Discovered 13 new verses for Ulysses and his Odyssey by Homer.

It was last month of July en Olimpia (Greece). Found a clay plate, dated to Roman times, which preserves 13 new verses of the Odisea from Homer, specifically the conversation of Odysseus (the Ulysses in its Latin version) with Eumeo, his servant and swineherd. On the occasion of this discovery, considered very important for its archaeological, historical and literary value, I review a little one of the most fundamental works of literature not only classical but universal.

The discovery

The discovery of this clay plate has taken place within the framework of the research project called The multidimensional space of Olympia, around the sanctuary of Zeus. The management of the Elide Antiquities Ephorate worked, with the collaboration of the German Archaeological Institute. In the place, with remains from Roman times, this plaque was found with an inscription engraved in Greek that, after analysis, preserves 13 verses of the Odisea of Homer. They have dated it before the XNUMXrd century AD

Homer and his things

Those that in the old BUP we studied pure letters and we had the subjects of Latin and Greek we know Homer well. We learned classical Greek (a little bit at least) with him and his Achilles, Hector, Paris, Helena, Priam, Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, Circe or Charybdis.

There were those of us who then continued with Greek for a couple more courses at the university, so we became quite a friend to everyone. But ehe origin of its supposed author, Homer, remains in the darkness of reality and myth, like his works, the Iliad and Odisea. I keep staying with the latter. Maybe because I found it more entertaining than the Trojan wars or because the timeo danaos et dona ferentes full Aenida Virgilio, who translated into Latin at the same time as the Greek aorist declined, choked me the first time.

But I am lying. Readers of an age we have a first approach to that Odisea in that Ulysses 31 de cartoon Japanese, delightfully mixing the most remote past of Greek myths and literature with the most distant future of spaceships and galactic worlds.

Later there have been other versions, also cartoons, or perhaps the best known is this version, from 1997, who star in Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini and Jeroen Krabbe, among others. And the readers of younger generations have a close reference to the Iliad (although quite improvable) in Troy, the 2004 film, directed by Wolfgang petersen and with the faces of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom among its interpreters. But there are many more.

The odyssey

It is believed to have been composed in the XNUMXth century BC C. With structure in 24 songs, begins in the middle of the story, recounting the previous events through memories or narrations of Odysseus himself. It is divided into three parts. In the Telemachia (songs I to IV) describes the situation of Ithaca with the absence of its king, the suffering of Telemachus (son of Odysseus) and Penelope (his wife) because of the suitors, and how the young man sets out on a journey in search of his father.

En the return of odysseus (songs V to XII) Odysseus arrives at the king's court Alcinous where he tells all his experiences since he left Troy. Finally, in Odysseus' revenge (songs from XIII to XXIV), the return to Ithaca, the recognition by some of his slaves and his son, and how Odysseus takes revenge on the suitors by killing them all. Later Odysseus is recognized by his wife and regains his kingdom. In the end, peace is signed between all the people of Itaca.

Fragments

• «Tell me, oh Musa, about that man of manifold ingenuity who, after destroying the sacred city of Troy, went on a pilgrimage for a very long time, saw the towns and learned the customs of many men and suffered a great number of tasks in his navigation by the point, as soon as he tried to save his life and the return of his companions to the homeland. But even so he could not free them, as he wished, and they all perished because of their own follies, you fools! They ate the cows of the Sun, son of Hyperion; which did not allow the day of return to come. Oh goddess daughter of Zeus, tell us even if it is only a part of such things. "
• «And the gods grant you everything in your heart you long for: husband, family and happy harmony, for there is nothing better or more useful than the one that the husband and the wife rule their house with the appropriate spirit, which produces great pain to their enemies and joy to those who love them, and they are the ones who most appreciate their advantages. "
• "Counted are the children who resemble their parents, the most come out worse, and only a few surpass them."
• Death is something that comes to all men equally. Not even the gods can evade it from a man they love, once the destructive doom of equalizing death is upon them. "
• «The gods do not grant graces in any way in men, neither in stature nor in intelligence nor eloquence, but there is a type of man, less gifted in beauty ... but the gods have put beauty in their words, and they looking towards him full of joy, and he speaks to them without hesitation gaining modesty, and shines among those who have gathered, and people see him as a god when he walks through the city. "
• «You will be the first to go to the sirens, who are enchanting of all mankind and of anyone who crosses their path, and that man who without suspicion approaches and hears the song of the sirens has no opportunity to return to home and enjoy his wife and children who are waiting for him, because the sirens with the melody of their song have enchanted him. "

Source: National Geographic.