Homer

Family: Greece · Role: poet · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 13

In Books 1–2, Homer is repeatedly cited for what he says about Achilles, Peleus, Hermes, Zeus, Hebe, Dysaules, Mycene, and Machaon. His verses also record the weapons of Pisander and Meriones, name Nereus in the speech of Thetis, and describe Hercules bringing a dog from Hades. He represents Patroclus wearing Achilles’ armour, calls Nestor king of sandy Pylos, and portrays Menelaus yoking a horse with Agamemnon’s.

By Book 3, Homer is associated with accounts of Pluto, Polydamas, Otus, Phyleides, Agamemnon, Apollo, Laomedon, Poseidon, Hera, Philoctetes, and Æpytus. At Gythium, the old man of the sea is identified as Nereus through Homer’s naming of him in Thetis’ speech: “this name Homer gave him in the Iliad in the speech of Thetis”. Homer also frequently introduces Styx, mentions several Ilithyias, represents Erymanthus as a hunter, and compares the Læstrygones who attacked Odysseus’ ships to giants. He lost his eyesight but continued composing throughout his life, unlike Thamyris, who stopped wooing the Muse.

In the later books, Onomacritus borrowed the name of the Titans from Homer for a poem about Dionysus, while Callinus attributed the Thebais to him. Homer is cited for Persephone, Niobe, Mæra, Œdipus, Thebe, Atlas, Ephialtes, Linus, Tiresias, Charis, Tityus, and Schedius, and Pindar is said to have imitated Homer’s Sirens. When Pisistratus collected Homer’s scattered verses, he or his companions inadvertently changed a name.

At Ios, an oracle called the island Homer’s motherland and destined resting place: “Your mother’s country is the island Ios, which shall receive your remains.” The island’s people showed his tomb and said that Clymene was his mother, while people in Cyprus claimed that Themisto was his mother and cited Euclus on his birth. The tradition says Homer died of grief after failing to solve a riddle posed by fisher boys.