I don't want to sound stupid, but I recently read the Odyssey and couldn't help but wonder. The entire epic is steeped in myth and fiction, but the Trojan war actually seems plausible in its depiction overall. I was just wondering if this war actually existed and what resources we have describing it (besides the Odyssey and Iliad).
Please be kind, I hope I'm not missing an extremely obvious part of history and just sound ridiculous.
More can always be said but you might want to read this answer by /u/iphikrates which discusses what historians of ancient Greece think about the whole of the Iliad: Why do some historians completely dismiss the Iliad and Homeric epics as having any historical basis?. Hope this helps!
While it’s widely accepted through various excavations the city of Troy did exist its a hotly debated topic of what destroyed it. Most historians think the version of Troy most fitting to Homers description was toppled by an earthquake and then the site built upon after it, which was much less grand, sacked. There is a phenomenal BBC documentary series with Michael Woods called “In Search of the Trojan War” that delves deep into what peoples the Trojans may have been, what or who destroyed the city and whether it even existed at all. If you’re interested about the subject you’ll love it.