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Greek City Formation
What do we know about the oikos and polis in Homer’s world?
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Lecture Outline, Part I
Social Organization Poet and Society Greek Household Community and
Household
Community and Household, Part II
The Wealthy In Homer
Homeric Wealth
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Lecture Outline, Part II
Detecting Homeric Wealth
Homer’s Elite The Polis Homeric Community
Homeric Kings Disputes in Homer Homer’s Epic World Conclusions
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Social Organization in Homer’s World Does the world of Homer belong to a
specific historical period? What period does Homeric society
depict? What cultural and social institutions
does Homer mention? Can we find the 8th Century Greek world
in Homer?
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The Poet and his Relationship to Society Do oral traditions reflect a society’s present
cultural values? Imaginative Elements in Homer include:Exaggerated wealth Talking RiversHorses that talk Archaic elements in Homer include:Bronze weaponsBoar’s Tusk HelmetChariots
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The Greek oikos or household
We see evidence of the oikos in Homer’s world
Society is household and kinship-bound The basic social unit is the oikos or
household – NOT the individual Preservation, economic independence and
social position Not just “home” but the family, land, livestock,
slaves, and all other property and goods
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Community and Household in Homer Family compounds are the norm in
Homer Maximize defenses and work force Sons leave oikos after marriage;
daughters stay with their father’s oikos Head of household could have children
with slaves to increase labor force “retainers” or non-related men
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Community and Household in Homer, Part II Want as many men of fighting age as
possible, and biggest household All members do their part on farm and in
household In a wealthy oikos, slaves do the work Kleros = ancestral plot of land Owning land = self sustaining
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The Wealthy in Homer
Wealthy landowners have more land, in order to support their large households
Temenos = prime farmland Large number of animals = wealth Odysseus has 59 flocks and herds and
1000 pigs Rich enjoyed more meat, leather, wool
and animal waste (hey it’s free fertilizer)
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How to detect Homeric Wealth
Cattle, obtained by raids, are a sign of wealth and power
Large roving herds Big Barbeques Don’t keep wealth, but exchange it for
other things Cattle as a standard of value
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But do Homer’s elite live the good life? What happens when they step outside
of their oikos and interact with others? The very basic beginnings of the polis,
or city-state are evident in Homer City-state = city plus surrounding
territory which comprises a self-governing unit
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The Polis in Homer
Homeric polis is not so sophisticated More a residential area than a political
unit But there is community decision making
in Homer (cf. the assembly in Book II) Community, assembly and military
capacity
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Homeric Community
Shame before the community Leadership duties Exile or fines as punishment Failure to put the polis first Communal worship of same gods Collective identity Elder council and assembly of warriors
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Homeric Kings
King in Homer’s time was responsible for protection against enemies
Demands gifts from subjects Gives land to get support Warriors get land = ruling class Resolves disputes
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How are disputes settled in Homer’s world? Through strife (cf. Athena and
Telemachus discussing the suitors in Book I)
Private agreement between parties The judgment of the king The council of elders can settle
arguments
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What is missing from Homer’s Epic World? No colonization No Greek traders No communities without kings No writing No cavalry in battle scenes No iron weapons
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What can we conclude from this?
Homer’s epic is not a direct reflection of the world he lives in
His poetry does reflect the concerns of the time
Signs that the community should move more towards the polis and that the household based society is being strained