Is this cave in Turkey where Homer wrote 'The Odyssey'?
Locals and officials cite archaeology and a 3rd-century BC frieze, while Christopher Nolan’s film has renewed debate over Homer’s origins.
- Christopher Nolan's blockbuster 'The Odyssey' has revived debate about a cave near Izmir, Turkey, which locals have long identified as the site where Homer penned his famous epic.
- Researcher Altan Altin supports the local claim by pointing to a 3rd-century BC frieze that he says depicts the cave with 'remarkable precision,' suggesting Homer was an Anatolian.
- Excavations yielding coins bearing Homer's likeness lead archaeologist Mehmet Akif Erdem to argue the poet's use of Ionic and Aeolic dialects suggests ancient Smyrna and Bornova as native lands.
- Bornova Mayor Omer Eski plans to refurbish the site to attract tourists, stating that preserving Homer's legacy is 'a duty we owe to humanity.'
- Though no hard evidence confirms the writing location, local pride remains strong, with residents celebrating their connection to Homer as a point of privilege and identity.
15 Articles
15 Articles
In the absence of tangible evidence, the history of the Homer cave has long remained a myth. The city of Bornova, in the province of Izmir, nevertheless claims this heritage.
On a Turkish slope overlooking hills covered with olive trees on the outskirts of Izmir, there is a cave known for generations of local residents as the place where Homero wrote "The Odyssey". "This place has always been called the Valley of Homero by the local inhabitants. Travellers from all over the world came to see the cave where Homero is said to have composed his poems," explained Turkish researcher Altan Altin, author of a book on the su…
The world-renowned French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) investigated claims that the legendary ancient poet Homer wrote his epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, in a cave in the Bornova district of Izmir. The investigation, which highlighted the cultural heritage and local narratives of the region, reignited debates about ancient geography, a topic that gained international attention thanks to Christopher Nolan's new film.
Since the time of Pausania, the area of Bornova, in the immediate hinterland of the former Smyrna, is considered one of the possible birthplaces of the poet. So much so that it was named it. Now, with the boom of the Kolossal of Nolan, the city returns to office, strong of new evidence. All while the president wants to dedicate it to a Turkish fighter
"Odyssey would have been born in a cave located above the hills covered by olive trees in Bornova, in the province of Izmir in Turkey, on the Aegean coast, estimates a Turkish researcher, while the local authorities hope to benefit from it...
The Odyssey is said to have been born in a cave overlooking the hills covered with olive trees of Bornova, in the province of Izmir, on the Aegean coast in Turkey, believes a Turkish researcher while the local authorities hope to see the impact of the renewed interest in Homer with Christopher Nolan's film. ...
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