The Odyssey A background and introduction to the text

Background to ancient Greece Ancient Greece was comprised of two main civilisations: Minoans (3200B.C. – 2100B.C) – Crete only Mycenaeans (1600B.C. – 1100B.C) – Mainland Greece This was followed by a period of collapse.

Homer Very little known about Homer No remaining written historical records. HOWEVER… Homers poems survive - Illiad and Odyssey. Initially these were retold, but were later written down Archaeological record Sites of Homers epics have been found Many ancient Greek myths have survived as frescos (murals on walls), on pottery etc.

Homer According to Homer, Mycenae was the seat of the leader Agamemnon, who lead the expedition against Troy. The city was heavily fortified with impressive defensive walls. Illiad tells of a war between the Achaeans (Greeks), led by Agamemnon, high king of Mycenae, against the city of Troy, near the Dardanelles.

Classical Greece (C8 th onwards) Homeric epics attained their present form and were set in writing Rise of classical Greek architecture Development of the polis – city-state Notion if citizenship developed Expansion of Greek colonies across the Mediterranean coast Expanded trade networks; development of art, architecture, literature etc.

References Images greece.html greece.html greece.html greece.html Text Homer, The Odyssey, tr. Robert Fagles; introduction and notes by Bernard Knox (New York: Penguin, 1997). Scarre, Christopher and Fagan, Brian. M. Ancient Civilizations (3 rd Ed.). (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2008).