New Books Network Michael B. Cosmopoulos, "The World of Homer: Archaeology, Social Memory, and the Emergence of Greek Epic Poetry" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Oct 24, 2025
Michael B. Cosmopoulos, an endowed chair and professor of archaeology at the University of St. Louis, dives into the origins of Homeric poetry. He discusses the complex interplay between social memory, archaeology, and epic poetry, exploring how these elements shaped works like the Iliad and the Odyssey. Cosmopoulos also examines the Mycenaean roots of these epics, the historical context of Troy, and the evolution of Homeric scholarship. Tune in for insights on ancient family structures, memory mechanisms, and how communal performances have preserved these monumental tales.
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Homer As A Manufactured Ancestor
- Michael B. Cosmopoulos argues that "Homer" was likely a fictitious ancestral name invented by poet guilds in the 6th century BCE to claim prestige.
- The name Homer likely derives from a term meaning "assembler," effectively equating to rhapsode rather than a single historical author.
From Single Author To Oral Tradition
- Scholarship shifted from single-author theories to long oral-tradition models after Friedrich Wolf and later oral-formulaic studies.
- Most modern approaches agree the Iliad and Odyssey crystallized from a lengthy oral tradition rather than sudden single authorship.
Epics As Multi‑Layered Cultural Hybrids
- Homeric poems integrate elements from Mycenaean, early Iron Age, Near Eastern, and Indo-European sources across centuries.
- The epics are composite products shaped by long cultural exchanges and survivals, not single-period snapshots.
