Homer and History The Odyssey and Ancient Greek Culture

The Homer Question!

Who Was Homer? The Greeks and Romans have always thought that the legendary poet was the greatest author ever. The Greeks and Romans have always thought that the legendary poet Homer was the greatest author ever. Yet, we know so very little about the man (or men?) who composed the Iliad or the Odyssey. Yet, we know so very little about the man (or men?) who composed the Iliad or the Odyssey.

From the Iliad

What We Do Know! On an average night in the late Greek Dark Ages, a community, probably the wealthiest people, would settle in for an evening's entertainment. The professional story-teller, or “Bard” would sing the stories of the Trojan War and its heroes. On an average night in the late Greek Dark Ages, a community, probably the wealthiest people, would settle in for an evening's entertainment. The professional story-teller, or “Bard” would sing the stories of the Trojan War and its heroes. These songs would be the Greek equivalent of a mini-series, for the stories were so long that they would take days to complete. These songs would be the Greek equivalent of a mini-series, for the stories were so long that they would take days to complete.

Conquest of Troy

The Importance of the Bard These stories probably began as short tales of isolated events and heroes; eventually a profession of story-telling was established— classical scholars call this new professional a "bard." This new professional began combining the stories into larger narratives. These stories probably began as short tales of isolated events and heroes; eventually a profession of story-telling was established— classical scholars call this new professional a "bard." This new professional began combining the stories into larger narratives. By the end of the Greek Dark Ages, these bards or story-tellers were probably the cultural center of Greek society. By the end of the Greek Dark Ages, these bards or story-tellers were probably the cultural center of Greek society.

The Bard – Priest of Culture

The Greatest Bard? The Greeks believed that the greatest of these story-tellers was a blind man named Homer, and that he sung ten epic poems about the Trojan War; of which only two have survived. The Greeks believed that the greatest of these story-tellers was a blind man named Homer, and that he sung ten epic poems about the Trojan War; of which only two have survived. These two are called the Iliad and the Odyssey. These two are called the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Homer

The Greatest Bard? Many classicists believe that the two surviving Homeric epics were in fact composed by several individuals; in the absence of any evidence to the contrary however, most classicists accept the overall Greek idea of a single author. Many classicists believe that the two surviving Homeric epics were in fact composed by several individuals; in the absence of any evidence to the contrary however, most classicists accept the overall Greek idea of a single author.

The Importance of the Homeric Poems The Greeks in general regard Homer's two epics as the highest cultural achievement of their people, the defining moment in Greek culture which set the basic Greek character in stone. The Greeks in general regard Homer's two epics as the highest cultural achievement of their people, the defining moment in Greek culture which set the basic Greek character in stone. Throughout antiquity, both in Greece and Rome, everything tended to be compared to these two works; events in history made sense when put in the light of the events narrated in these two works. Throughout antiquity, both in Greece and Rome, everything tended to be compared to these two works; events in history made sense when put in the light of the events narrated in these two works.

The Acropolis

The Importance of the Homeric Poems (Con’t) As a result, then, these two epics are the focal point of Greek values and the Greek world view despite all its evolution and permutations through the centuries following their composition. As a result, then, these two epics are the focal point of Greek values and the Greek world view despite all its evolution and permutations through the centuries following their composition. It would not be hasty to regard the Homeric poems as the single most important texts in Greek culture, or indeed (along with a very few texts) that of Western civilization, which stands upon the achievements and ideas of ancient Greece. It would not be hasty to regard the Homeric poems as the single most important texts in Greek culture, or indeed (along with a very few texts) that of Western civilization, which stands upon the achievements and ideas of ancient Greece.

Parthenon

Why study the Odyssey? Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are a major part of ancient history, especially that of Ancient Greece. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are a major part of ancient history, especially that of Ancient Greece. Ancient Greek history provides a cornerstone for all Western political, cultural, artistic, and social reality. Ancient Greek history provides a cornerstone for all Western political, cultural, artistic, and social reality. Further, the Iliad and the Odyssey are believed to have been a major part of a young Greek's education. They remain a part the education of tens of millions of adolescents every year. Further, the Iliad and the Odyssey are believed to have been a major part of a young Greek's education. They remain a part the education of tens of millions of adolescents every year.

Homer’s Odyssey’s Influences are many:

Stories, Poetry, and Writing are the biggest beneficiaries and descendants of Homer (monomyth anyone?) Get out your “Glossary of Literary Terms” and write in these poetic elements that are traceable back to Homer: Get out your “Glossary of Literary Terms” and write in these poetic elements that are traceable back to Homer: Epic Similes Epic Similes Homeric Epithet Homeric Epithet Poetic meter Poetic meter Poetic rhythm Poetic rhythm

Art: Most of what the greatest renaissance artists did to revive and save our civilization was simply to re- create and re-imagine the ancient Greeks. We’re still doing that…

Ethics ( these stories teach the greeks, and, as a consequence, us how to live).

Gender even gets rolled up in this. The story asks: What makes a man a man? A woman a woman?

Minivans!

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