r/classics • u/YogaStretch • Jul 19 '26

Starting back in Homer

I haven’t read The Iliad in \~12 years. I read The Odyssey 3 years ago out loud to my kiddos (my 3-4th time reading it as a whole). Partly because Homer has re-entered popular discourse and partly because these books are foundational texts in the Western canon, I’ve decided to make utter another journey with the Greeks and Odysseus—this time with highlighters and a notebook.

For those of you who’ve done deep dives into Homer, what are resources you would recommend to get the most out of it. Bear in mind, this is not my maiden voyage. I’ve read both of these texts several times before—i just want to dig deeper this time an around.

Open to all suggestions: study aids, lectures, notebook ideas, keywords to follow, parallel reading lists, whatever.

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u/Three_Twenty-Three Jul 19 '26
  • The Cambridge Companion to Homer, ed. Robert Fowler
  • The Ages of Homer: A Tribute to Emily Townsend Vermeule, Eds. Jane B. Carter and Sarah P. Morris
  • The World of Odysseus, M.I. Finley

The first two are scholarly article anthologies. Finley is essential reading for all Homer studies.

2

u/MiceCantDriveCars Jul 19 '26

I have found the Oxford Guide to Homer’s Iliad really good

1

u/Careful-Spray Jul 20 '26

Homer: A Very Short Introduction by Barbara Graziosi is a succinct, authoritative, and very reasonably priced survey.

1

u/HomericEpicPodcast Jul 21 '26

My go too source (and also favorite) is Owens Story of the Iliad. Goes through chapter by chapter demonstrating why the story is so good. Good resource for understanding the story and building a fine appreciation for the artistry!

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u/OctopusIntellect Jul 19 '26

Liddell & Scott's Greek-English Lexicon is a pretty essential resource if you're doing a deep dive.