qualms about severely criticizing the Greeks at the crucial moment of the Greek Struggle for Independence (1823).

In April 1806 Gell travelled from the Morea (Peloponnese) to Ithaca, in the company of H. Raikes and the well-known archaeologist E. Dodwell. They toured Vathy and most of the mainland, to Aetos, Sarakiniko, Kioni, Marathias, Neritos, the monasteries of Archangelos and the Panagia ton Katharon, and elsewhere, searching for remains of the Homeric Age. Gell attended and described celebrations and customs, such as those of Easter (still encountered in the Ionian Islands). He was particularly impressed by the local dances, which he compares to ancient Greek ones. Gell also provides information on the island's population and commerce. His drawings faithfully convey the locations as well as his own bedazzzlement by the Mediterranean spring, and the wealth of history found in the Greek landscape.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Title page. Imaginary representation of the city of Troy accompanied by extract from the Iliad.

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  Various landscapes in the Troad: Α. View of Mount Ida. B. View of ancient Atandros (today Altınoluk). C. Cape Baba (anc. Lekton cape) in the Troad. D. View of part of Lesbos island. E. View of Cape Baba (anc. Lekton cape) in the Troad.

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  View of the village Babakale in the Troad.

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  4.View of the village Babakale at Cape Baba, in the Troad. 5. Landscape near the Cape Eski Stambul in the Troad. The author notes the sites of Alexandria Troad (C) και Tenedos island (E).

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  Landscapes in the Troad, somewhere in between Cape Eski Stambul and the Dardanelles. G denotes the site where the Baths of Alexandria Troad are found.

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  View from the Eastern side of Alexandria Troas.

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  Landscape near Geykli in the Troad. In the background Tenedos island.

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  Landscape near Geykli in the Troad.

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  Landscapes in the Troad, from Geykli to the Dardanelles and Troy.

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  Fig. 1. Landscape around the village of Yenişehir, near ancient Sigeion. Fig. 2. Landscape around Troy. Α denotes the place of the city, while B the place of Yeniköy, where, according to the legent, the Tomb of Peneleos, Achaean soldier in the Trojan War, was found.

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  Landscape in the Troad, between Kumkale and Beşika Burnu (anc. Achilleion), where according to the legend the Tomb of Achilles is found. In the background Mount Ida.

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  Εικ. 1. The southern point of the Dardanelles Fig. 2. Hill near Seddülbahir. The author identifies this hill with the Tomb of Protesilaos.

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  The confluence of Karamenderes (anc. Scamander) with Simoes river. In the background the hills of the village Çıplak, area where part of Troy VII is found.

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  Εικ. 1. Landscape around Üvecik, in the larger area of the city of Troy. Fig. 2. Landscape if the Troad. On the left the Castel of Kumkale. On the right the site of the Tomb of Aias, in the ancient city of Rhoiteion (today Intepe).

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  Muslim cemetery in the confluence of Karamenders (anc. Scamander) and Simoes rivers.

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  The sources of Karamenderes (anc. Scamander) river around Mount Ida, in the Troad.

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  The confluence of Karamenderes (and. Scamander) river with Simoes, river north of the city of Troy.

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  The river Karamenderes (anc. Scamander) and the its outfall to the Dardanelles.

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  View of the plain of Troy from the Tomb of Antilochus, on the eastern shore of the Dardanelles, and close to the ancient city of Rhoiteion (today Intepe).

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  The Tombs of Hector and Aesyetes in the vale of Karamenders (anc. Scamander) river.

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  View of the Tomb of Antilochus, on the eastern shore of the Dardanelles, and close to the ancient city of Rhoiteion (today Intepe).

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  View of the Tomb of Achilles (Beşiktepe) in Beşika Burnu (anc. Achilleion).

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  View of part of the Dardanells from the Tomb of Achilles (Beşiktepe). In the background the Castle of Kumkale.

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  Landscape around the shores of Simoes river in the plain of Troy.

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  Landscape in the vale of Simoes river, most probably north of today's village Kalafat.

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  Landscape in between the village of Kalafat and Bunarbaşı, site identified erroneously with Troy in the nineteenth-century.

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  Warm source of Karamenderes (anc. Scamander) river near the village of Bunarbaşı. In the background the house of the Ottoman Aga, where the author stayed during his visit.

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  Cold spring of Karamenderes (anc. Scamander) river.

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  View of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  View of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  View of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy. In the foreground the court of the House of the Ottoman Aga, where the author stayed during his visit.

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  View of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy. In the background the Dardanelles.

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  South view of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  View of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Landscape around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Tombs around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Panoramic view of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy. In the background the Dardanelles.

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  Foundations on the summit of the hill of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  West view of Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy. In the background the island of Tenedos.

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  Landscape around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy. In the background the Dardanelles.

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  Hills around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Hills around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Relief and capital of column from Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Map of the area around Bunarbaşı, village, erroneously identified in the nineteenth-century with Troy.

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  Map of the plain of Troy.