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This exhibition "Throwing Light on Homeric Ithaca" is a product of years of an original personal research
The conclusions are also views and positions of leading archaeologists, scholars and researchers
while the main corpus adopted is based on the thesis by professor of archaeology Eugenia Vikela.
The exhibition does not in any way attempt to compete or substitute Ithaca’s Museums
but wishes to project specific objects and facts of Odyssean reference, that display the Homeric physiognomy of the island
references that have been left wittingly or unwittingly for decades in oblivion or held as a golden reserve
The exhibition, unique in its presentation of evidence relating to the Odyssean kingdom
hopes to become a Sanctuary of Odyssean presence in Ithaca
The identification of Ithaca with the Homeric is supported here by ten main Pillars
which provide evidence deriving from pre-history and the pre-Homeric era
place-names, the Odyssey, tradition, archaeology and history
These Pillars demonstrate a dense network of clear
and specific Odyssean-Homeric indicative evidence
1st Pillar: Prehistoric Ithaca, of myth, and the dawn of history
According to most recent scientific and archaeological references
North Ithaca, in the triangle between Polis - Treis Lagades – Pelicata - Aghios Athanassios/Homer’s school
and South Ithaca, at Kanata-Vathi and at Aetos
reveal findings with proof of life on the island
through all phases of the Mycenaean and Geometric eras
Despite the inability so far to find traces of Mycenaean tombs
the continuity of life on Ithaca, and especially the smooth transition
through the dark ages of the Proto-Geometric era (1050 BC)
to the Geometric (900 BC) and Archaic era (700 BC)
makes an exceptionally important statement
differentiating Ithaca from the other Ionian Islands of the late Odyssean Kingdom
It is currently accepted scientifically
that the general and cultural evolution of Ithaca
coincides with that of other areas in Greece
Here I will provide one more pre-Homeric date, 1300 BC
which is the era of the Cephallenes’ invasion
the race of the Cephallenes, that occupied the islands of the Odyssean kingdom
There is a confusion here concerning their name
Modern Cephalonians use the Homeric name Cephallenes to create an impression
there is even a plate in the Argostoli Archaeological Museum referring to Odysseus
as leading the Cephallenes Megathymoi (Magnathimous Cephallenes)
This is something that should be removed, as it is a historical mistake
as the Cephallenes were a race and do not relate at all to present day Cephalonians
The Cephallenes (as race) inhabited both Cephalonia and Ithaca and also Zakynthos and parts of Acarnania
So that which is stated for dilatory, if you wish, reasons
is something that a supervising authority should remove from the Argostoli Museum
This as to the Cephallenes
So the Cephallenes are not a populace but a race
that inhabited all three islands of the Odyssean kingdom
Another thing I would like to say is that Cephalonia was not named as such during Homeric times
it was named Cephallenia in 450 BC
It has always, and even up to 1700-1800 AC it has also, been called Samos
the whole island held the Homeric name of Samos
When Homer talked of Samos, he meant Cephallenia
2nd Pillar: Ithaca’s name
The name Ithaca is one of the most important and incontestable references to the island’s identification
moreover it is included amongst the many Homeric Greek place-names
that survive to the present day
Furthermore, Ithacan Homeric place-names
Polis, Forkys, Arethousa, Alalkomenai
have remained within the conscience and in the works of scholars
and in the minds of simple people, from at least the 2nd century BC
What characterize the island’s historical continuity
is the existing number of place-names and Homeric words in use on the island
such as Domos, Tropos, Lidi, Ymnia, Afales, Melanydros
especially in the area of Stavros, which is also Homeric
Ithaca has never lost its historical name, except for a dark parentheses, when its port became
the “Val di Compare” or “Lagoon of the Compare” (a type of ship of that time)
overriding the name of the pillaged and devastated island
Ithaca did, indeed, during certain dark times of conjuncture and expedience
occasionally loose the use of its name
even Athens became Setin
but never its Homeric identity
Significant for the identification, besides continuous reference, to the island’s name
is the maintaining of Homeric place-names in Ithaca, that appear in European maps of the 18th & 19th century AD
such as Home of Odysseus, Country of Odysseus, Kingdom of faithful Penelope
Odysseus’ Castle, Castle of St. Penelope, House of Odysseus
Homer’s School, Hellenica.
