Greek Mythology Community

Who was Homer really?

1 - 3 of 3 Posts
mj_toronto8

mj_toronto8

Active member
I didn't know whether to put this in history or mythology and chose mythology because of the stories he told.

Who was Homer really? I honestly can't find much. He is listed as the "presumed" author of the Iliad and Odyssey, and no on knows where he is from or anything. I have heard different theories, that Homer was actually multiple people, etc. What do you guys think?
 
mj_toronto8 said:
I didn't know whether to put this in history or mythology and chose mythology because of the stories he told.

Who was Homer really? I honestly can't find much. He is listed as the "presumed" author of the Iliad and Odyssey, and no on knows where he is from or anything. I have heard different theories, that Homer was actually multiple people, etc. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Presumably Homer or the author of the ILIAD used the Aeolian and the Ionian languages. As I am not a glottologist, i do not know. If that is true, i presume that he employed poetic ballads from those two states. The extant work includes Attic redactions.
The ODYSSEY is in the Homeric epical style, though not an epic. According to a British author I read years ago, it was probably composed by a woman -- possibly by a character in the story: Nausikaa.

Presumably Homer lived in the 8th century BC. He could not have written the last chapter of the Odyssey... about Sicilians, i.e., before the Hellenic colonization. So say I.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: k_tsoukalas
amygdalE said:
Presumably Homer or the author of the ILIAD used the Aeolian and the Ionian languages. As I am not a glottologist, i do not know. If that is true, i presume that he employed poetic ballads from those two states. The extant work includes Attic redactions.
The ODYSSEY is in the Homeric epical style, though not an epic. According to a British author I read years ago, it was probably composed by a woman -- possibly by a character in the story: Nausikaa.

Presumably Homer lived in the 8th century BC. He could not have written the last chapter of the Odyssey... about Sicilians, i.e., before the Hellenic colonization. So say I.
Click to expand...
Fascinating - I love mysteries. I feel like the true identity of Homer is a mystery. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the matter! They make sense...
 
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Which Olympian god would you most want to meet?

If you could meet one of the Olympian gods from Greek mythology, which one would you choose? I think this is a difficult question because so many of them would be fascinating to talk to, although some would definitely be safer choices than others!

Athena would probably be near the top of my list. I’d love to hear her thoughts on wisdom, strategy, warfare, and the way humans make decisions. Hermes would also be interesting because of his connection with travel, communication, cleverness, and his role as a messenger between different worlds.

Apollo might be another good choice because of his associations with music, prophecy, healing, and the arts. On the other hand, meeting Zeus or Poseidon could be a little intimidating.

Which Olympian god or goddess would you most want to meet, and why? What would you want to ask them if you had the chance?

Unsung Heroes of Greek Mythology?

Greek mythology is full of larger-than-life figures like Heracles, Odysseus, and Achilles, but I’ve always been fascinated by the lesser-known heroes who don’t get as much attention. There are so many incredible stories that fly under the radar: Meleager and the Calydonian Boar, Bellerophon taming Pegasus, or even Diomedes, who faced the gods themselves in battle.

I recently came across the story of Atalanta again, the only woman among the Argonauts, raised by a bear, unbeatable in a footrace, and I can’t believe she isn’t talked about more! These “side characters” often feel more human and relatable than the famous ones.

Which lesser-known hero (or heroine) stands out to you? Do you have a favorite overlooked myth or backstory that deserves more love? I’d love to hear which of these hidden legends captured your imagination and why.

What is the symbolism behind Medusa?

I’m Greek, but I feel like I only ever heard the surface version of Medusa growing up, the “monster with snakes for hair who turns people to stone.” Lately I’ve been seeing people talk about her in a completely different way, more symbolic than literal, and now I’m curious what the deeper meaning actually is.

Was she always meant to be a monster, or is there more to her story? I’ve also heard that in some versions, she wasn’t originally a monster at all, which changes how you look at everything.

Is Medusa meant to represent danger, protection, transformation… something else entirely? And how did ancient Greeks view her compared to how we interpret her now?

I’d really love to understand this from a more cultural and mythological perspective, not just the simplified version most of us grew up with.

How do I fix an automated workout plan that keeps misaligning progress?

Been trying to stick to this automated workout plan, but the thing keeps throwing my progress all outta whack. One week it thinks I’m superhuman, the next it treats me like I’ve never touched a dumbbell. I’m trying to stay consistent, but the constant misalignment’s messing with my motivation big time. I don’t wanna ditch the whole setup, ’cause when it works, it actually helps me stay on track. Anyone been through this or know how to get these apps to stop freaking out and actually track progress like a normal person? I just want the thing to make sense again.

Creation Stories of Greek Mythology

I’ve been spending a lot of time researching the creation stories of Greek mythology, and I find them endlessly fascinating. What draws me in is how there isn’t a single, fixed origin story—everything shifts depending on the source. Between Hesiod’s Theogony, the Orphic traditions, and later philosophical interpretations, the beginning of the cosmos feels fluid rather than settled.

I’d love to hear how others approach these myths. Which version of creation resonates most with you, the emergence from Chaos, the role of Gaia and Uranus, or the more mystical Orphic egg? Are there lesser-known fragments, regional traditions, or scholarly sources you’ve found especially compelling?

I’m always excited to discover new angles, translations, or interpretations, especially ones that explore why the Greeks may have been comfortable holding multiple origin stories at once. Any recommendations, insights, or favorite passages would be greatly appreciated.
Share and discuss Greek mythology!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top