Ancient accounts of Homer facts for kids
The ancient Greek poet Homer is famous for his epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. These stories tell about heroes, gods, and great adventures. But what do we really know about Homer himself? People in ancient times wrote many things about him. These include mentions in other poems and books, and even ten special biographies called the Lives of Homer.
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When Did Homer Live?
We don't have exact records that tell us when Homer lived. All the information we have comes from old traditions and stories.
- The ancient historian Herodotus thought Homer and another poet, Hesiod, lived about 400 years before his own time. This would place Homer around 850 BC.
- Another writer, Artemon of Clazomenae, said that Arctinus of Miletus, who was thought to be Homer's student, was born in 744 BC.
- Because of these different ideas, many experts believe Homer lived sometime between 750 BC and 700 BC.
Stories About Homer's Life
There are ten old biographies about Homer that still exist today. These are often called the Lives of Homer. One of the longest, called the Life of Homer, was thought to be written by Herodotus. However, experts now believe it was written much later, around 200 AD.
Homer's Epigrams
The Lives also include short poems and verses that people believed Homer wrote. These are called the Epigrams. They were often printed at the end of Homer's famous books.
- These Epigrams are like popular rhymes or proverbs that people loved and shared.
- They often describe places like Smyrna or Mount Ida.
- Some also talk about different jobs, like potters, sailors, or fishermen.
- Because of their varied topics, it's likely that many different people wrote these short poems.
- However, they were all linked to Homer's name. This suggests that Homer's name was so famous that many old, popular verses became connected to him.
How the Lives Were Written
The Epigrams were a main source for the Lives of Homer. For example, one Epigram mentions a blind poet from Smyrna, near the River Meles. This led to a story in the Life of Homer that Homer was born there and was even named "Son of the Meles."
Homer's Student: Arctinus
Miletus was an important ancient Greek city in Asia. Interestingly, there are no stories saying Homer ever visited Miletus. However, Arctinus of Miletus was said to be one of Homer's students.
- Arctinus was an early and important poet who wrote poems that continued the story of the Iliad.
- His poem, the Aethiopis, was written as a follow-up to the Iliad.
- Arctinus's poems were clearly inspired by Homer's style and structure.
- Unlike some other ancient poems, there was never any doubt that Arctinus wrote his own works. This might be because his poems were always well-known.
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