Homers mythological tales of war and homecoming, the Iliad and the Odyssey , are considered to be two of the most influential works in the history of Western literature.
Yet their author, the greatest poet that ever lived is something of a mystery.
By the 6th century BCE, Homer had already become a mythical figure, and even today the debate continues as to whether he ever existed.
In this accessible and concise introduction, Barbara Graziosi considers Homers famous works and their impact on readers throughout the centuries.
She shows how the Iliad and the Odyssey benefit from a tradition of reading that spans well over two millennia, from the impressive scholars at the library of Alexandria, in the third and second centuries BCE, who wrote some of the first commentaries on the Homeric epics.
Summaries of these scholars notes made their way into the margins of Byzantine manuscripts; from Byzantium the annotated manuscripts travelled to Italy; and the ancient notes finally appeared in the first printed editions of Homer, eventually influencing our interpretation of Homers work today.
Along the way, Homers works have inspired artists, writers, philosophers, musicians, playwrights, and film-makers.
Exploring the main literary, historical, cultural, and archaeological issues at the heart of Homers works, Graziosi analyses the enduring appeal of Homer and his iconic works.
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