Diachronic Homer and a Cretan Odyssey

Abstract

This essay explores the kaleidoscopic world of Homer and Homeric poetry from a combined diachronic and synchronic perspective. Linguists refer to “synchronic” as a given structure that exists in a given time and space, and “diachronic” as a structure that evolves through time. Nagy argues that from a diachronic perspective, the structure known as Homeric poetry can be viewed as an “evolving medium.” From a diachronic perspective, Homeric poetry is not only an evolving medium of oral poetry, but it is also a medium that actually views itself diachronically. In other words, Homeric poetry demonstrates aspects of its own evolution. A case in point is “the Cretan Odyssey”—or, better, “a Cretan Odyssey”—as reflected in the “lying tales” of Odysseus in the Odyssey. The author claims that these tales give the medium an opportunity to open windows into an Odyssey that is otherwise unknown. In the alternate universe of this “Cretan Odyssey,” the adventures of Odysseus take place in the exotic context of Minoan-Mycenaean civilization.

eCompanion

loading

Fig. 1. As we will see, this image of sea-bound Crete will help visualize the importance of the sea for conceptualizing the Minoan Empire.

Fig. 2. Il Bucintoro on Ascension Day, c. 1780–1790, Francesco Guardi.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 3. Il Bucintoro at the Molo on Ascension Day, c. 1732. Canaletto.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 4. Il Bucintoro, the Doge’s ship of state, accompanied by a flotilla., c. 1609, Giacomo Franco.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 5. Theran fresco at Akrotiri showing flotilla; c. 1600 BCE.

Panorama by smial; modified by Luxo, [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 6. Detail from Theran fresco at Akrotiri, c. 1600 BCE.

Original image [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 7. The Doge Sebastiano Ziani disembarking from il Bucintoro at the Convent of Charity. Miniature, 16th Century.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 8. A Venezia lo “sposalizio del mare,” video posted June 1, 2014.

Via la Repubblica: http://video.repubblica.it/cronaca/a-venezia-lo-sposalizio-del-mare/167766.

Fig. 9. Bishop of Ravenna throws a ring into the Adriatic Sea as part of lo Sposalizio del Mare.

Via http://www.romagnaforyou.it. (Note: at the time of publication this website was compromised by malware. The hyperlink has been disabled.).

Fig. 10. Theran fresco at Akrotiri showing flotilla.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 11. Detail from Theran fresco at Akrotiri, c. 1600 BCE.

Original image [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 12. Detail from a fresco painting in Room 4 of the West House.

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Fig. 13, sent to me by my friend Costas Tzagarakis, shows an assortment of garlands on sale in a marketplace

Fig.14. A votive offering or tama, showing stephana or “wedding garlands.”

Fig. 15. Another votive offering or tama, showing stephana or “wedding garlands.”

Fig. 16. From a fresco found at Hagia Triadha in Crete.

Reproduced with the permission of the British School at Athens. BSA Archive: Mark Cameron Personal Papers: CAM 1.

Fig. 17. Detail from a fresco found at Hagia Triadha in Crete.

Reproduced with the permission of the British School at Athens. BSA Archive: Mark Cameron Personal Papers: CAM 1.

Fig. 18. Painting on a lekythos attributed to the Pan Painter, dated around 470 BCE.

The line drawing, presented in rollout mode, is by Tina Ross.

Table of Contents

URLs for websites, bibliographic references, and other online resources are reviewed, current, and valid at the time of publication. Oral Tradition cannot accept responsibility for the future availability of these online materials.
mobile close