Did Homer Write the Odyssey? (Was He Even Real?)
Summary
Host Sally Helm interviews professors Mary Abbott and Casey Dewey to explore the mystery of Homer and the oral tradition behind *The Iliad* and *The Odyssey*. They argue that Homer was likely not a single author but a collective tradition of performers, evidenced by formulaic language and varying ancient texts. The discussion highlights how this collaborative, evolving nature of the epics challenges modern notions of individual genius and allows for diverse interpretations, such as Christopher Nolan’s recent film adaptation.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Quince and Alma
The Great Panathenaia and the oral tradition of Homer
The mystery of Homer's life, blindness, and death
Sponsors: Happy V, Crimes of Reddit, and HomeServe
Why scholars believe Homer was not a single individual
Milman Parry, Albert Lord, and the study of oral poetry
Sponsors: Rho, Indeed, and Rosetta Stone
The multiplicity of voices and themes in The Odyssey
The Homer Multitext Project and collaborative art
Christopher Nolan's Odyssey and modern interpretations
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