Homer’s Legacy

By Crista Hughes & Matt Borges

Description

Many people know Homer as one of the main characters from “The Simpsons,” but this is someone who is an even greater legend. He was a legendary Greek poet from around 8th Century BC. Although some modern scholars are more skeptical about him; many believe Homer is a Historic Individual.

The Odyssey

From 1100 BC to 800 BC, Greek civilization seemed to step backward. People forgot many skills, including art and writing. We get hints about life during this period from two great epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Odyssey tells of the struggles of the Greek hero Odysseus to return home to his faithful wife, Penelope, after the fall of Troy. On his long voyage, Odysseus encounters a sea monster, a race of one-eyed giants, and a beautiful sorceress who turns men into swine.

The IliadThe Iliad is our chief source of information about the Trojan War,

although the story involves gods, goddesses, and even a talking horse. At the start of the poem, Achilles, the mightiest Greek warrior, is sulking in his tent because of a dispute with his commander. Although the war soon turns against the Greeks, Achilles stubbornly refuses to listen to pleas that he rejoin the fighting. Only after his best friend is killed does Achilles return to battle.

ConclusionThe Iliad and the Odyssey reveal much about the values of the ancient

Greeks. The heroes display honor, courage, and eloquence, as when Achilles rallies his troops. For almost 3,000 years, the epic of Homer have inspired European writers and artists. But it unknown if the world will ever know if Homer’s stories we hear of today are as they were spoken by the Greek legend himself.

Thank you. I hope you enjoyed our slideshow.Maggotchick.wordpress.com