HOMER

Dorians Move in

Shortly after the Mycenaeans who were very advanced in all forms of math and writing fell apart, the Dorians moved in and took over. However, the Dorians were not as advanced as the Mycenaeans. The period of time that the Dorians were rulers was known as the “Dark Ages”. During this time period writing disappeared for more than 400 years. So, for more than 400 years, not one record was taken. Everything was passed through Greek oral tradition. Greek oral tradition was a way that Greeks passed down their stories through word of mouth. Many people became storytellers and wandered around Greece telling stories in exchange for food and shelter. However, the advancement of the Dorians was not enough to run Greece. Due to this they looked towards trade to keep the dynasty going. The trade, however, couldn’t make up for the advancements that they didn’t have causing them to collapse and end the Dark Ages.

Who was Homer?

Homer was a Greek poet who lived between 484 BC-425 BC. He was known as a blind storyteller who made stories just out of his mere imagination. He is known for the poems; The Iliad and The Odyssey, which according to Greek history, he is credited for writing or composing. Whether he is real or not is a mystery but most Greeks believe that he is real.

Homer was said to of told stories about his travels he had ventured on previously in his life. How would he have memorized a 12,110 line novel that he ventured on if he is blind. He would have no sense of direction, location, or sight. Although he was blind, many Greek citizens believed his stories and came to listen to him tell them.

Homer had a distinct writing style incorporated into his stories. Homer was said to have been a poet because his stories had a “repetitive element” to them. Therefore, his epics may have been so easy to remember because he thought of them as nothing but a song. His writing style had such an impact on the Greek society that most of the language used today in Greece is based off of the vocabulary used in his epics.