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    A classic epic - Odyssey - written by Homer in the 8th century B.C. has been subject of admiration and interpretation -  since its creation.

        Consensus of narrative analysis of the Odyssey is that Homer's descriptions of Ithaca belong to the realistic mode; while his imaginary mode describes monsters, giants and underworld.....

 

    This site represents a simple attempt to correlate Ithaca's topography as described by Homer in the Odyssey, with Ithaca's recent geography - in 2002.

 

Brief introduction:

Homer: ancient Greek poet born probably in 9th or 8th century B.C. Odyssey is one of the epics written by Homer. It describes eloquently and in a colorful language 10 years lasting trip of Odysseus from Troy back to Ithaca.

Odysseus: According to Homer: king of Ithaca and surrounding islands. Summoned to fight in 10 years lasting war in Troy. After the war his trip back home lasted another 10 years. picture? his genealogy?

Ithaca: a small island on the west coast of Greece in the Ionian sea. Site of Odysseus palace - fortress, where his faithful wife Penelope and son Telemachus were waiting for his return. map

 

     Whether Homer can be trusted as a true interpreter of long passed events was probably solved over 100 years ago by H. Schliemann, who was following Homer's leads in his archeological explorations. This discoverer of Troy, Mycenae, Tiryns was an ardent admirer and believer in Homer's Iliad accuracy. Based on his results, a hitherto unknown Mycenaean history dated from cca 1500-1100 B.C. was recognized. Identification of myths with places related to this time period led to realization that Greek myths have probably their origins in this very time period - Nilsson.  

 

  Interpretations of Homer's topographic descriptions in the Odyssey appear somewhat more complicated. An excellent introduction to the problem can be found in a recently published book by J. V. Luce.

 

    Why is this exploration of comparative topography interesting? Well one can learn from the history. Seeing and identifying places described 3000 years ago can be very rewarding. If Homer was right in his descriptions of topography, was he also right in the other aspects of his epic? Was Odysseus then real?  Where in Ithaca was his palace? Were the gods around him real?...  (Erich von Däniken thinks so). [From my medical point of view Ambrosia and Nectar giving them immortality or rather longevity must have been a concoction of multivitamins, trace elements, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and   lysosomes stabilizers....]

    

Let's go to the Odyssey's Ithaca topography:

    

    The name of Ithaca itself as used by Homer is matching the present name of the island. The same cannot be said for the other islands mentioned by Homer (Od.9, 21-4):

    I live in Ithaca, where there is a high mountain called Neritum, covered with forests; and not far from it there is a group of islands very near to one another- Dulichium, Same, and the wooded island of Zacynthus. (translation by S. Butler)

    Without going into too many details, prof. Luce argumentation for and identifications of Homer's names seem acceptable and would be as follows:

Homer's name         current name

Ithaca  =                  Ithaca   

Dulichium =             Lefkada

Same =                    Kefalonia

Zante =                   Zakynthos

All these islands lie relatively  close together in the Ioninan sea.

 

    After 20 years of absence, Odysseus finally arrives back home in Ithaca. He does not go right back to his palace though.

 

    Topographic photo explorations of his landing place and places he visits before and after entering his palace are subject of the next page- Photo Album .

Photo Album Summary:

1) Odysseus lands in Phorcy's bay.
2) Odysseus and the Nymph cave.
3) Odysseus visits his shepherd Eumaios.
4) Odysseus goes to his palace......
5) Odysseus visits his father Laertes in the orchard.
6) The question of Asteris.

 

please E-Mail any questions or suggestions:

polasekj@seznam.cz

 

 

This page was last updated on 12/10/02.