The World of Homer : Archaeology, Social Memory, and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry

by: Cosmopoulos, M.B.

The World of Homer
Archaeology, Social Memory, and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry

Author: Michael B. Cosmopoulos, University of Missouri, St. Louis

Epic poetry, notably the Iliad and the Odyssey, stands as one of the most enduring legacies of ancient Greece. Although the impact of these epics on Western civilization is widely recognized, their origins remain the subject of heated debate. Were they composed in a single era or over the course of centuries? Were they crafted by one or by many poets? Do they reflect historical reality? These and other important questions are answered in this book. Using a fresh, dynamic approach, Michael Cosmopoulos reconstructs the world of the Homeric poems and explores the interplay between poetry, social memory, and material culture. By integrating key insights from archaeology, philology, anthropology, and oral tradition, he offers a nuanced perspective of the emergence and early development of Greek epic. His wide-canvas approach enables readers to appreciate the complexity of the Homeric world and gain a deeper understanding of the intricate factors that shaped these magnificent poems.

Uses a unified-field approach, which combines archaeology, Homeric studies, textual analyses of Linear B tablets, social memory, and orality studies
Provides comprehensive coverage of the entire Homeric world
Provides readers with a nuanced explanation of the emergence of Greek epic poetry

Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I. Homeric Scholarship
1. Homer and Homeric studies
Part II. The World of Homer:
2. Historical background
3. Society and politics
4. Political geography
5. Economy
6. War
7. Religion
Part III. History, Memory and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry:
8. Historical elements in the epics
9. Social memory and epic composition.

The World of Homer : Archaeology, Social Memory, and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry

by: Cosmopoulos, M.B.

• ISBN-13: 9781009582889 / 978-1-009-58288-9
• ISBN-03: 1009582887 / 1-00-958288-7
• Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2025