The odyssey

The homeric question: unity and authorship of the iliad and the odyssey

Homer

218 pages, parution le 27/03/2024

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Résumé

The text delves into the longstanding debate surrounding the authorship and unity of the Homeric epics, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." It explores the skepticism that has emerged over centuries regarding whether these works were composed by a single individual, traditionally known as Homer, or if they are the result of a compilation of songs and rhapsodies by multiple poets. The discussion highlights the theories of various scholars, including F. A. Wolf, who argued that the poems were not unified until the time of Peisistratus in the sixth century BCE. The text also examines the role of writing in the preservation and transmission of these epics, suggesting that the absence of early manuscripts challenges the notion of a single authorship. Despite these debates, the text emphasizes the enduring influence of Homer on Greek culture and literature, noting that the poems have been integral to the formation of Greek national identity. The text concludes by advocating for the belief in a singular Homeric authorship, arguing that the internal consistency and aesthetic unity of the poems support this view, while acknowledging the contributions of oral tradition and earlier poetic fragments to the final form of the epics.