Biografia:
Homer was an epic poet of Ancient Greece, traditionally placed between the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Although his historical existence remains uncertain, he is universally recognised as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two foundational works of Western literature.
Little is known with certainty about his life. Ancient tradition holds that he was born in one of the Greek cities of Asia Minor, such as Smyrna or Chios, and that he was blind, although there is no historical evidence to confirm these accounts. The so-called “Homeric Question”, debated for centuries, seeks to clarify the authorship, composition and transmission of the poems attributed to him.
The Iliad recounts the final events of the Trojan War, focusing on the figure of Achilles and reflecting on themes such as honour, glory, courage, fate and mortality. The Odyssey, meanwhile, follows Odysseus on his long journey home to the island of Ithaca, exploring intelligence, perseverance, hospitality and the longing for home.
The Homeric poems had a profound influence on Greek culture, playing an essential role in the education, religion, philosophy and literature of Antiquity. They later became fundamental references for authors such as Virgil, Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, James Joyce and countless other writers, artists and thinkers.
Homer’s poetry is distinguished by its narrative richness, memorable characterisation and use of devices characteristic of the oral tradition, such as epithets, recurring formulas and extended similes. His works continue to be studied, translated and adapted, remaining among the most important texts in the history of world literature.
