The Homeric Epics is the name of the collection of two epic poems, Iliad and Odyssey. It was written in the ancient Greece in 9 B.C. to 6 B.C. The specific written time and author of the Homeric epics is uncertain. Most thought the epic was written by a single genius poet, Homer, while the rest considered the epic as a work of a group of contributors and they are referred as Homer. The two parts of the epic tell different stories based on the ancient Greek mythology. Iliad focused on the period of the Trojan war, while Odyssey focused on the ten-year journey home of Odysseus.[1] The Homeric Epic processes high historic, theological and literary value. It was one of the greatest works of the ancient Greece.
Roman bust of Homer ( 2 A.D.)
The main contribution of the Homeric Epics is the help to the historians who want to study the history of Greek. The epic showed different aspects of ancient Greece, such as political, literature, military and culture situation. One interesting fact about the ancient Greek political system was that the ancient Greece was consisted of many small cities, while most regions at that time or after were dominated by king or queen or emperor as a whole kingdom. Each of these Greek cities had different principles and laws.[2] The two cities that had the largest scales, Athens and Sparta, for example, held even opposite political system after 594 B.C. Sparta was an aristocratic city which was controlled by a few members of the aristocracy.[3] The citizens in it worshiped power and physical strength more than anything else. Athens, on the other hand, was used to be an aristocratic city like Sparta. It changed to a democratic city where every important decision was made by poll after the reform introduced by Cleisthenes.[4] The citizens of Athens were also gentler. Because of the scattered cities, the military power of ancient Greece was thus dispersed and weaker compared with a whole kingdom. Every city can ask for military support from the others when facing an invasion. There were also fights and battles between cities for beneficial or belief reasons. Besides the physical aspect, the epic also illustrates the culture environment of that time. The handicraft and agricultural technics developed rapidly at that period.[5] The fundamental life support of ancient Greece has reached a fair level that people began to pursue facts and thoughts more than the need of basic life. As the epic mentioned, mathematics, astronomic and architecture of ancient Greece have all made significant progress.[6] People of ancient Greece believed in the ancient Greek religion. They have made a great amount of sculptures and buildings for religious use. The Homeric Epics was also used every four years on religious rites.
The epic is great contributor of the spread of Greek mythology. The whole epic was based on the Greek myth. The main characters in the epic, Odysseus and Achilles, are both famous heroes in the Greek myth. On religious rituals, the Homeric Epic was read by clergymen to the Greek citizens to praised the bravery of heroes.[7] Greek myth has many differences with most other mythologies. Firstly, there are 12 lord gods and a great number of other gods in the myth, which is much more than classical religions after that time. Secondly, compared to the other myths, gods in Greek myth are more similar to people. These gods are not wantless. They have different desires to urge them to do actions that may harm others or even themselves. For example, the king of the gods, Zeus, often seduces mortal women from the lower realms, while his wife Hera persecutes her rival in love as a jealous woman.[8] Thirdly, the myth also valued physical power more than other myth. The main difference between the gods and normal people is physical power. Still, heroes in the myth can gain power and respect through hard working and brave behaviors. [9] That advocated the citizens to do the same things such as protecting the city when the city is facing trouble. The Greek mythology was an important part of the theology. The myth influenced the formation of many religions and offered a different point of how religions are formed to modern people. As one of the main ways for understanding the Greek myth, the Homeric Epic is also studied by modern theology scholars.
The epic also possessed highly literary value. The Homeric Epics is written in completely oral descriptions that were easily understood by Greek citizens. That helped the whole epic to be more easily to spread. As mentioned before, the epic was used on religious rites, which most of people would participate. Nearly all of the people of the ancient Greece can remember the two stories in the epic. Through the translation of modern scholars, the Homeric Epics is nowadays well known around the world in different language version. The simple but interesting description of the story helps a lot in the process. One of the most important uses of literature is to spread knowledge and thoughts. The Homeric Epics served this function well. It offers a special kind of education to people from the Greece to even now. Simultaneously, the epic used many interesting and successful literature rhetoric to form distinctive images of heroes. The strength, bravery and determination of the characters were presented vividly through metaphor and exaggeration. The readers can feel the whole situation in the story as they were in it. Many great poets and philosophers after that era offered high evaluation to the epic. Plato, a great Athenian philosopher, said “homer taught the Greece”.[10] Goethe, a German writer and statesman, also stated that he learned a lot form the Homeric Epics.[11] Even nowadays, the epic is still one of the top historic poems and one of the greatest literatures. A great number of authors and poets are influenced by it, so that they can write more fabulous works to educate more people.
Notes
1. Wilson, Nigel (2013). Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece. p. 366
2. Angus Konstam. Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece. pp. 94–95.
3. Cartledge (2002). Hellenistic and Roman Sparta. p. 174
4. Lewis, John David (25 January 2010). Nothing Less than Victory: Decisive Wars and the Lessons of History.
5. Kirk, G.S. (1985). "Homer". The Cambridge History of Classical Literature. p.45
6. Pedersen, Early Physics and Astronomy, pp. 45–47
7. Heiden, Bruce (2012). The Homer Encyclopedia.
8. Homer. Iliad. book 14-15
9. Kelsey, Francis W. (1889). A Handbook of Greek Mythology. p. 30
10. Plato. (428.B.C-348.B.C).
11. Nicholas Boyle. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
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