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You leap up to the main deck of the galley, unable to contain your excitement – and clear as day, you see the southern docks of the city. There is an endless forest of bare timber above the waves – the masts of hundreds of ships docked at the southern port of Ilion. As you approach closer, you see that enormous wooden piers have been constructed, jutting out from the swampy coastline; even from here, you see huge numbers of carts, people and animals moving amongst the piers and along wide stone pathways on the coast.
The sheer number of vessels present astounds you – there were fewer vessels at both Mycenae and Salamis! At a glance, you see all types of merchant vessels, naval galleys, fishing boats and shipping barges. Hellenic, Phoenician and other vessels of unclear origin are all present - the variety in ship design and manufacture is overwhelming – it seems that half of the Aegean’s fleet is docked here.
Beyond the piers, there is a ridge extending northwards, occluding your sight beyond. But to the northeast of the piers – there is a depression of the earth, providing a clear line of sight to the steep hill beyond the swamps -
<span class="mu-s">Ilion.</span>
Atop the hill, at the very highest elevation, her sacred citadel gleams in the morning light – an unassailable ringed fortification with walls of white, complete with golden-tipped towers, clothed with hanging gardens and with sashes of immense flags of every color, richly dyed. The flags wave their supremacy, calling to you, saying:
<span class="mu-i">Look here, Thessalian, at our mastery! Look here, Thessalian, at our invincibility!”</span>
You cannot tear your eyes away from the inner walls of the sacred city – they are immaculate, ivorylike. From this distance, they appear to stand impossibly tall and strong - you have no doubt that the legend of their creation by Poseidon, in service to Priam’s father Laomedon, is true – no mortal hands could have sullied their making. Your knees tremble – your breath catches in your throat. For the first time since you set off from your home in rural Thessaly, your true destiny – eternal glory – feels like it is within reach.
Within the citadel, there are enormous structures of beauty – the largest is no doubt the famous Temple of Athena, richly painted. Even from this distance, you can see that it has been carved with endless reliefs and adorned with massive statues of exquisite creation. Besides the Temple, there is a vast courtyard and a sprawling palace that can only be the domain of King Priam and his family. You struggle with the sheer size of these constructions – they dwarf even the largest buildings in Mycenae. You – you did not believe that men could build so high.
