Entity

Odyssey

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Greek epic attributed to Homer, following Odysseus’s return after the Trojan War.

Papyrus fragment of the Odyssey, about 285–250 BCE; Met 09.182.50. It preserves lines from Book 20, rather than the assembly scenes in Books 1 and 5
Papyrus fragment of the Odyssey, about 285–250 BCE; Met 09.182.50. It preserves lines from Book 20, rather than the assembly scenes in Books 1 and 5The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1909; 09.182.50 · CC0 · CC0License · Object record

Text

Greek epic attributed to HomerHomerThe name to which Greek tradition attributes the Iliad and Odyssey.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, following OdysseusOdysseusGreek hero whose attempt to return home after the Trojan War is followed in the Odyssey.Glossary · Click to read the explanation’s return after the Trojan War. [1]

Its known form is generally associated with the eighth–early seventh centuries BCE and older oral traditions. The councils in books 1 and 5 show the return question moving from discussion to a message carried by HermesHermesGreek god acting as a messenger in the Odyssey passages examined here.Glossary · Click to read the explanation. [1][2][3]

References and notes

  1. Deborah Steiner — Homeric poetry, publisher Introduction summary Introduction summary: traditional attribution,oral poetry and eighth–early seventh century BCE composition. Return to the text ↑
  2. Odyssey 1, first ten paragraphs through Athena/Mentes arrival and Telemachus welcome The specified passage in this reference. Return to the text ↑
  3. Odyssey 5, first seven paragraphs through Hermes arrival at Calypso cave The specified passage in this reference. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 13 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

Suggest a correction · Suggest a source for this record

Cite this record

IL Archive, «Odyssey», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/homer-odyssey