Chapter 60 - Original author of Iliad and Odyssey

1 Introduction

There are many legends about the conquest of Troy by a large expeditionary force led by Agamemnon, king of Mycenae.

In the Iliad, Homer hints that Philoctetes, who was left behind on Lemnos, would later be summoned to Troy. [1]

The tragic poet Sophocles, who lived after Homer, in his Philoctetes, specifically describes Philoctetes' summoning to Troy. [2]

In other words, we can see that the story of the expedition to Troy existed in the era before Homer.

2 Authors of Trojan War Era

The following authors are said to have witnessed and heard about the battle at Ilium and written their works based on their own experiences.

2.1 Corinnus of Ilium

Corinnus was a pupil of Palamedes and wrote the first Iliad. Homer is said to have incorporated Corinnu's work into his own. [3]

2.2 Sisyphus of Cos

Sisyphus participated in Teuclus's expedition to Troy from Cos and wrote his works. Homer is said to have based his Iliad on parts of Sisyphus's works. [4]

2.3 Dictys of Crete

Dictys states that he traveled from Crete to Troy with Idomeneus, son of Deucalion, and wrote down what he saw and heard in the Phoenician alphabet. He also writes that he learned about Antenor and his kingdom through research by others. [5]

2.3.1 Era in which Dictys lived

Many traditions record Idomeneus's expedition to Troy. [6]

However, the following suggests that Idomeneus did not travel to Troy.

1) Idomeneus emigrated from Crete to Calabria. [7]

2) Calabria was also known as Messapia, Iapygia, and Salentina. [8]

3) Iapyx, son of Daedalus, migrated from Crete to Messapia of the Italian peninsula, which became known as Iapygia. [9]

It is likely that Idomeneus migrated from Crete to the Italian peninsula along with Iapyx.

Iapyx was accompanied by Botton and Cleolaus, son of Minos, who settled in Macedonia and Apulia, respectively. [10]

Idomeneus's migration is estimated to have occurred in 1235 BC, more than 40 years before the Trojan War.

Therefore, Dictys is not a contemporary of Idomeneus, but is presumed to be a figure from around the 1st century AD when Dictys' work was discovered.

3 Genealogy of the Trojan Royal House

Homer records the genealogy of the Trojan royal house as part of Aeneas' account to Achilles. [11]

Corinnus, a pupil of Palamedes, and Sisyphus, who accompanied Teuclus to Troy, may indeed have written of the battle at Ilium.

However, the genealogy of the Trojan royal house was something neither Corinnus nor Sisyphus could have known.

It is presumed that the original author of the Iliad was someone who could gather information directly from a member of the Trojan royal house.

4 Original author of the Iliad

Homer's Odyssey features the bard Demodocus, who recounts the Achaeans' capture of Troy by a clever trick involving a wooden horse. [12]

The following suggests that Demodocus is the original author of the Iliad:

1) Demodocus was born in Laconia. [13]

2) Demodocus studied under Automedes and Perimedes in Argos. [14]

3) Demodocus was a skilled poet who won prizes at the Pythian games. [15]

4) Demodocus was employed by Agamemnon in Mycenae. [16]

5) Demodocus was employed by Alcinous of Corcyra. [17]

6) Helenus, son of Priam, and Andromache, wife of Hector, lived in Bathrotum, near Corcyra. [18]

7) Demodocus wrote "The Fall of Troy." [19]

8) Demodocus was a poet during the Trojan War. [20]

9) Demetrius of Phalerum, who lived in the 3rd century BC, mentions Demodocus as one of the poets of Corcyra. [21]

This suggests that Demodocus heard about the battle in Ilium from Helenus, Andromache, or the priests, and wrote a story featuring Agamemnon, whom he had once served.

5 Date of the story's creation

In 1186 BC, Helenus, son of Priam, fled from Troad with Neoptolemus and settled in Hellopia, north of Dodona. [22]

In 1184 BC, Helenus migrated from Hellopia to the opposite shore of Corcyra and founded Bathrotum. [23]

Demodocus wrote "The Fall of Troy." [24]

Demodocus likely knew about the capture of Ilium by Hector's sons in 1170 BC.

In 1156 BC, Andromache and his son Pergamus emigrated from Bathrotum to Asia Minor. [25]

Therefore, Demodocus likely wrote the story that became the basis for the Iliad around 1165 BC.

6 Original authorship of the Odyssey

The following suggests that Demodocus wrote the story that inspired the Odyssey:

1) Demodocus lived in Corcyra and was familiar with the area where the Odyssey is set. [26]

2) Demodocus was employed by Alcinous, the father of Nausicaa, wife of Odysseus' son Telemachus. [27]

Demodocus was of the same generation as Odysseus, and it is likely that the two men knew each other.

End