Homer

The ManLived in Pre-Classical Period of Greek

History and CultureWrote of myth and folklore passed down

through the oral tradition, beginning eight to ten centuries before his own birth.

Herodotus estimated that he lived four hundred years before his own time, around 850 B.C.E.

Thought to be blind, but describes events as a man of sight

The Greek World of Homer

Greek Society of Homer’s WorldThe political and economic systems of Homeric

Greece were far less developed than in the later well-known Classical period of ancient Greece.

Greece was not Greece. No one nation of Greeks. They did not refer to

themselves as Greeks. InThe Iliad and in The Odyssey Homer

denominates this group of distinct people as Achaeans, Argives, and Danaans. These people were only linked to each other by the relationships of the city-states that shared the same language--with varying dialects.

Homeric Greece was a tribal society controlled by a ruling class known as basileis, whose responsibilities constituted those of a king, general, and judge, with certain religious duties as well.

Oral Tradition to Written TraditionEpic Poetry was sung by Rhapsodes in

oral form in more complete versions up until 725 B.C.E.

In 750 B.C.E., the Greek alphabet is established and epic poems are written down.

-Epic Poetry and the Cycle of Ethics (later lost) are written under the umbrella of the Trojan War.-Nine Epics or the “Epic Cycle” describe heroes, Greek tradition, and the history of the Trojan War. Seven are lost.-Historian / Philosopher Proclus summarized the lost epics.The Odyssey and The Oresteia are both the most important.They are Nostoi Myths – returns

Characteristics of the HeroThe hero is introduced in the

midst of turmoil The hero was a warrior, leader,

and/or speakerMust undertake a long, perilous

journeyJourney usually takes the hero

into the Neukeia or the Greek Underworld.

Test of courage, cunning, endurance

Characteristics of the Hero Continued

Often has group of followers, commitatus

He alone among them will attempt a task none other will undertake.

Three key heroes were Achilles, Odysseus, and the Trojan Aeneis

Epic Hero – Moral Exemplar

Possesses qualities most valued by his raceIn epic poetry, hero has stock phrases that

exemplify his best qualities:

-Resourceful Odysseus-Swift-footed Achilles-Pious Aeneas

The Iliad Comprised of 53 Days Unifying Theme – Wrath of the Warrior Homer writes it as a negative reaction to Warrior

Culture When a warrior is wounded a story is then given on

them and their exploits Honor - how does one achieve it? Achilles gets angry because he loses honor, fights to

achieve it and be rewarded in this lifetime. Killing Priam’s son, avenges best friend’s death; gets

nothing and then realizes he did it for honor. Realizes by Priam’s entreaty over his dead son that he is closer to humanity than divine.

What is honor (external) to something you feel inside (internal) – end of The Iliad

The Odyssey

Starts out with religious reference, cementing place of Greek Pantheon of Gods, place in Greek life

Gods mirror mortals (in appearance, values, emotions)

All life is suffering, then you gain knowledgeShame Culture shown through Odysseus’

return and the sins that are committed by mortals against the Gods.

The OdysseyReligious in tone, sins committed by

mortals show irreverence toward the GodsFame / Glory is what all Heroes seek,

Odysseus is primary in examplePatriarchical society, on every level always

a reference to the father

Important Themes of The Odyssey Religion – Pantheon of Olympian Gods rules over the

world; everything comes from the Gods. All peoples worshiped the Pantheon.

Hospitality – throughout Greek world any guest in your home you are bound by tradition and convention to feed, clothe, and house them

Dike -“expresses a fundamental, natural principle, enforced by necessity, on the grandest possible scale. The principle is balance, and its enforcement takes the form of retribution to redress imbalance.”

Glory – all Greek heroes and people in general sought to achieve glory in a mortal life. Win fame by achievement in war CULTURAL MAXIM

Honor - internal/external concept; expected externally usually through battle, discovered internally through victory, moral action

Fates/Furies - Chthonic forces coming from the earth seeking kindred blood;

Knowledge through Suffering

Chthonic / Olympian Chthonic Forces are embodied in The Odyssey through the Furies like the Cyclops (and perhaps the Lotus Eaters).They are the spirits of the underworld left

over from the Pre-Olympian World ruled by the Titans.

Zeus and his brother Poseidon ( Odysseus‘ chief nemesis) wrested control of the world from them, thus sit atop of the Olympian order of Gods and the Greek World

Homer – The NarratorSimile characterizes Homeric ArtNever takes sides

A reluctant narrator, uses myth and folklore and has characters drive the narrative

Odysseus

Fought in the Trojan WarTests People, uses TrickeryInvented the idea of the Trojan HorseA large horse that he and his men built and use to infiltrate

and take Troy, hiding themselves inside of itThe Greek Fleet left the beaches in front of Troy, the Trojans

believed it was an offering from the Gods and brought inside the city

After a day and night of feasting, believing they had won the 10 year war; the Greeks snuck out of the large wooden horse, opened the gates to the city letting in the Greek army, which subsequently destroyed the city, and enslaved the Trojan people.

Nostoi – The Odyssey The Return of OdysseusBook I

Establishes the religious tone of the poem. Shows the Pantheon of Gods. Briefly summarizes Odysseus is in the

middle of his return home from the war. Poseidon is his enemy and is preventing

him from returning to Ithaca.

