Homer He was a Greek poet who is credited with creating the famous works the Iliad and the Odyssey around 800 BC From the 4th century BC, all the Greeks began to study these works, keeping them as the best heroic epics, being especially essential reading for children. Subsequently, the Iliad It would be the main work of Alexander the Great.
Despite these claims, Homer unwraps numerous questions and doubts that leave large gaps in the history of Greece. It was really Homer the author of both epics? Homer? What were its origins?
As happens at various times in history, the older it is, the less evidence there is about the data of the events. That’s why to Homer diverse data are attributed to him that generate numerous hypotheses. From the concrete, it is known that his name is related to his blindness (Homer it means blind in the Aeolian dialect), and it was said that he had the ability to see what others could not.
The place of his birth is a matter of dispute, even today. Numerous cities on the Anatolian coast, such as Colophon, Cumae, Izmir and Chios are prime candidates for being the birthplace of the famous poet.
Leaving aside its spatial existence, doubts also arise about its temporal location. What year were you born Homer? Traditional sources place it in the 8th century BC, but many others place it during the period of the Trojan War (13th century BC) and the reign of Gyges (king of Lydia)… five centuries later.
As for his intellectual authorship attributed to the famous works, the Iliad and the Odyssey, there are also hypotheses that question various statements. Many stylistic scholars hold that differences in vocabulary are found. It is also highlighted that in the Odyssey, every fact of a wonderful character takes on more prominence within the work. Many others deny the existence of an author of both works, maintaining that they are a simple compilation of poems that until then would have been transmitted orally. On the other hand, the defenders of a single author emphasize the formulas of Homeric epithets, leaving similarities in the structure
As for the works themselves, an important fact should be noted: in both of them, a real spatial time is not reflected that is consistent with the rest of the development of the story. This is how a series of elements can be noted, which appear in Mycenaean times (around the second millennium BC) around the 8th century BC This is how warriors fight with bronze weapons, but they also have iron elements, a rare material during the Mycenaean era. This is a simple example of the various temporary irregularities that can be found in both works; so that a rational coherence within the thread of history should not be sought.
Summary of the Iliad
The Iliad consists of an epic poem whose authorship is attributed to Homer, and which is considered the oldest poem in European literature.
The plot of the Iliad it has to do with the siege of Troy by Greek troops. The story revolves around the abduction of Helen by Paris. Paris is one of the two sons of Priam, king of Troy, and Hecuba, his wife. Paris is sent by his father as an emissary to Sparta, where King Menelaus, Helen’s husband, reigned. Taking advantage of the absence of Menelaus, Paris takes Helen hostage thanks to the help of Aphrodite and takes her to Troy. When Menelaus returns and realizes the outrage, he prepares the siege of Troy, in which characters such as Ulysses the invincible will be of vital importance.
Broadly speaking, this is the premise of the plot of The Iliad, nor do we want to tell you more so that those of you who have not yet read it can discover its secrets for yourselves.
summary of the odyssey
The Odyssey is an epic poem, probably the most famous ever created, which narrates over 24 songs the adventures and misadventures of Odysseus, who after fighting for 10 years in the Trojan War, tries to return home to Ithaca. . However, numerous problems will make things very difficult for him, and it will take him another 10 years to return, having to face creatures such as mermaids or hydras.
During the time that Ulysses is absent, his wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, have to accept that Penelope meets new suitors, since their financial situation worsens and many already give Ulysses up for dead. Finally, Ulysses, thanks to his cunning and intelligence, manages to return to Ithaca and, once there, manages to make him and his wife recognize him, killing the rest of the suitors. The relatives of the dead suitors cry out for revenge against Ulysses, but the intervention of the goddess Athena causes the citizens of Ithaca to agree to negotiate, for the peace of the city in the years to come.
It can be said that both the Iliad and the Odyssey are considered as something like the fathers of all arguments. Many of the plots of literature or, more recently, cinema, are closely related to the conflicts, relationships and plots created by Homer in his Iliad or his Odyssey, and he is considered one of the authors who have most influenced throughout the history. In fact, the construction of plot and plot has hardly changed since Homer laid the foundation for it in these poems.
Then, to finish, we leave you with a video about Homer’s Odyssey and with some links of interest to complement the INFO of the article.
who was homer
dowho was homer? For many people, Homer will be homer simpsons in its Latin version. And reason is not lacking. However, many centuries before, there was a Homer even greater than the cartoon created by Matt Groening. Specifically, we must go back to Greece in 800 BC to find this poet, whose masterpieces were The Iliad and The Odyssey, which we have already discussed. Both are considered pinnacle creations of literature and basis of the later histories of western civilization
The funny thing is that, over the years, the existence of the author begins to be questioned. To the question of who Homer is, there are those who will answer: nobody. According to history, the author died in 701 BC in his native Greece. At 99 years old. Or that is the most widespread belief. Other less reliable data place Homer in a birth range between 1,200 BC and 750 BC. When the margin is 550 years, something is not right. Even the region of his birth is disputed by various Greek islands
Few more data are found about Homer, at least verifiable. Such is the mystery that surrounds the figure of the authorwhich has come to be called the Question Homeric.
The Homeric Question defends two options to define the identity of Homer. The first places him as a War prisoner that they did not go to war, due to the high possibilities of betrayal that they dragged. Instead of the military option, sent to recite the glories of war heroes. This figure was known as the Homerhence the derivation ended in Homer.
The second theory is based on a play on words: ho me horon. In old Castilian, ‘the one who does not see‘. And it is that, according to some writings, Homer was blind. This theory of visual impairment is supported by a character: demodoko. His appearance in one of the songs from The Odysseyhe is considered like autobiographical by the experts. The same ones who don’t know how to encrypt their date of birth.
Obviously, there is no doubt that the quality and influence of their works. Homer, whether he existed or not, whether he was born sooner or later, is a brilliant figure that marked a before and after in universal literature. The Iliad and The Odyssey pioneered epic history and the Western novel. Not only that. Both novels are faithful and perfect portrait of the Hellenic civilization: from their political organization, to their culture, through their religious beliefs.
For this reason, Homer is considered the father of Western culture. thanks to him, the foundations of that civilization have been perpetuated through the centuries, serving as a reference to new cultures and civilizations. That is, the role of Homer, in addition to literary, was social and historical. His figure remains a reference, tens of centuries after his birth, wherever he was.
Video about Homer’s Odyssey
Here we leave you a video in which you can learn many more things about the Odyssey, one of the narratives that have most influenced throughout history:
If you are passionate about history, literature or ancient mythology, in overstory we have more items for you:
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