In the second pillar and in relation to the name, I would like to say that
Ithaca presumably bears its name from its first settler, Ithacus
who, according to myth was one of the three sons of Pterelaus
who built a well-wrought fountain, an artificial spring that supplied water to the townfolk of Ithaca
They where, Neritus, Ithacus and Polyctor
In 19th century Ithaca to honor these mythical heroes
their names were used for the three municipalities on Ithaca at a time of dense population
the municipalities of Neritians, Ithacisians and Polyctorians
The municipality of Polyctorians, in particular, is registered in many 18th and 19th century maps
These municipalities do no longer exist. There is now only one, the Municipality of Ithaca
3rd Pillar: The Homeric Zeus-born Kingdom of Ithaca
The creation of the kingdom of Ithaca can be found in the period
immediately following the victorious for the Mycenaean’s war against the Taphians
and the establishment of a new regime
amongst the cluster of Islands in the central Ionian Sea
The choice of Ithaca as the seat of the kingdom
has to do with its strategic position and not with its size
Ithaca, as seat of the kingdom cannot be compared to a present day Cephalonia
as is deliberately implied in some theories
but must be compared to a Cephalonia
of Pre-Historic and Achaean times, divided by the natural lay of the island
into four autonomous states
These were city states, each with their own coins, and with different alliances
On the other hand Ithaca, has all the advantages of an autonomous central island
with neighboring vital places on both sides
such as Antiperaia (Cephalonia) and Epirus, Leucas or Acarnania
The kingdom of Ithaca under the “Zeus-born” king Odysseus
was established and flourished around 1230-1210 BC
to be overthrown by the Dorians around 1125 BC
Datings are indicative as assessments differ
The Family-tree of Odysseus, son of Laertes, king of Ithaca
The royal family of the Laertides was Zeus-born Diogenis
and began with Arkeisios, son of Zeus and Euryodeia
Another less prevailing version
wants Cephalus, instead of Zeus, as head of the house of the Laertides
The house of the Laertides had, if nothing else
family ties to the royal houses of Parnassus
the Lacedaemonian Sparta, the Mycenaeans
and later, through Telemachus, to the houses of Scheria Phaeacians
Ithaca of the Laertides was not without connections
Regarding the genealogy that appears in the exhibition
it appears after research in 3 sources, 2 Greek and one foreign
because there are, of course, other genealogies which refer to Cephalus as giving birth to Odysseus
For me and for some others, for many, for most, birth giver is Zeus
4th Pillar: The Odyssey, Description of Ithaca, Interpretation-Analysis
Nearly all elements in the depiction of Ithaca in the Odyssey
correspond to the present island of Ithaca
The main discrepancy, a phrase describing the island as being the most western island
“πανυπερτάτη ειν αλλή κείται προς ζόφον”
although it cannot be attributed to present day Ithaca, it can neither refute the overall depiction
This has been determined by approaches attempted through herdsmen’s accounts
geographical descriptions, the voyages
and five comparative elements corresponding exclusively to Ithaca’s size
General geophysical depiction and geophysical depiction for comparison to the other islands
climate, agricultural, livestock capacity
navy ships, the number of suitors
and all these in combination with the strategic position
and importance of Ithaca within this cluster of islands
I would also like to refer to the fearful attitude of Odysseus’ father, Laertes
after the assassination of the suitors
and after the way the crime was executed
indicating his terror and fear in case all Ithacans found out
and especially that ‘the cities of the Cephallenians’ do not be told the news
This indicates that even then there was a distinction between Ithacans and Cephallenians
between locals and others
This constitutes a very important element
that optimally distinguishes the two places
5th Pillar: The tradition
Almost 3000 years of Odyssean tradition has followed and still follows life on Ithaca
It maintains the collective awareness amongst its inhabitants
the fervent interest of scholars
and undeniable archeological findings of Odyssean physiognomy
The number of place-names, of mythical and historical origin
existing on the two islands (Cephalonia, Ithaca), come from this historical tradition
The symbolic game of “Petteia” from the Hellenistic period is a product of this tradition
The last official and well documented thesis on the subject of Homeric tradition is that of
the late Cephalonian Dimitris Loukatos, professor at the University of Athens
