what all did homer write

Homer (/ ˈhoʊmər /; Ancient Greek: Ὅμηρος [hómɛːros], Hómēros) is the legendary author to whom the authorship of the Iliad and the Odyssey

(the two epic poems that are the foundational works of ancient Greek literature) is attributed. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time.

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What were Homer's writings?

Homer is traditionally held to be the author of the ancient Greek epic poems “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” , widely thought to be the first extant works of Western literature.

What kind of books did Homer write?

Ancient Greek poet Homer established the gold standard for heroic quests and sweeping journeys with his pair of classic epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey.

What type of writing was Homer famous for?

The Greek poet Homer was born sometime between the 12th and 8th centuries BC, possibly somewhere on the coast of Asia Minor. He is famous for the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, which have had an enormous effect on Western culture, but very little is known about their alleged author.

Who wrote The Iliad?

HomerIliad / AuthorDating to about 750 B.C., this bust is said to be of the Greek poet Homer, author of The Iliad and The Odyssey—epic poems passed down orally by bards long before they were written down.

Is The Iliad or The Odyssey first?

In the simplest terms, The Odyssey is considered a sort of sequel to The Iliad. Both epics consist of 24 books and revolve around a specific time during a much larger event. Clearly, the Trojan War, and everything leading up to it, was a much larger story than the events contained in The Iliad.

What is Homer's most famous poem?

The Iliad and the OdysseyThe Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the world's most famous poems but very little is known about their creator, 'Homer'. Historian and writer Daisy Dunn goes in search of the poet of the Trojan War, exploring who Homer was and whether he ever actually existed.

Why did Homer write the Iliad?

Traditionally attributed to the poet Homer, the Iliad was only written down after generations of oral storytelling. The Iliad is an epic poem about the Trojan War, a ten-year conflict between early Greek kingdoms and the Anatolian city of Troy, and specifically about its final year.

What was Homer's contributions?

Homer's most important contribution to Greek culture was to provide a common set of values that enshrined the Greeks' own ideas about themselves. His poems provided a fixed model of heroism, nobility and the good life to which all Greeks, especially aristocrats, subscribed.

What is the book The Odyssey about?

The Odyssey is Homer's epic of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off suitors vying for Penelope's hand and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return.

What are the differences of poetry and prose?

The first word of each sentence is capitalized. Prose looks like large blocks of words. Poetry is typically reserved for expressing something special in an artistic way. The language of poetry tends to be more expressive or decorated, with comparisons, rhyme, and rhythm contributing to a different sound and feel.

When was Greek literature written by Homer?

8th centuryAt the beginning of Greek literature stand the two great epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Some features of the poems reach far into the Mycenaean age, perhaps to 1500 bc, but the written works are traditionally ascribed to Homer; in something like their present form they probably date to the 8th century.

Which is the longest epic of the world?

The MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the longest epic poems ever written. It has over 200,000 verse lines, 1.8 million words and it is believed that it could have taken over 600 years to write!

Why is Homer significant?

Homer is the presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two hugely influential epic poems of ancient Greece. If Homer did in fact compose the wo...

Was Homer a real person?

Scholars are uncertain whether he existed. If real, he is believed to have lived about the 9th or 8th century BCE and was a native of Ionia. A poet...

Did Homer write the Odyssey?

The authorship of the Odyssey and the Iliad is disputed. While some scholars believe Homer is solely responsible, others claim that the poems were...

Who was the poet who competed with Homer?

Although Smyrna and Chios early began competing for the honour (the poet Pindar, early in the 5th century bce, associated Homer with both), and others joined in, no authenticated local memory survived anywhere of someone who, oral poet or not, must have been remarkable in his time.

Why is Homer important?

Why is Homer significant? Homer is the presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two hugely influential epic poems of ancient Greece. If Homer did in fact compose the works, he is one of the greatest literary artists in the world, and, through these poems, he affected Western standards and ideas.

What is the poem "Hymn to Apollo of Delos" about?

The pseudo-Homeric “Hymn to Apollo of Delos,” probably of late 7th-century composition, claimed to be the work of “a blind man who dwells in rugged Chios,” a reference to a tradition about Homer himself.

Who was the epic poet who played the primary role in shaping the Iliad and the Odyssey?

That there was an epic poet called Homer and that he played the primary part in shaping the Iliad and the Odyssey —so much may be said to be probable. If this assumption is accepted, then Homer must assuredly be one of the greatest of the world’s literary artists.

Who is the author of the Iliad?

