Greek City Formation

What do we know about the oikos and polis in Homer’s world?

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

Lecture Outline, Part II

Detecting Homeric Wealth

Homer’s Elite The Polis Homeric Community

Homeric Kings Disputes in Homer Homer’s Epic World Conclusions

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?

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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