under the title Odyssean Tradition of Folk Culture in Modern Ithaca, 1986
a study ordered by the Athens Academy
A revealing and extremely important element of tradition and, why not, of history
which has left its mark on the two islands, Cephalonia and Ithaca
are their many ancient place-names
Cephalonia, still bears pre-Homeric and Homeric place-names
deriving from mythology that have no relation to Homeric Ithaca
Eleios-Kateleios from the pre-Homeric hero, Eleios
Mount Taphion of Paliki and the Monastery of Taphiou
named after the pre-Homeric Taphians
Same, a name and place which Homer identified with the present island of Cephalonia
Dolicha, the ex municipality of Dolichieon
and the bay of Dolicha in east Cephalonia, originating from the Homeric Dulichium
and finally, the name of the island Cephalonia
which some consider derives from Cephalus
the supposed father or begetter of Odysseus
Ithaca has kept its name unchanged for the last 3000 years
and has also kept its Homeric place-names such as Alalkomenes the ancient town in Aetos
named after the alleged place of birth of both Athena and Odysseus in Boeotia
Regarding tradition, I would like to refer to the city of “Alalkomenes”
about the change in the name of the “city of the Ithacans” at around 600 BC
which some think might have occurred around 1200 BC, when Odysseus was born
The decision made by Ithacans aware
that Odysseus was born in the city that Athena was also born in
was a great moment and a great (historic) decision
This city, Alalkomenai of Boeotia, where a temple of Athena once stood
which was destroyed, if I am not mistaken, in 87 BC by the Roman Sulla
Here Athena was worshipped, we do not know if Odysseus was worshipped
What we do know is that there was a huge statue of Athena
but this change of name in itself, I think, was a very big change
and a great sample of the Ithacans’ awareness
that they were the descendants of great Odysseus
6th Pillar: The archaeological findings
The findings, objects and inscriptions to which this exhibition refers
are exclusively those of Odyssean or Homeric reference
The objects are: The 13 copper tripod-lebetes
it is of momentous importance that they were dedicated and deposited
in a natural sanctuary, a place of worship of Odysseus and of the goddesses
connected to the Homeric Epics, in the 9th century BC
100 - 150 years prior to the writing of the Epics
Sea-farers or athletes of ‘‘Odyssean games’’ honoured the Hero long
before his appraisal by the poet
It is clear that tradition preceded Homer and not the opposite
The Alektryon - ***
the bird symbol of both Athena and Odysseus
which is depicted on coins, exists in the form of idols
as a plate and also on a ring
The statuette and the lyre of Apollo
Found in the temple of Apollo in Aetos
and kept or exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Another great find are the Odyssean inscriptions
They reflect and illustrate vividly the Odyssean spirit
and the deeper convictions related to the epic, of the times to which they relate
and span a whole millennium (1000 – 100 BC)
The inscriptions honor Apollo and Artemis
children of Zeus, whose sanctuaries or temples existed in Ithaca from 1000 BC
They honor Athena and Hera
protectors of the island’s epic heroes, Odysseus and Penelope
Bear witness to the worshiping of Odysseus on the island with the inscription “ευχήν Οδυσσεί”
Make known the dedication to the Odyssey through phrases
such as rocky, rugged (κραναή) and surrounded by sea (αμφίαλος) Ithaca
They honor the Odyssean tradition on the island
with a decree engraved on a stele, from the Ithacan parliament, the “Odysseion”
The stele was discovered in Magnesia (Asia manor)
and is exhibited today in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin
It is a precious treasure that only in Ithaca and for Ithaca exists
I would like to return to the importance of the Sanctuary at Poli
and to the work done at the time by the British School at Athens
but also to the initiative of archaeologist Sylvia Benton
whose persistence and perseverance brought results to the excavation
The discovery of the tripod lebetes was a great discovery
because the tripod lebetes were an
exceptionally rare but also a great gift of the time
a gift (votive offering) that took mythical dimensions in essence
and which was to be found in great sanctuaries
such as Delphi, Olympia, Knossos and that of Ithaca
Consequently the finding which Dr. Loizos, the first to excavate, obviously saw
that of the whole lebe, was taken by him and, as is said, was later destroyed by him
The next archaeologist, Vollgraff of the French archaeological school, saw nothing
while the British School found amongst other objects, 13 lebetes
The 13 lebetes are of major importance. How is this interpreted?
