Homer
A Very Short Introduction
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Narrated by:
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Anne Flosnik
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By:
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Barbara Graziosi
About this listen
Homer's mythological tales of war and homecoming, The Iliad and The Odyssey, are widely considered to be two of the most influential works in the history of western literature. Yet their author, "the greatest poet that ever lived," is something of a mystery. By the sixth century BCE, Homer had already become a mythical figure, and today debate continues as to whether he ever existed.
In Homer, Barbara Graziosi considers Homer's famous works and their impact on readers throughout the centuries. She shows how The Iliad and The Odyssey benefit from a tradition of reading that spans well over two millennia, stemming from ancient scholars at the library of Alexandria, in the third and second centuries BCE, who wrote some of the first commentaries on the Homeric epics. Summaries of these scholars' notes made their way into the margins of Byzantine manuscripts; from Byzantium the annotated manuscripts traveled to Italy; and the ancient notes finally appeared in the first printed editions of Homer. Along the way, Homer's works have inspired artists, writers, philosophers, musicians, playwrights, and film-makers. Exploring the main literary, historical, cultural, and archaeological issues at the heart of Homer's narratives, Graziosi analyzes the enduring appeal of Homer and his iconic works.
©2019 Barbara Graziosi (P)2019 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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The oldest long poem in Old English, written about AD 1,000, Beowulf tells the story of a great warrior of southern Scandinavia, in both youth and maturity. The monster Grendel terrorizes the Scyldings of Hrothgar's Danish Kingdom until Beowulf defeats him. As a result, he has to face her enraged mother. Beowulf dies after a battle against a fierce dragon.
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Beowulf lives again!
- By Andrew on 02-13-12
By: Anonymous
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The Buried Book
- The Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh
- By: David Damrosch
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
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One day in 1872, self-taught Assyriologist George Smith was sifting through a pile of clay tablets when he realized he was reading about "a flood, storm, a ship caught on a mountain, and a bird sent out in search of dry land". This is the riveting story of the discovery of the world's first literary epic, the "Epic of Gilgamesh".
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interesting- but not for everyone
- By J Michael on 07-16-08
By: David Damrosch
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Angels & Demons
- Myths, Legends & History: 2 Books in 1
- By: KIV Books
- Narrated by: Tom Chandler
- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
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Angels have been a critical part of humanity for as long as we can imagine. Often depicted as benevolent beings, they have been at the center of many religious texts, especially in Abrahamic religions, Christianity especially.
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The First Ghosts
- Most Ancient of Legacies
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- Narrated by: Irving Finkel
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There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. Ghosts inhabit something of the very essence of what it is to be human. Whether we personally 'believe' or not, we are all aware of ghosts and the rich mythologies and rituals surrounding them. They have inspired, fascinated and frightened us for centuries - yet most of us are only familiar with the vengeful apparitions of Shakespeare, or the ghastly spectres haunting the pages of 19th-century Gothic literature. But their origins are much, much older.
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Ghosts Were Causing My Tinnitus!
- By James D on 01-08-22
By: Irving Finkel
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Asian Journals
- India and Japan (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)
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- Narrated by: Fred Stella
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At the beginning of his career, Joseph Campbell developed a lasting fascination with the cultures of the Far East, and explorations of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy later became recurring motifs in his vast body of work. However, Campbell had to wait until middle age to visit the lands that inspired him so deeply. In 1954, he took a sabbatical from his teaching position and embarked on a year-long voyage through India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Japan.
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What a journey!
- By Anonymous User on 08-11-18
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The Parthenon Enigma
- By: Joan Breton Connelly
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
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In this revolutionary book, Joan Breton Connelly challenges our most basic assumptions about the Parthenon and the ancient Athenians. Beginning with the natural environment and its rich mythic associations, she re-creates the development of the Acropolis - the Sacred Rock at the heart of the city-state - from its prehistoric origins to its Periklean glory days as a constellation of temples among which the Parthenon stood supreme.
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dope book, lacked depth but overall worthwhile
- By Nicholas on 06-29-15
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Norse Paganism
- A Comprehensive Guide to Viking History and Culture - Gods, Rituals, Runes & Magic, Afterlife, and the Nine Realms of Norse Mythology
- By: Erik Hansen
- Narrated by: Aries Studio
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Committed to a life of learning and teaching, author Erik Hansen shares his knowledge and passion in this book. As a recognized expert in Norse history and mythology, his interest in this fascinating culture was sparked by his Norwegian ancestry. If you share that passion for ancient history and religion, this book is for you.
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A great introduction to Norse Paganism
- By L.B. on 12-04-22
By: Erik Hansen
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The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve
- By: Stephen Greenblatt
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Bolder even than the ambitious books for which Stephen Greenblatt is already renowned, The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve explores the enduring story of humanity's first parents. Comprising only a few ancient verses, the story of Adam and Eve has served as a mirror in which we seem to glimpse the whole long history of our fears and desires, as both a hymn to human responsibility and a dark fable about human wretchedness.
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For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return
- By Darwin8u on 02-11-18
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Engage the services of a Very Short boatman
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What listeners say about Homer
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- Brad
- 07-30-24
Great overview of Study of Homer
Great overview of the study of Homeric Epic. Fantastic that it is provided for free by Audible. These Oxford introductions are excellent listening.
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- Tad Davis
- 08-18-19
Outstanding introduction
A first-rate introduction to Homer by way of archaeology, linguistics, and analytical summaries of the poems themselves. Graziosi crams a lot of info into a small space, but it doesn’t feel rushed; it feels more like a pleasant after-dinner conversation. It’s one of the best introductions to the subject I’ve read.
There are four introductory chapters and then three chapters each about the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer’s work is examined in the context of his own time and his influence on later writers, especially Virgil and Dante. The only topic Graziosi doesn’t cover — among those I find interesting — is Homer in English translation. But translation is endless, and a discussion of it would be endless, so it’s just as well she omits it.
One caution about my opinion. I’ve read the two poems so often, in different translations, that I can’t really judge how accessible Graziosi’s book will be to someone who isn’t already familiar with the story. Her summaries are detailed, but they are focused on specific incidents; they don’t give you a Cliff’s Notes overview of the whole. I think it would be best read after at least some exposure to the poems.
Anne Flosnik has a lovely voice and reads with interest and clarity.
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6 people found this helpful