A statue dating to the Hellenistic period of Homer, in the British Museum
Born circa 8th Century in Greece, Homer is the author of epic ancient poetry, such as the Illiad and the Odyssey. He is revered as one of the most influential authors of Western literature, and the Homeric Epics have had large impacts throughout the development of humanity, being quite profound during the Renaissance. Not much else is known about him, and even the time of his life is disputed.
Origins and Life[]
It is postulated that Homer was born in Ionia, located in the central part of Ionia's western coast, due to the tones and dialect of his poetry being very similar to Ionian. [1] His birth year is unknown, as it predates the first year measured by the Greek Olympic calender, with estimates ranging from 1200 BCE to 750 BCE. It is generally estimated that, based on the writings of Herodotus, Homer lived approximately within the 9th century BCE. [2]