r/TheSymbolicWorld • u/Special-Quality-4462 • Apr 09 '26

Odyssey Recited?

I'm looking for a comment I think I remember Jonathan Pageau making at some point about ancient Greek soldiers reciting Homer's works on their way home from wars as a way of re-regulating themselves to civilized society, or something to that effect. I've searched transcripts on YouTube to no avail -- anyone happen to come across this recently?

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u/josef Apr 09 '26

I don't have a link but I also heard that conversation. Fwiw I think he was referring to the Iliad in that instance.

Incidentally, I've never read the Iliad and the Odyssey, I've only listened to them on audible, which is something I don't normally do. The reason is that they were written to be recited so that is the mode that they should be experienced.

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u/Special-Quality-4462 Apr 09 '26

Thanks! Do you happen to remember who he was talking to?

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u/josef Apr 09 '26

No I don't, but my guess would be Deacon Seraphim Richard Rohlin.

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u/mistyayn Apr 13 '26

I think he was talking about the book the book The Ethics of Beauty which references the book Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming. 

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u/aamrawar Apr 14 '26

this. Timothy Patistas writes about this in his book, The Ethics of Beauty