Many interpret them as representing the gifts that the rulers
the royalty of Kerkyra, led by Alcinoos of course
gave to Odysseus when he left for Ithaca, this is one interpretation
Another is that they are trophies of Odyssean games
Whichever of the two is the case
it does not make the tripods anything less than a very exceptional votive offering
and provides important evidence, in the sense that
the first tripod deposited in the cave, and this I will continue to repeat
was deposited in 900 BC, which means it was placed here 100 to 150 years before the epics were written
7th Pillar The coins, the official seal, the medals and the stamps
The 4th century BC coins
The 19th century official seal of the United States of the Ionian Islands
The emblematic medals of the Ionian Islands
the Ithacan medals of 1800, and the 1939 and 1964 stamps
all portraying the head or the figure of Odysseus
comprise an original and undeniable element
of official witness to Homeric Ithaca
such as no expert in Greek literature or history
easily dares to challenge
Those who choose to ignore or distort their significance
are openly deluding themselves or are lying historically
Ithaca, through its coins, secured its position as Homeric Ithaca
in the 4th century BC with the mutual acceptance as such by its neighboring islands
In other words Odysseus wearing a cap
appears for 2.500 years on coins seals, medals and stamps of Ithaca
A little more about the coins, so I may stress the importance they had
at the time they were discovered, was the fact that they very quickly disappeared
Foreigners to the island considered that they had found what they were looking for
Odysseus’ kingdom
The demand was so great that they disappeared within a very short time
while the following amazing thing occurred, almost immediately copies were made in Italy
Copies which were sold in Ithaca and which was recorded by English travelers
8th Pillar: Ithaca’s Megaron
Odysseus’, son of Laertes, Megaron (Od. π 104, σ 24, φ 262)
The existence and the discovery of a prehistoric megaron–public building
on the “Homer’s School” site in north Ithaca
by archaeologists from the University of Ioannina
constitutes the anticipated confirmation-verification
of a centuries old series of clear indicative facts
interwoven with the island’s prehistoric
and mainly Odyssean–Homeric past
as it is shown in this exhibition
The discovery is compatible with the prehistoric and mythical origins of the island
its ancient name, evidence from Homeric narration
centuries of tradition, but also findings of Odyssean reference
such as the coins, the telling inscriptions and the objects
The irrefutable, due to its nature, conspicuous public site
according to researchers, operated with various alterations and uses
for more than 1800 years
from the pre-Mycenaean era to post roman times
while the “Odyssean facility” – the Μέγαρον Οδυσσέως –
on which our interest is focused, is from about 1200 BC
The defining elements and the stability of the megaron
which visibly relates to the physical, sitting on two flat, terraced, rock-beds
but also the carved staircase connecting them
comprise two strong architectural and archaeological elements
These, together with the well described crucial location of the megaron
constitute determining factors that identify the Odyssean megaron with the present facility
Unless this is a case of a coinciding structure rarely encountered and described
The site of Aghios Athanassios is a palatial site
proven so by its natural position and as it is portrayed by its history
The archaeologists from the University of Ioannina say that
it was used as a palatial area for 1800 years
In any case, one element is its grand public position
While a second is its similarity to the description in the Odyssey
Especially concerning the two terraces
the stairs, the actual site and of course the content of the area
which is clearly palatial
A third element is that the palace sits on a site
containing all kinds of Odyssean and Homeric remains
the exhibition deals with all of this, it exhibits, it displays to show what?
