Homer and the Odyssey

Did Homer write The Odyssey and The Iliad, and what is known about the life of this famous Greek writer, when did he live, where was he born, and was he blind?

Detail from A Reading from Homer (1885) by Lawrence Alma-TademaDetail from A Reading from Homer (1885) by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

If people are aware of one thing about the ancient Greek poet Homer, it is that he was blind. In fact, he may not have been blind at all as very little is known for sure about his life. We don’t know where he was born, although Ithaca is one of several places that claim him as a son. Another is the island of Chios, where he is regarded as having been a blind beggar poet. We don’t know when he lived, but it was sometime around the 9th century BC. 

Did Homer Write The Odyssey and The Iliad?

Did he even write the two works with which he is credited, The Iliad and The Odyssey? As with the works of Shakespeare, there are people who believe it unlikely that one mind can have come up with such a rich and creative body of work. For some time it was thought that Homer might have been two different writers, collaborating on the works, although the latest linguistic analyses suggests that both of them are indeed the work of one author.

The Greek Shakespeare

Also as with Shakespeare, they are not original works but based on a mix of history and myth, blended with the art of a supreme storyteller. And in Homer’s day, storytellers is literally what people were. The epics were related orally, not written down, so the author had to be an actor too – and have a phenomenal memory.

The Iliad

The Iliad is set at the end of the Trojan War, three centuries before Homer was born. That is, if there was such a war. There is no absolute proof of the existence of Troy, although it may prove to be at Truva, in Turkey, where excavations were begun by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. He certainly believed that he had found the site of Troy, although Schliemann was always more noted for enthusiasm than accuracy. Research at Truva still continues.

The Odyssey

The better-known of the two epic poems attributed to Homer is The Odyssey, where again an intriguing mix of legend, history and heroism leaves scholars guessing as to what is truth and what is fiction. The book follows the story of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, who had been fighting in the Trojan Wars and set off on his voyage home, which was so eventful as to make a Hollywood action movie look tame.

The Story of The Odyssey

Roman bust of HomerRoman Bust of Homer

Odysseus’s journey took him ten years, as one of his first encounters was with the one-eyed giant Cyclops, who holds the men prisoner in a cave. In order to escape, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops after getting him drunk. Unfortunately for Odysseus, Cyclops is the son of Poseidon, the Sea God, and if there is one person you don’t wish to anger when you have a long sea voyage across the Aegean, from Western Turkey to the Ionian Islands, it is the God of the Sea.

Needless to say, when he does eventually make it home, after encounters with sirens and whirlpools, shipwrecks and lotus-eaters, his adventures are still not over. He has to regain his Palace on Ithaca from those who have taken advantage of his absence and moved in. Is there a happy ending? Sorry, no spoilers here!

Other history pages

  • The Golden Age of Greek drama saw playwrights including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes and Euripides all writing, and you can still see a play at Epidavros.

    Greek Drama

    The Golden Age of Greek drama saw playwrights including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes and Euripides all writing, and you can still see a play at Epidavros.

  • This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

    Greek Architecture

    This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

  • Sir Arthur Evans is the archaeologist famous for the excavations he made at the royal palace of Knossos on Crete.

    Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist at Knossos on Crete

    Sir Arthur Evans is the archaeologist famous for the excavations he made at the royal palace of Knossos on Crete.

  • The archaeological site of Vergina in Macedonia is famous for the royal tombs which were the burial place of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

    The Royal Tombs and Archaeological Site of Vergina in Macedonia

    The archaeological site of Vergina in Macedonia is famous for the royal tombs which were the burial place of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

  • Icon painting is a centuries-old tradition in Crete and the rest of Greece, and Greece Travel Secrets meets a modern-day icon painter in Elounda on Crete.

    The Icon Painter

    Icon painting is a centuries-old tradition in Crete and the rest of Greece, and Greece Travel Secrets meets a modern-day icon painter in Elounda on Crete.

  • The home of the Greek Gods was the top of Mount Olympus, and among the better-known Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.

    The Greek Gods

    The home of the Greek Gods was the top of Mount Olympus, and among the better-known Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.

