Humour in Homer

Not all is tragic in a Greek epic!

When I say “Homeric Epics”, what comes to mind first?

School-day drudgery or elite-class snobbery;

cumbersome poetry, maybe dreary infantry?

The oldest surviving written texts in western literature allegedly tell intense stories of gruesome drawn-out war, weak-heeled heroes, conniving anthropomorphic gods and monstrous beasts. Nearly 3000 years later, The Iliad and The Odyssey continue to capture our imaginations. Some say, all of western culture draws from these two springs.

Growing up in India, I loved tales from Hindu mythology. I was familiar with certain ancient Greek (and Egyptian) traditions. At school, we were not formally exposed to literature from western antiquity. So after reading Madeline Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’ last year, I decided to check out the original.

I recently finished The Iliad (translated by Caroline Alexander, published by Vintage Classics). What did I discover? The richness of the epic lies not only in its intricately layered composition but also in its lesser-explored mysteries.

(If Greek Heroes & Monsters are your thing, read my other article here!)

One such surprise element is the comedy. In fact, I was pleased to find a generous sprinkling of…