Stories of Famous World Figures That Inspire Student Growth

Author: None
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Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In ancient Greece, Homer was revered as the national poet, and the Homeric epics were regarded as a treasure trove of national wisdom. The common perception of Homer throughout antiquity was that he was an elderly blind bard who lived a nomadic life and was the author of the Homeric Epics (including the Iliad and the Odyssey) and many other poems. Judging by the content of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer may have lived between the 9th and 8th centuries BC.
The Homeric Epics are the earliest surviving literary works in Europe. The Iliad, consisting of 24 books and 15,693 lines, is set against the backdrop of the Trojan War legend and reflects the social landscape of the transitional period from the clan society to the Greek city-state system. Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek coalition, abducted the daughter of a priest of Apollo. In retaliation, Apollo shot many Greeks with divine arrows and brought a plague upon the Greek camp. Achilles, a brave and fierce Greek hero, demanded that Agamemnon release the priest's daughter but was later humiliated by him. Enraged, Achilles refused to fight, and the Greeks suffered repeated defeats. This gave the Trojans an opportunity to launch a major counterattack, driving the Greeks to the shore and attempting to burn their ships. In a critical moment, Patroclus donned Achilles' armor and shield, demoralizing the Trojans and repelling their attack. However, when they reached the gates of Troy, Hector killed Patroclus and took his armor and shield. The death of his close comrade filled Achilles with deep grief, and he returned to the battlefield, killing Hector and giving Patroclus a grand funeral.
The Odyssey, consisting of 24 books and 12,110 lines, tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, a Greek hero, returning home and seeking revenge after the Trojan War. After the war, Odysseus and his companions were shipwrecked and began a decade-long journey at sea. They encountered the Lotus-Eaters, the man-eating Cyclops, the wind god and nymph Calypso, among others, and were held captive by her for seven years. Eventually, with the help of the sea goddess, they reached the island of the Phaeacian king and, with his assistance, finally returned to Ithaca. During the last three years of Odysseus' wandering, over 100 men gathered at his home, courting his beautiful wife Penelope, but were rejected. These men feasted and squandered Odysseus' wealth day and night. Upon returning to Ithaca, Odysseus first met his son, then disguised himself as a beggar and entered his own home, killing each of the suitors one by one and reclaiming his property. In the end, he reunited with Penelope and reclaimed his throne as king of Ithaca.
The Homeric Epics had a profound influence on the development of ancient Greek astronomy, geography, history, philosophy, and literary arts. Later, many European writers drew inspiration from the stories and characters in these epics. Homer was thus regarded as one of the greatest epic poets.