  • Greece Travel Secrets found these beautiful photos of Greece and the Greek islands by Athens-based photographer Milan Gonda.

    Photos of Greece

    Greece Travel Secrets found these beautiful photos of Greece and the Greek islands by Athens-based photographer Milan Gonda.

  • A History of Athens from the first people to live on the Acropolis through the Golden Age of Pericles and Alexander the Great to the military junta.

    A History of Athens

    A History of Athens from the first people to live on the Acropolis through the Golden Age of Pericles and Alexander the Great to the military junta.

  • Heinrich Schliemann was a German archaeologist who explored sites connected with Homer, including Troy, Mycenae, and Ithaca, and made some extraordinary finds

    Heinrich Schliemann

    Heinrich Schliemann was a German archaeologist who explored sites connected with Homer, including Troy, Mycenae, and Ithaca, and made some extraordinary finds

  • Greek literature has influenced the world, from the works of Homer, called the world's first novelist, through its great poets and dramatists to modern authors.

    Greek Literature

    Greek literature has influenced the world, from the works of Homer, called the world's first novelist, through its great poets and dramatists to modern authors.

  • There are many great Greek poets, with two authors winning the Nobel Prize for Literature and names include Sappho, Cavafy, George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis.

    Great Greek Poets: Cavafy, Sappho, George Seferis, Odysseus Elytis

    There are many great Greek poets, with two authors winning the Nobel Prize for Literature and names include Sappho, Cavafy, George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis.

  • The most famous Cretan writers and artists include the painter El Greco and the author of Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis.

    Cretan Writers and Artists

    The most famous Cretan writers and artists include the painter El Greco and the author of Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis.

  • The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.

    Battle of Crete

    The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.

  • Alexander the Great was the son of Philip II of Macedonia and gave Greece the greatest empire it has ever known.

    Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great was the son of Philip II of Macedonia and gave Greece the greatest empire it has ever known.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Airlines from the US Boost Link to Greece with 56 Weekly Flights

    Tourist traffic from the US is expected to pick up in the coming months thanks to the launch of 56 direct flights a week to Athens, set to bring more than 1 million travelers to Greece and generate 1…

    Read More

  2. Crete’s New Heraklion Airport to Become Mediterranean Hub

    Works on the highly anticipated Kastelli Airport to handle initially 15 million passengers a year and create hundreds of jobs are moving ahead as scheduled, said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotak…

    Read More

  3. Greek Destinations Among The Telegraph’s Top 50 Hotspots for Family Holidays

    A number of Greek island and mainland destinations are among the travel hotspots that The Telegraph suggests on its “50 fabulous family holidays for 2023” list.

    Read More

  4. Greece’s Chiliadou Beach Nominated for Best Filming Location

    The European Film Commission Network (EUFCN) has included Chiliadou Beach on the island of Evia among the five finalists for the 6th edition of the Best Filming Location competition.

    Read More

  5. Exploring Olympus: Can the Ice Talk?

    We head to the “residence of the gods” with a team of scientists seeking to unravel the secrets of past climate change hidden in the mountain’s ice deposits and alpine soils.

    Read More

  6. Winter Destination for Foodies: Metsovo

    A winery and hotel, a traditional taverna, and a shop selling fine local products of Metsovo, in the Pindus mountains.

    Read More

  7. Keep Swimming: Where to Winter on the Beach

    7 great beaches where you can throw off your coat and join Athens’ winter swimmers

    Read More

  8. Greek Co-Production in the Running for 3 Oscars

    Ruben Östlund's film, “Triangle of Sadness,” shot on the Greek island of Evia, receives three nominations for this year’s Academy Awards.

    Read More

  9. 11 English Language Bookstores in Athens

    Before looking online for something engaging to read, stroll over to one of these places and check out what's on their shelves.

    Read More

  10. Greek Destinations in the Running for Best in Europe Title

    Athens, Rhodes and Milos are the three Greek destinations competing with popular cities in Europe for the title of “European Best Destination 2023”. The competition is being held for the 14th consecut…

    Read More