Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

Lecture 5

Troy, Homer, and the Odyssey 

I. The Archaeology of Troy (see Lecture 4)

II. The Homeric Epics (Iliad [note the spelling: one "l" and Odyssey) 

A. The epic genre; Homer as a bible
B. One author (unitarian) or several (analytic)
C. Oral poetry (cf. 20th cent. bards [guslar]) and formulae 

III. Basic qualities of the Homeric epics 

A. repetition
B. lack of ultimate suspense
C. the gods

1. anthropomorphic; statement of psychological processes; comic relief (cf. Ares and Aphrodite story in Book 8)
2. the limits of divine power 

III. The Odyssey: differences from the Iliad; a kinder, gentler epic 

A. Characteristics of the Iliad, and "Troy" the movie: My commentary, plus... Achilles Calls Home to His Mom, Thetis:

More Images: Trojan Horse, Achilles the Brad, and Hitting the Beach

B. Sources and subject of the Odyssey; qualities of imagination; proem (=prologue); O's first appearance (Book 5.149ff. [Fitz. p. 85])
C. Values (cf. Achilles in the underworld (Fitz. pp. 200-201)
D. Structure 

Note: Bring Odyssey texts again to class on Monday.

Lecture 5 Images

Forward to Lecture 6