Poseidon

Nostoi – The Odyssey The Return of OdysseusBook I

Athena is sympathetic to his trials and tribulationsOn Ithaca, suitors for the hand of Penelope, Odysseus’

wife, have taken over his household. They seek to win her hand in marriage after she accepts that he has died/is not coming home.

Son Telemachos tries to assert his place as head of household. Gods feel what suitors are doing in wrong.

First six books of The Odyssey are often called the Telemahia

Book IIAthena speaks to Telemachos.Prophesizes Odysseus’ return.Telemachos develops plan to venture to Pylos to

find word of his father, Odysseus from Nestor.Suitors develop own plan to kill Telemachos but fail.Athena intervenes disguising herself as Telemachos,

gathers sailors to crew a ship for his voyage.Athena puts the suitors to sleep so Telemachos and

his crew can make their escape by his “black ship.” This is a reference to Odysseus. Throughout the poem, Odysseus and Telmachos are compared

Book III Nestor tells of the aftermath of the Trojan War Half want to stay, half want to go. Agamemnon as “shepherd of the people” keeps half,

Odysseus and Menelaos depart with the other half. Odysseus disagrees with Menelaos and returns to

Agamemnon. Nestor with the other half of Agamemnon’s men and

Menelaos made their safe return home. Nestor tells Telemachos avenging his father against suitors

for Penelope is the proper course of action. Sequence at the end of the book emphasizes the proper

method of making sacrifice to the gods, but shows Odysseus made this sacrifice and Agamemnon did not

Nestor’s son Peisistratos departs with Telemachos They set out for Menelaos’ palace in Sparta.

Book IV

Stops the flow of the narrative to make it more interesting. Menelaos has sent his daughter Hermione to be married to Achilles. Menelaos recognizes Peisistratos and Telemachos as the “breed of

Zeus.” Their physical stature reveals their inner quality. Menelaos tells of his own wanderings during his return (Nostoi). Menelaos weeps for Odysseus, his father Laertes and wife Penelope. Menelaos’ wife Helen joins the feast putting heartsease into everyone’s

wine to make them forget sorrow. She then relates how Odysseus snuck into Troy as a beggar in disguise

and he disclosed to her the Argives purpose. Myth #1 Helen switches sides.

Myth #2 Helen walked around the Trojan horse and called out. Menelaos and the son of Tydeus almost went out but Odysseus held both back and the Trojan Horse was a success; it won the war for the Argives.

Book IV Telemachos tells Menelaos of the suitors and his dilemma on

Ithaca. Menelaos tells Telemachos all he knows from his Nostoi and

his own odyssey. Proteus, a shape-shifter , Poseidon’s underling (reflection of

the audience), is captured by Menelaos and his men with the aid of Eidothea, his daughter.

Proteus tells Menelaos:◦ to return to Egypt and make hecatombs (sacrifices) for the gods and then he may return home.◦ that Aias cursed Athena and was killed by Poseidon. ◦ that Odysseus is being held by Kalypso.

The suitors learn of Telemachos’ voyage. Medon the herald tells Penelope of the suitors’ plans to kill Telemachos upon his return. Athene appears in a dark dream to Penelope and gives her

confidence that Odysseus will return. Book ends with Suitors waiting in ambush. Action is

continued in Book 13

Book V Olympian Assembly Athene speaks to Zeus to intervene to bring Odysseus home, and thwart the ambush the suitors have set for

Telemachos. Zeus decrees that it is fate that these things will happen. Hermes is sent to Ogygia and tells Kalypso to let Odysseus go. Kalypso tells Odysseus of his fate (V. 200-215) offers him

immortal life. He refuses. Odysseus builds a broad raft with ax and auger that Kalypso

gives him in five days. Poseidon has been away in the Aithiopians’ land. When he

returns he sees Zeus’ plan, and Kallypso has released and aided Odysseus. He stirs the seas and crushes Odysseus’ raft.

Odysseus is first rescued by Leukothea. Then, guided by Athena he swims and is delivered to island of

Phaiakians.

Book VIStays a few weeks on the island of the

PhaiakiansMeets second female Nausikaa daughter of Alkinoos on island.Establishes Patriarchical framework of

Greek World [Men - Polis / Women – Okaos]

Juxtaposes the place of power of women with that of men.

Reemphasizes hospitalityFortifies Odysseus despite the

embarrassment and fear he holds due to nakedness in front of Nausikaa and her attendants.

Bid to go to a grove of poplars and pray to Zeus. Then go to the house of Alkinoos where his course of action will be laid out to him.

Book VII

Athena appears to Odysseus as a young girl and guides him to Alkinoos’ palaceOdysseus doesn’t reveal himself to

Alkinoos and his queen Arete. Eats dinner with them, and tells them of his trials and tribulations but not who he is.

Alkinoos expresses adage “always moderation is better.”

Tries, as everyone else does, to get Odysseus to stay and marry Nausikaa. He refuses.

Given a bed and goes to sleep.

Book VIIIReinforces the idea of the Herald /prophet as blind – internal sight exterior blindnessOdysseus is compelled to compete in the games and excels.Upon completion of games, Odysseus asks the

herald to tell the tale of the Argives in the Trojan War.

He cries as the tale is told.Episode is characterization of Odysseus.

Audience is compelled to ask, “why does he cry?”

Also, “what did the Trojan War achieve? What does the Warrior society of the age accomplish?”◦ May be an attack on warrior culture