Homer's The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson discussion

This is a thread for group members to discuss historical context related to The Odyssey.

Hello, all. I've added two books to the Group Bookshelf, Why Homer Matters and The Greeks and the Irrational. Both provide fascinating context on Homer and his world. I intend to reread both over the holidays and will report back here.

Ah, I read Why Homer Matters in May of 2015. See? This is why I joined GR: to help my memory bank (which lacks FDIC backing).

Lisa wrote: "Hello, all. I've added two books to the Group Bookshelf, Why Homer Matters and The Greeks and the Irrational. Both provide fascinating context on Homer and his world. ..."

This is great, Lisa -- thanks so much for getting this thread (and our shelves) off to a good start!

Ken wrote: "Ah, I read Why Homer Matters in May of 2015. See? This is why I joined GR: to help my memory bank (which lacks FDIC backing)."

That's good to know, Ken. Feel free to share your thoughts anytime.

Some of you may already be familiar with this website
http://topostext.org/

It is set up by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, a non-profit organization whose aim is to promote Greek arts and letters as well as maritime tradition and history. It is a cultural and educational organization that offers educational programs with an extensive library.

The site has indexed a collection of ancient texts which you can read online. It has also mapped places relevant to the ancient history and mythology of ancient Greece from the Neolithic period up through the 2nd century CE. It has links to ancient texts, places, people, etc. etc.

An amazing resource. Enjoy!

Tamara wrote: "Some of you may already be familiar with this website
http://topostext.org/

It is set up by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, a non-profit organization whose aim is to promote Greek arts and l..."

What a fantastic site. Thanks so much for posting about it, Tamara!

Kris wrote: "What a fantastic site. Thanks so much for posting about it, Tamara!"

You're welcome! I'm glad you are as impressed with it as I am.

Tamara wrote: "Some of you may already be familiar with this website
http://topostext.org/

It is set up by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, a non-profit organization whose aim is to promote Greek arts and l..."

What a great site, Tamara! Didn't know it existed but I will be spending lots of time there. Thank you!

Julie wrote: "What a great site, Tamara! Didn't know it existed but I will be spending lots of time there. Thank you!..."

You're welcome, Julie. I spend a lot of time fossicking around there.

If I am allowed to join this interesting conversation 5 years late, I have learned a new word from Tamara's last post, in which she confesses to 'fossicking'.

I find from an internet search that it is originally a 19th Century mining term, and that in Queensland, Australia, fossicking is illegal without a license. The equivalent term in opal mining is 'noodling'.

If I understand correctly, fossicking originally was, and in some places still is, the searching through mining waste for precious metal or gemstones. It is now used to mean rummaging around to see what can be found, or, in Australia, prospecting for minerals for personal use or to form a collection, as opposed to doing so commercially for profit.