New Books in Literary Studies Michael B. Cosmopoulos, "The World of Homer: Archaeology, Social Memory, and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
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Oct 24, 2025 Michael B. Cosmopoulos, an archaeology professor at the University of St. Louis, brings his insights from his book to the discussion. He explores the enigmatic origins of Homeric epics like the Iliad and Odyssey, arguing for the significance of social memory in their development. Cosmopoulos examines the interplay between archaeology and oral traditions, revealing insights into gender roles, warfare, and the continuity of cultural practices from Mycenaean society. His unique perspective invites listeners to reconsider the rich tapestry of Greek epic poetry.
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Personal Roots In Athens' Homeric Culture
- Cosmopoulos grew up in Athens surrounded by Homeric stories and monuments, which sparked his lifelong interest in Homer.
- Teaching Homer to students and seeing their fascination motivated him to write the book.
Homer As A Constructed Ancestor
- Michael Cosmopoulos argues Homer likely never existed as a single historical poet and was a fictional ancestor created by poet guilds.
- The name "Homer" probably meant a rhapsode, reflecting a conflation of author and genre in the 6th century BC.
Evolving Homeric Scholarship
- Scholarship shifted dramatically from Aristotle's critical readings to 18th–19th century analytic debates about single versus multiple authorship.
- Milman Parry and Albert Lord later framed epic as oral-formulaic composition produced during performance.
