Ancient Greece Declassified
42 The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova
Nov 28, 2021
Mary Bachvarova, Professor of classics, discusses the potential influences of Hittite culture on Greek epic tradition. Topics include Hittite texts linking to Homer's epics, cultural integration with the Hurians in Hittusa, similarities between Hittite and Greek stories, ties between Hittites and Greeks in relation to Troy, deity Apaleunas and its connection to Apollo, and correlations between Hittite records and Homer's writings.
59:28
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Quick takeaways
- Hittite stories potentially influenced Homer's epics through cultural exchanges with Mycenaeans.
- Festivals, like those associated with Apollo worship, served as platforms for Greek-Hittite cultural interactions.
Deep dives
The Influence of Hittite Stories on Greek Epic Tradition
The podcast discusses the potential influence of Hittite stories on Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Evidence suggests that the Mycenaeans and Hittites were involved in cultural exchange, leading to similarities between the epics. Scholar Mary Buchvarova highlights the significance of Hittite texts in understanding the prehistory of Greek culture and the oral traditions of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages.
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