Odysseus: The Fictional Hero with Actual Devotees in Ancient Ithaca

For nearly 3,000 years, Homer’s “The Odyssey” has held a significant place in literature as an epic journey tale. It narrates the story of a displaced king who battles divine wrath and monstrous creatures to reclaim his throne on the Ionian island of Ithaca. This work has been translated into English at least 60 times and adapted into over three dozen films. Christopher Nolan’s recent cinematic rendition brings it to theaters worldwide.

The question remains: was Odysseus, the designing mind behind the Trojan Horse, an actual historical figure, or merely a character in Homer’s imagination? Most modern scholars regard the epic as folklore. However, recent archaeological findings in Ithaca suggest that ancient perspectives may differ. On a high rocky ridge, excavations have unearthed ruins of a 2,400-year-old sanctuary, hinting that King Odysseus was worshipped as more than a mythological character.

This partially preserved complex, etched into the terraces of Mount Exogi, has been referred to locally as the School of Homer. Although explored by archaeologists for over a century, the site was frequently disassociated from “The Odyssey.” An 1878 excavation did not align with the descriptive vividness found in Homer’s text.

Since 2018, archaeologist Giannos G. Lolos from the University of Ioannina in Greece has led renewed excavations. These efforts build upon extensive digs conducted from 1994 to 2011. The Greek Ministry of Culture highlighted significant discoveries last summer, including a large ceremonial hall, a likely strategic watchtower, and a Mycenaean-style intact cistern.

While some locals speculated that these ruins could be the foundations of Odysseus’ Mycenaean palace, Dr. Lolos noted an absence of evidence dating the remaining structures to around 1200 B.C., when Odysseus’ adventures would have transpired. Nevertheless, these ruins provide a connection between ancient poetic narratives and historical contexts. To the Greeks of antiquity, Odysseus was substantial enough to earn profound devotion.