Iliad and Odyssey

1
Iliad and Odyssey

• The Culture, the Time, the Author

2
Origin

• The Trojan War, according
• to most historians, took place
• in 13th-11th century B.C.
• around modern day Turkey.
• The Iliad and the Odyssey came into existence
  around 8th-7th century B.C. in the oral form,
  making it the oldest extant (still existing)
  pieces of Greek literature today.
• Poets would recite the poem for fourteen hours
  straight for audiences who would come and go.

3
Homer

• He is the author of the Iliad and Odyssey. But
  many speculate whether he was a single man or a
  accumulation of many poets.
• There are many different tales on his origin as a
  single entity.
• He created the tales in Dactylic hexameter
• to give the poetry a sing-song rhythm.

4
The Guest-Host Relationship

• Known as XENIA (hospitality) under the
  command of Zeus
• Xenia consists of three basic rules
• The respect from host to guest, the respect
  from guest to host, and the parting gift from
  host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the
  guest and provide him with food and drink and a
  bath, if required.
• It is not polite to ask questions until the
  guest has stated his needs. The guest must be
  courteous to his host and not be a burden.
• The parting gift is to show the host's honor
  at receiving the guest. This was especially
  important in the ancient times when men thought
  gods mingled amongst them. If you had played host
  to a deity (a concept known as theoxenia) and
  performed poorly, you would incur the wrath of a
  god.
• The Trojan war described in the Iliad resulted
  from a violation of xenia. Paris was a guest of
  Menelaus but seriously transgressed the bounds of
  xenia by abducting his host's wife, Helen.
  Therefore the Achaeans were required by duty to
  Zeus to avenge this transgression, which as a
  violation of xenia was an insult to Zeus's
  authority, resulting in the war.

5
Nostos homecoming

• The idea of a glorious return from war.
• In the Iliad, nostos cannot be obtained without
  the sacking of Troy, which is the driving force
  behind Agamemnon's will to win at any cost. In
  the Odyssey, nostos is the main theme of
  Odysseus journey.

6
Kleos - glory

• The ancient Greek concept of glory that is earned
  through battle.
• For most epic characters, kleos comes as the hero
  returns home.
• Achilles is offered kleos aphthiton (fame
  imperishable)

7
Hubris excessive pride

• The chief flaw for Odysseus to overcome.
• Hubris comes from a hero being aware of their own
  greatness. Achilles faces his own hubris when
  his pride causes his comrade Patrocluss death.
  Odysseus must overcome his need to be recognized
  for being a smarty-pants in the Odyssey.

8
Arete excellence

• Can be defined as excellence or virtue or
• As a way to describe heroes and their mobile
  dexterity, with special reference to strength and
  courage

9
Aristeia

• Literally a warriors prowess an aristeia
  scene depicts a heros finest moments in battle..
  to almost a berserker level.
• The format of an aristeia
• Arming scene
• Brilliance of armor/hero to followers
• Initial exploit
• Setback (wounding)
• Divine inspiration
• Renewed exploits
• Double simile
• The kill
• Taunting the victim