Historical background. Homer and his world. Tradition as to the birthplace of Homer varied greatly, but the place most favored was Smyrna in Asia Minor. It was related also that the poet was blind, that he made his home in the island of Chios, and that he died in Ios.

"By the ancient Greeks the authorship of their two great epic poems, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," was ascribed to Homer. Tradition as to the birthplace of this poet varied greatly, but the place most favored was Smyrna in Asia Minor. It was related also that the poet was blind, that he made his home in the island of Chios, and that he died in Ios." *O1

But little is known for sure. Indeed many questions have been raised about whether the Iliad and the Odyssey were written by the same person, although it is now generally accepted that they were. In any case they continue the same tale and possess a stylistic unity.

Text source: *O1. Butcher and Lang, introduction.

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Greece - Ancient - Literature - Greeks - Greek translation