The Wine Red Sea:
Journeys of Odysseus
© Copyright 2014 -2024
by Peter J Ponzio
Revelations, Book VIII
Was Homer once again referring to himself in this stanza?
When Demodocus accepted Odysseus' gift, he inquired why he was so lucky to receive this gift, and the man of exploits replied:
I respect you Demodocus, more than any man alive-
surely the Muse has taught you, Zeus's daughter,
or god Apollo himself. How true to life,
all too true. . . you sing the Achaean's fate,
all they did and suffered, all they soldiered through,
as if you were there yourself or heard from one who was. (VIII,546-551)
Homer