That amongst these, the existence of the palace is something very-very natural
Some search for palaces on irrelevant sites
and this is their mistake
In Ithaca the palace exists in an area that is Homeric
that is proven as Odyssean by specific findings
9th Pillar: Historical and traditional facts
The Historical and traditional elements that follow
clearly portray a collective consciousness of both Ithacans and foreigners
regarding Odyssean awareness and symbols of Ithaca
which appeared within the course of almost 3000 years, from 1000 BC until today
From those dates that are more than thirty (30)
we will refer to 4 and specifically:
1797 AD. The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, in honor of Homeric Ithaca
named the island as seat of one of the three Departments of the Ionian
which included Leucas, Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos
Cephalonia and the areas of Preveza and Vonitsa
This was the “Departement d’Ithaque”
In the same year French Citizen Arnaut, representing Napoleon’s French Empire
after the conquest of Ithaca, raised the French flag in the ruins of the then alleged
Odyssean palace of Aetos
1807 AD. Ithaca offered a war ship for the defense of Leucas
against the threat of Ali Pasha of Yannina, named “Penelope”
Two years later Ithaca offered a second war ship named “Odysseus”
1821 AD. Ithaca was honorably chosen as seat of the first Greek University
but later rejected for political reasons in favor of Corfu
Finally, in 1823 AD. Lord Byron, declared that if this island belonged to me
I would bury all my books here and never go away
As to tradition I would like to emphasize a point as I myself
have gone through all the stages of seamanship
that the Ithacan mercantile fleet during the beginning of the last century
Ithacans honoring their name
used the whole range of names from the Odyssey to name their ships
to bring these epic names to ports all over the world
The first Ithacan insurance company was also called Odysseus
and all Ithacan societies over the world were named Odysseus
10th Pillar: The indirect elements of proof
The indirect elements of proof that verify the Odyssean heritage of Ithaca
are equally strong and as admissible as the direct ones
There are in fact three main indirect elements and these are:
First, the failed theories attempting to place Homeric Ithaca elsewhere
Without exception all heretic, arbitrary and contradictory theories
seeking Homeric Ithaca outside the present Ithaca
have failed to achieve their purpose
and did not survive even to the appearance of the next theory
Ithaca’s identity has been verified repeatedly and indirectly
while its deniers have received but ephemeral “Homeric” publicity
which for most was, perhaps, their objective
Late professor Ioannis Kakridis attributed that:
“There is no reason to differentiate Homeric with historical Ithaca.”
The Second indirect elements of proof is
The archaeological pillaging, taking place in the homeland of Odysseus
It was selected amongst the four most favorite archeological sites to be pillaged
the others being: the Parthenon of Athens, the temple of Aphaia in Aegina
and the temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (Peloponnese)
The island of Ithaca at the beginning of the 19th century was pillaged
for the exclusive reason that it was the home of Odysseus
The third proof is the interest in Homer’s Ithaca
Interest in Homer’s Ithaca has always been lively
and the number of those involved, as either advocates or dissenters
is characteristic of the amount of interest
Relating to indirect proof and failed theories concerning Homeric Ithaca
Cephalonian (for example) theories developed on three axes
The first axis, with two theories
exchanges the names of the islands
so that Cephalonia became Ithaca and Ithaca Same
These failed due to the size of the island
The second axis is based on the information
that Ithaca is the highest towards zophon (allegedly west)
and so the most ideal place on Cephalonia was the Palliki peninsula
Four theories developed around Palliki
but nothing was discovered except that it is Palliki
and that it was somehow cut off, submerged, risen and so on
The third axis on which Cephalonian theories relate
It concerns 4 more theories developed with such tactic and prospect
was that of the partition of the island of Cephalonia
The last theory, that of Poros for example
cuts away a part of East Cephalonia which it considers an island
and which appears as Homeric Ithaca!
These are the means, the axes on which
our neighboring and dear Cephalonia relate its theories
This exhibition aims to display, to make known the –alleged- “problem”
to maximize and to evince towards all and any direction
that there is one and only one Ithaca, present Ithaca, historical Ithaca
is the Ithaca of Odysseus
This will sooner or later manifest and be proven!
This exhibition is an effort in this direction