567 - Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey (with Greg Jenner)
Summary
Public historian Greg Jenner joins Dave Warnicke and Matt Stewart to discuss Christopher Nolan’s film *The Odyssey* and the historical reality of Homer. The episode explores the debate over whether Homer was a single genius or a collective figure, explaining how oral traditions evolved into written epics. Jenner also clarifies common misconceptions, such as the absence of the Trojan horse in the original poems, and compares the Homeric cycle to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Topics discussed
Live show updates for Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal
Episode intro and guest introduction
Guest background: Public historian and social history
Defining 'semi-pro' public historians
Discussion on the Christopher Nolan movie 'Odyssey'
The Homeric Question: Was Homer a real person?
Oral tradition and the evolution of the epics
The Epic Cycle and missing poems like the Little Iliad
Archaeology of Troy: Schliemann and the layers of the city
Dactylic hexameter and the 'rap' of ancient poetry
Comparing the 2004 movie 'Troy' to the source material
Sponsor reads: Squarespace and ZocDoc
Historical context: Bronze Age collapse and Sea Peoples
Plot of the Iliad: The quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon
The concept of heroic glory and eternal memory
Achilles' rage, the death of Hector, and the poem's end
Overview of the Odyssey and its structure
Penelope's suitors and Odysseus on Calypso's island
Odysseus' journey: The Cyclops and the Phaeacians
Odysseus' tales: Circe, the Underworld, and Scylla
Odysseus' return, the marriage bed, and the slaughter
Recommended translations and closing the main segment
Listener mail and AFL game recap
Sponsor reads and listener shoutouts
Game segment: Guess the Odyssey island and final plugs
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