Odyssey Introduction Flashcards
When was the odyssey composed?
Believed to be composed in the 8th century BC (750 to 700 BC
When was the odyssey said to be set?
It was believed to be set in the Bronze Age focussing on a Bronze Age cataclysm (representative of the Trojan war)
What is Xenia?
Xenia:
The formal way of treating guests, follows an idea of friendly hospitality.
The host ill allow the guest in and welcome them, take any potential weapons,offer them a seat, offer them food and drink and water to wash and then will proceed to ask who they are and what their purpose is. Zeus is the god of this, therefore it is very important.
What is supplication?
It is when someone makes a request of you in a way that you cannot refuse.
The person making the request kneel down in front of the person they are making a request of and place one hand under the knee (prevents them from getting up) and the other under their chin forcing them to look them in the eye. Zeus is also the god of supplication.
What is an epithet in terms of writing and religion?
Writing: A word of phrase that describes an essential characteristic, often used in epic poems to help it meet the rhythm.
Religion: Aspect or phrase that allows you to pray to the right part of a specific god as many had many different aspects
What is an epithet in terms of writing and religion?
Writing: A word of phrase that describes an essential characteristic, often used in epic poems to help it meet the rhythm.
Religion: Aspect or phrase that allows you to pray to the right part of a specific god as many had many different aspects
What rhythm were episodes poems composed in?
Dactylic Hexameter
What inaccuracy are in the epic poems that may hint at it not being text in the Greek Bronze Age?
> bodies are mentioned to be cremated which is uncharacteristic fir the bronze age
women’s clothe are described to be fastened with brooches which was common for the dark age but not before
while most weapons are mentioned to be bronze some references are made to iron suggesting poem was composed later
animal sacrifce only became a significant part of worship after the Bronze Age
What is a bard/Rhapsode?
Known as a stitcher of song, the bard within the Odyssey called Demodocus is believed to be a representation of Homer himself and was blind.
What is the Homeric Question?
Question of who is Homer or who where Homer.
Due to the length of the poems and time it must have to taken to write them it is believed that it could have been written by multiple people, a single man and even potentially a woman.
What does Aristotle say about the Odyssey?
> He believes Homer to be so special as there is very little about himself within his poem which are more focussed on direct speech
Belives that The Iliad is the progenitor to tragedy and The Odyssey the progenitor to comedy
What are the two forms of Greek language known as?
Linear A and Linear B
What does Anthropomorphic mean?
Anthro = human
Morphic= form
This the word given to the Ancient Greek gods to describe their form, unlike other gods they had human form but also turned into various other animals.
What evidence is there for a Trojan war?
Excavations at Hisraik, modern day turkey, show destruction of a city by fire in 1200 BC
Some sources have been found to commemorate violence of warriors
What does the oddessey start with?
Proem and invocation to the muse