Homer, (flourished 9th or 8th century bce ?, Ionia? [now in Turkey]), presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

How did the Iliad and Odyssey affect the Greek culture?

It was probably through their impact on Classical Greek culture itself that the Iliad and the Odyssey most subtly affected Western standards and ideas. The Greeks regarded the great epics as something more than works of literature; they knew much of them by heart, and they valued them not only as a symbol of Hellenic unity and heroism but also as an ancient source of moral and even practical instruction.

Who wrote the biography of Homer?

In the early 4th century BC Alcidamas composed a fictional account of a poetry contest at Chalcis with both Homer and Hesiod.

What are some of the most important facts about Homer?

The two best known ancient biographies of Homer are the Life of Homer by the Pseudo-Herodotus and the Contest of Homer and Hesiod.

Why are Homer's poems important?

As a result of the poems' prominence in classical Greek education, extensive commentaries on them developed to explain parts of the poems that were culturally or linguistically difficult. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, many interpreters, especially the Stoics, who believed that Homeric poems conveyed Stoic doctrines, regarded them as allegories, containing hidden wisdom. Perhaps partially because of the Homeric poems' extensive use in education, many authors believed that Homer's original purpose had been to educate. Homer's wisdom became so widely praised that he began to acquire the image of almost a prototypical philosopher. Byzantine scholars such as Eustathius of Thessalonica and John Tzetzes produced commentaries, extensions and scholia to Homer, especially in the twelfth century. Eustathius's commentary on the Iliad alone is massive, sprawling over nearly 4,000 oversized pages in a twenty-first century printed version and his commentary on the Odyssey an additional nearly 2,000.

What is the name of Homer's Odyssey?

Today only the Iliad and the Odyssey are associated with the name 'Homer' . In antiquity, a very large number of other works were sometimes attributed to him, including the Homeric Hymns, the Contest of Homer and Hesiod, the Little Iliad, the Nostoi, the Thebaid, the Cypria, the Epigoni, the comic mini-epic Batrachomyomachia ("The Frog-Mouse War"), the Margites, the Capture of Oechalia, and the Phocais. These claims are not considered authentic today and were by no means universally accepted in the ancient world. As with the multitude of legends surrounding Homer's life, they indicate little more than the centrality of Homer to ancient Greek culture.

How many rhapsodes were written down in the Greek alphabet?

After textualisation, the poems were each divided into 24 rhapsodes, today referred to as books, and labelled by the letters of the Greek alphabet. Most scholars attribute the book divisions to the Hellenistic scholars of Alexandria, in Egypt. Some trace the divisions back further to the Classical period. Very few credit Homer himself with the divisions.

When was the Iliad written?

Martin Litchfield West has argued that the Iliad echoes the poetry of Hesiod, and that it must have been composed around 660–650 BC at the earliest, with the Odyssey up to a generation later. He also interprets passages in the Iliad as showing knowledge of historical events that occurred in the ancient Near East during the middle of the seventh century BC, including the destruction of Babylon by Sennacherib in 689 BC and the Sack of Thebes by Ashurbanipal in 663/4 BC. At the other extreme, a few American scholars such as Gregory Nagy see "Homer" as a continually evolving tradition, which grew much more stable as the tradition progressed, but which did not fully cease to continue changing and evolving until as late as the middle of the second century BC.

When was the Homeric question first written?

By around 1830 , the central preoccupations of Homeric scholars, dealing with whether or not "Homer" actually existed, when and how the Homeric poems originated, how they were transmitted, when and how they were finally written down, and their overall unity, had been dubbed "the Homeric Question".

Who wrote about the Dorian invasion?

One of the people who wrote about these times was Homer.

Is Homer's writing accurate?

There is some doubt to the accuracy of the writings of Homer as many of his stories were passed down through generations and obviously, certain elements may have been twisted or changed.

Did the Mycenaean civilization use script?

As mentioned earlier, the Mycenaean civilization had used script mainly for accounting purposes. However, during the Dorian invasion there was no script at all, which is why not very much is known about this period.

What does Homer mean in the poem?

The name "Homer," which is an unusual one for the time, is thought to mean either "blind" or "captive". If "blind," it may have to do more with the portrayal of the Odyssean blind bard called Phemios than the poem's composer.

Who wrote the Homeric Hymns?

Homer is sometimes credited, although less credibly, with the Homeric Hymns. Currently, scholars think these must have been written more recently than the Early Archaic period (aka the Greek Renaissance), which is the era in which the greatest Greek epic poet is thought to have lived.

