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

by Michael B. Cosmopoulos

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009582889
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/19/2025
Pages:	370
Product dimensions:	6.34(w) x 9.33(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Michael B. Cosmopoulos is the Hellenic Government-Karakas Family Foundation Professor of Greek Studies and Professor of Archaeology at the University of Missouri-St Louis. An acclaimed archaeologist specializing in the Greek Bronze Age, he has excavated at Mycenae, Eleusis, Iklaina, and other major sites, and has published numerous books and scholarly articles.  His works include Bronze Age Eleusis and the Origins of the Eleusinian Mysteries (2015, also by Cambridge University Press). He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of Canada, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the Academy of Athens.  For his contributions to scholarship he has been decorated with the Gold Cross of the Order of Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic.

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.

Editorial Reviews

‘'A tour de force by a mature and versatile scholar who, like Dante's Virgil, guides us through the archaeological, historical and oral literary evidence surrounding the two great Homeric song poems. Michael Cosmopoulos helps us recognize the enduring human truths that the Iliad and Odyssey still hold for us. Tom Palaima, Robert M. Armstrong Professor of Classics, University of Texas

‘Rich in factual detail, Michael Cosmopoulos's book is a beautiful synthesis of the overall ‘world of Homer,' viewed by a multidisciplinary expert who has succeeded in communicating his vast knowledge of Homeric archaeology, anthropology, and philology with non-experts as well as experts.' Gregory Nagy, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature, Harvard University

From the Publisher