Ancient Greece and Rome: Homer, Odyssey
You will be asked to comment on ONE of three passages taken from the primary sources that we have been reading this term. A series of guiding questions will be issued, which will help you write an effective commentary. These passages will be taken from the following sources, reproduced here from the syllabus. Do not, however, neglect your secondary sources, since they help to inform your commentary.
Homer, Odyssey 1-8, 13-18
Inscribed law of Dreros on Crete, 7th century BC
Homer, Iliad excerpts
Herodotus, Histories 1.46-56, 3.39-60, 4.150-9, 5.22, 5.92
Selected poems of Sappho and Pindar
You will have 1 hour to complete this assignment; be aware that the system on eClass keeps to this time strictly. Each of the three sources on the question paper will be identified. You will be expected to know when the reading was originally composed and asked to comment on its value as a source for the social, cultural, historical, and/or political history of early Greece.
Ancient Greece and Rome
Name
Institution Affiliation
Course
Professor
Date
Homer, Odyssey 1.144-177
In this context, Athena disguised as a man is talking to Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. Notably, Athena convinces Telemachus to act and find information concerning his father’s fate. Telemachus is not happy with his mother’s suitors who have taken over their home and are exploiting his father’s wealth as they wait for Penelope to choose a husband. Consequently, Athena advises Telemachus to take bold steps and seeks his further intel as the gods would support him.
The cultural aspect discussed in this context is the idea of hospitality. In Greek, hospitality is referred to as Xenia and was a crucial aspect of ancient Greek social culture in which the hosts were expected to offer hospitality to their guests by offering food, drinks, and good company. Also, the hosts were expected to offer protection and shelter to their guests. Moreover, guests were expected to act with decency and respect to their hosts. In this context, the guests, who are Penelope's suitors did not act respectfully as they took over the host’s home and consumed their wealth. Further, the suitors did not show respect and gratitude towards the host, which violate...