The Odyssey

Historical Context and Significance

The Odyssey by Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem, alongside the Iliad, forming the foundation of the European literary tradition. Created in the 8th century BC, it tells the story of the long and adventure-filled return of the Trojan War hero, Odysseus, to his home in Ithaca, to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus. The poem has had a profound influence on the development of world literature, art, philosophy, and culture as a whole, inspiring numerous studies, adaptations, and artistic and literary works over the centuries. The Odyssey is studied as a great example of epic poetry and as a fundamental element of ancient mythology, influencing the understanding of the heroic journey as a literary motif.