The Greek Culture Ministry has announced the discovery of the oldest written extract of Homer’s Odyssey. Initial analysis of the slab strongly suggests it dates back to around the third century CE during the Roman era, although the team is yet to confirm this through scientific techniques.
The clay tablet, engraved with 13 verses of book 14 of the epic poem, was unearthed near a ruined Temple of Zeus during a three-year excavation in the ancient city of Olympia, Greece. This grand temple was also once home to the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, a since-destroyed colossal statue that is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. [...]
Homer – if he existed – wouldn’t have actually written the story in the same way we think of an author writing a book today. The story was most likely composed orally and was more likely intended to be heard than read. Since most stories were transmitted this way, it’s actually pretty lucky we have any stories dating from Ancient Greece at all. This new discovery is important because it's the closest we have come to the original story, or at least when it was first written down, as like most stories told after the event and passed down orally, it's very likely that the story changes bit-by-bit with each retelling.
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