Homer as history?

Dear Diary,

I awoke to a lively debate on the validity of Homer as history. Wading in, full of gusto, I said my piece and left my mark on a once exciting and now seemingly tiresome conversation. The other guy arguing can read ancient Greek and is evidently a very learnēd Classicist. This doesn’t stop Maxy though, I utilised a small selected segment of my personal library, quoted some top-notch historians and archæologists, but despite my efforts in attempting to prove such legends as history, following the tract of mine own research, had to concede defeat. Here’s what I wrote:

“I would very much like to agree to disagree but in light of the evidence, I must concur because, “There is no archæological evidence for a historical war... at Troy, although there were upheavals in the eastern Mediterranean around 1,200 B.C.E.” (Rathbone, 2009, p.158) Even so, to the first true objective historian Thucydidēs b.ca.455-ca.398 B.C.E. and epic poets like Homer, the Trojan war was a integral part of Greek history. (ibidem) But did such a war even occur? What of the validity of such an occurrence? Due to Schliemann’s faith in these fables we have added another chapter to history (Barker, 1968, p.H3) and through Sir Arthur Evans’ trust in the fidelity of the Homeric hymns that pushed back the frontiers of history to five thousand years. (ibidem) Equally, “Evans’ assumption that... ‘kings’... ruled from these ‘palaces’ is generally accepted. ... We now know that the shaft graves found by Schliemann date to the... 16th century, ... before the apogee of Mycenæ’s power and wealth in the 13th century. ... The iconography of power in Minoan Crete is... quite weakly developed, and virtually no clear examples of ruler portraiture are known.” (Alcock/Cherry, 2013 [2005], pp.481 & 484)

In any case, whatever the validity of the Homeric poems, it is only through the tenacious search for truth by archæologists that we are even aware of whether these myths had any historical basis. What is clear is that this period forms the crucible of European civilisation, and furthermore has inspired great works of art throughout the centuries: Rubens, Veronese, Botticelli; writers in reception studies such as Shakespeare, Joyce and Marlowe.

“Hollow pyramidēs of silver plate;

The sails of folded lawn, where shall be wrought

The wars of Troy, but not Troy’s overthrow;

...Take what ye will, but leave Æneas here...”

Historical or no, the events (or non-events) that took place (or may not have taken place) have had such a weighty impetus that has left Europe with a lasting cultural tradition which has inspired some of the finest artful intellectuals to create their chef d’ouvre. Whether it was ‘Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe’ by Manet in 1863 or the sarcophagus of the River Gods from the 3rd century C.E. at Villa Medici, Homer, Hesiod and Maro have all left their legacy upon which stands the foundation of Classical Culture.

A review of the evidence suggests that Homer may have been a gestalt entity - possibly two people - and that this may be said, “It is historically perhaps unfortunate that the composers or compilers of the Iliad and the Odyssey were... successful... in catching the spirit, and the social and military institutions of... [ancient] Greece; for by doing so the best potential literary source... later... was in a sense perverted.” (Revill, 1962, p.51)...”

Revill, J.C. (1962) World History, Longmans Press, Northampton, p.51.

Barker, L.M. (1968) Pear’s Cyclopedia, Chaucer Press, Suffolk, p.H3.

Rathbone, D. (2009) Civilizations of the Ancient World, Thames & Hudson, London, p.158.

Alcock, S. & Cherry, J.F. (2013 [2005]) The Human Past, Thames & Hudson, London, pp.481 & 484.

For the now, I must return to my Latin studies. Though the cupboards be bare, I am resolved to work tomorrow at the café, from necessity. This is my lot in life, so I must accept it, graciously, gladly.