249. Naomi Rood on Homer's Odyssey

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Naomi Rood to discuss Homer’s Odyssey. Consisting of around 12,100 lines of verse (separated into 24 books) and being around 2,700 years old, what is the Odyssey and why does it matter? We ask about authorship, composition – as well as how it connects and relates to the Iliad? What is some of the major themes of the poem? Taking us into the Proem (1.1-10), how does this give us insight into the heart of the epic, it’s emphasis on “man”, as well as the connection to the divine? What is xenia (or, hospitality), and why is it such a big deal in the moral world both assumed and taught in the poem? Listen in, as we land on Book IX of the Odyssey, and discuss how Homer – in the story of Odysseus and Polyphemus (the Cyclops) engages the question of what is civilization – as well as themes of humanity and the gods, Hesiodic Golden Age and their passing age, light and darkness, death and rebirth, metis (or cunning, intelligence) and bie (or physical strength). We also hear about the Homeric conception of the hero, as well as the contrast between Achilles and Odysseus. Teaching about home, and homecoming – as well as marriage and the deep partnership Odysseus has with Penelope, we ask Dr. Rood what many are missing if they are only interacting with the recently released movie. We end by asking about why this poem should matter, even today – as well as some encouragement for those who have yet to read this gift from the ancient Greeks.

Two notes on the episode for clarification:

• Pertaining to the issue of whether the Odyssey was written down with Athens primarily in mind, Dr. Rood did want the listener to hear about some scholarship that thinks so. However, to be clear: she does not think so - and views the Homeric Epics as more Panhellenic in their origin and purpose.
• In the discussion about theoxenia - we failed to clearly point out that Athena does, in fact, appear in disguise on Ithaca - both in the form of Mentes and Mentor, etc. However, Dr. Rood's point in the discussion was that theoxenia doesn't seem to occur in order to explicitly test mortals on their morals, or xenia. For example, the disguised Athena doesn't test Telemachus on xenia (or "hospitality"), but rather encourages him to leave home and learn about his father Odysseus.

Some resources by Dr. Rood:

- “Implied Vengeance in the Simile of Grieving Vultures (Odyssey 16. 216-19)” (Classical Quarterly)

- “Hesiod’s Metallurgy Simile (Th. 861-7)” (The Cambridge Classical Journal)

- “Craft Similes and the Construction of Heroes in the Iliad” (Harvard Studies in Classical Philology)

Check out translations by: Albert Cook, Robert Fagles (note the Introduction by Bernard Knox), Daniel Mendelsohn (also here), or Peter Green

Other resources:

Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl J. Richard

Homeric Moments: Clues to Delight in Reading the Odyssey and the Iliad by Eva Brann

The Best of the Achaeans by Gregory Nagy

The World of Odysseus by M. I. Finley

Homer and His Iliad by Robin Lane Fox

Alexander at the End of the World by Rachel Kousser

Check out Greg Lanier: “Can You Read Homer’s Odyssey in Ancient Greek?”; “First look at the fourth-century fragment of Odyssey Book 12”

- “4^th Century Fragment of the Odyssey Discovered in Utrecht University Library” (Sept. 14, 2026)

The Odyssey of Political Theory by Patrick J. Deneen

Who Killed Homer? by Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath

The Odyssey in Athens by Erwin Cook

Oxford Readings in Greek Religion, edited by Richard Buxton

The Odyssey Effect by Erica Stevenson

The Oxford Critical Guide to Homer’s Odyssey, edited by Joel P. Christensen

Potentially relevant past episodes on Plato: here, here and here

Potentially relevant past episodes on Irenaues of Lyons: here and here

“Christian Allegoresis of the Odyssey?” by Jovana Sijakovic

Homer: The Theologian by Robert Lamberton

The Bow and the Lyre: A Platonic Reading of the Odyssey by Seth Benardete