Download The Odyssey

The Odyssey
General Introduction
and Books 1-12
Shipwreck scene on a Greek vase painting (8th century)
The Poet and his Works
- Homer lived in the second
half of the 8th century in
western Turkey (probably
Izmir)
- Wrote two major epics:
Iliad
Odyssey
- Was a professional poet,
probably of noble origin
Statues of Homer
from the Roman Period
Figurine of
a poet with
a harp,
8th century BC
The Trojan War: myth or reality?
Neither archaeology nor historical
sources have provided evidence that
the Trojan War really took place as
described in the Homeric epics.
However, this does not mean that the
epics contain no truth at all. Poetry is
not history!
Clearly the important geo-strategic
position of Troy always led to conflicts
over control of the city.
Homer and other poets may have
combined the many smaller wars
fought at Troy into one single event of
unprecedented scale.
For the Ancient Greeks the Trojan War
certainly reflected historical reality.
Literacy in Greece at the time of Homer
- Origin of the alphabet in Phoenicia.
- Introduced from there to Greece during the 8th century.
- Earliest inscription in Greek alphabetic script (late 8th
century) already contains a reference to Homers Iliad.
The Odyssey: The Contents
Trojan War: 10 years
Odysseus’ wanderings: 10 years
Retrospective:
Books 9-12
Period
actually
covered:
40 days
24 books:
- Books 1-4: Council of the gods, situation on Ithaca
-
Books 5-12: Odysseus wanderings
Books 13-16: Odysseus outside of the palace
Books 17-22: Odysseus inside the palace
Book 23: Odysseus in his bedchamber
The Geographical Framework
Troy
Ithaca
Only the starting and ending points of
Odysseus’ wanderings can be placed on a
map. All other locations remain unknown.
Odysseus’ Deeds
The Trojan Horse
The blinding of the Cyclops
Odysseus’ attributes
-
Hero with strength and courage
Pious, always honoring the gods
Intelligent and resourceful
Able to endure suffering
Determined to reach his goal
Fate or free will?
- ‘But when in the circling of the years that very year
came in which the gods had spun for him his time of
homecoming …’ (Book 1, 16-17)
- ‘Even so he could not save his companions, hard
though he strove to; they were destroyed by their own
wild recklessness, fools, who devoured the oxen of
Helios, the Sun God, and he took away the day of
their homecoming.’ (Book 1, 6-9)
- ‘Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame upon us
gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they,
rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow
beyond what is given …’ (Book 1, 32-34)
The Gods
Zeus:
father of the gods;
impartial judge
Poseidon:
god of the sea;
Odysseus’ adversary
Athena:
goddess of
wisdom;
Odysseus’ helper