Why is Homer's name linked to the Trojan War?

Homer's name will always be linked with the Trojan War because Homer wrote about the conflict between Greeks and Trojans, known as the Trojan War, and the return voyages of the Greek leaders. He is credited with telling the whole story of the Trojan War, but that is false.

Why is Homer called a bard?

Because Homer performed and sang he is called a bard. He is thought to have been blind, and so is known as the blind bard, just as Shakespeare, calling on the same tradition, is known as the bard of Avon. The name "Homer," which is an unusual one for the time, is thought to mean either "blind" or "captive".

How many daughters did Homer have?

Homer is said to have had two daughters (generally, the symbolic ones of the Iliad and the Odyssey ), and no sons, according to West [citation below], so the Homeridai, who are referred to as Homer's followers and rhapsodes themselves, can't really claim to be descendants, although the idea has been entertained.

What is the subject matter of Homer's epics?

Although Homer is thought to have lived in the early Archaic Age, the subject matter of his epics is the earlier, Bronze Age, Mycenaean era. Between then and when Homer may have lived there was a "dark age.". Therefore Homer is writing about a period about which there is not a substantial written record.

Who is the main character in the Iliad?

In Homer's Iliad, the lead character is the quintessential Greek hero, Achilles. The epic states that it is the story of the wrath of Achilles. Other important characters of the Iliad are the leaders of the Greek and Trojan sides in the Trojan War, and the highly partisan, human-seeming gods and goddesses—the deathless ones.

What is undeniable about Homer's works?

What is undeniable is that the works of Homer proved to be the most influential not merely for the poets of ancient times but also for the later epic poets of Western literature.

Where was Homer born?

Historians place his birth sometime around 750 BC and conjecture that he was born and resided in or near Chios. However, seven cities claimed to have been his birthplace.

What is the meaning of Homer's name in the Iliad?

Indeed, some scholars believe the name "Homer" was actually a commonly used term for blind men who wandered the countryside reciting epic poetry.

Did Homer write a hymn?

Although Homer has been credited with writing a number of other works, most notably the Homeric Hymns, the same uncertainty about authorship exists. It is assumed that much of the poet's work has been lost to time.

Was Homer blind in The Odyssey?

For instance, it is from the description of the blind bard in The Odyssey that many historians have guessed that Homer was blind. The Odyssey 's depiction of the bard as a minstrel in the service of local kings also gives some insight into the life of the poet practicing his craft.

What is the story of the Iliad?

The Iliad, set during the Trojan War, tells the story of the wrath of Achilles; The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus as he travels home from the war.

Who is the most famous Greek poet?

Homer, (flourished 9th or 8th century bce, Ionia?), Greek poet, one of the greatest and most influential writers of all time. Though almost nothing is known of his life, tradition holds that he was blind. The ancient Greeks attributed to him the great epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Modern scholars generally agree ...

Did the Greeks write the Iliad?

The ancient Greeks attributed to him the great epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Modern scholars generally agree that he composed (but probably did not literally write) The Iliad, most likely relying on oral traditions, and at least inspired the composition of The Odyssey.

Where does Homer live?

There is one school of thought, perhaps originally stated by one person and now believed by a small group of people, that the true identity of Homer lies within Nausicca, whom lives with her father King Alcinous and mother Queen Arete on the island of Scheria!

Who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away?

so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away.

What did Menelaus say to meet him?

shoulders, and went out to meet him. "Menelaus," said he, "let me go

Who dishonoured Chryses?

Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had come to the

Who thrust Adrestus from him?

words were just. Menelaus, therefore, thrust Adrestus from him,

Who was the father of Polypheides?

other son of Melampus, was father to Polypheides and Cleitus. Aurora, throned in gold, carried off Cleitus for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals, but Apollo made Polypheides. the greatest seer in the whole world now that Amphiaraus was dead.

Is Homer's birth and death date approximate?

Homer. Birth and death dates are approximate . The fact is that no one has any solid theory on what the answer to this question might be! There are, however, many historians, literary figures, and others who have stated beliefs and theories as to who Homer really was and where he lived.

Overview

Homer is the legendary author to whom the authorship of the Iliad and the Odyssey (the two epic poems that are the foundational works of ancient Greek literature) is attributed. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. For example, in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to him as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest …

Works attributed to Homer

Ancient biographical traditions

History of Homeric scholarship

Historicity of the Homeric epics and Homeric society

Style and language

Textual transmission

See also