Homer’s Influence on Mycenaean Archaeology and the Understanding of Late Helladic Historical Geography

The thematic thrusts of this paper are twofold. The first is a broad brush look at how Homer’s epics have influenced Mycenaean archaeological discoveries. The second and more important thrust attempts to elucidate more completely a missing but vital part of a puzzle- the Homeric legacy in the Ionian Islands region of western Greece. In some cases, the legacy is unfolding by nature of the ongoing discovery of rich and truly significant finds. In others it has become a highly contested if not political process that has sidetracked progress on rounding out our understanding of Bronze Age Mycenaean civilizations. The ultimate goal of this paper is to provide a fresh perspective on understanding the people, places and culture of a less studied area of Greece that is far removed from the mainstream heartland of the Mycenaean world. Systematic excavations and other research at Troy, Mycenae and Tiryns have confirmed many of Homer’s references. Again and again, the accuracy of Homer’s geography has been shown. On the other hand, researchers and Homeric scholars have lacked consistency in following Homer’s descriptions in their search for Odysseus’ lost palace of Ithaca. Many theories have been put forward, beginning in ancient times. Progress had stalled until the 1991 discovery and excavation of a tholos tomb in Tzannata in the south east part of the island of Kefalonia. This tomb is among the largest found in Western Greece. Its significance is even more striking due to the discovery of a miniature double headed gold axe or labrys (λαβρις) which is generally a sign of a royal tomb, and a seal which bears a striking resemblance to the one Homer ascribed to Odysseus. Subsequent discoveries and a careful reading of Homer’s text support the hypothesis that south eastern Kefalonia was the centre of Homeric Ithaca. Additional excavations have uncovered a rich archaeological record that adds weight to this theory.