Author Archives: Florence and Kenneth Wood

About Florence and Kenneth Wood

Authors of Homer's Secret Iliad (John Murray, 1999) and Homer's Secret Odyssey (The History Press, 2011)

Homer and the Winter Solstice, 2017

The winter solstice inspires many column inches of popular coverage ranging from the scientific to the magical and the mysterious. The solstice on December 21, 2017, was no exception. There was also on that day, however, an astronomical event that … Continue reading

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Greece and Australia: Astronomy in pre-literate societies

THE pre-literate Greeks of Homer’s times may be thought to have had little in common with the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Research, however,  has revealed that the Greeks of Homer’s times, c. 750-650 BC,   were not alone among ancient … Continue reading

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Index

The following postings give summaries of the astronomical content of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey  Please scroll down to each section 1. Astronomy & Calendars        2. The Odyssey &  the  Iliad       3. Through the Ages 4. Odysseus … Continue reading

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1. Homer the Astronomer …

                                                       Homer, Astronomy & a luni-solar calendar by Florence and Kenneth Wood IN THE centuries after the death of Homer, the ancient world’s renowned poet and storyteller, there are intriguing references to him also being skilled … Continue reading

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2. The Odyssey and the Iliad

JUST as the literary content of the Odyssey and the Iliad is very different, so is the astronomical learning preserved in each epic. In the Iliad Homer embeded an extensive catalogue of stars and constellations based on the 49 contingents … Continue reading

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3. Homer the Astronomer through the ages

Heraclius by Johannes Moreelse In the centuries after Homer there were intriguing references to his being not only a literary genius but also an astronomer. Nevertheless there is little if anything in the historical record to say how much or … Continue reading

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4. Odysseus and the moon

THERE  is a compelling and consistent case to be made from narrative in the Odyssey that the rhythms of Odysseus’s adventures after the sacking of Troy reflect the progression of lunar months in Homer’s construction of an annual luni-solar calendar … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient Astronomy, Ancient calendars, Ancient Greek calendars, astronomical metaphor, astronomical myth, History of Astronomy, Homer, Homer the Astronomer, Homer's Secret Iliad, Homer's Secret Odyssey, Iliad, Odyssey, The Iliad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

5. Homer the Mathematician

A major advance in our study of Homer’s Odyssey as a source of astronomical learning was analysis of the considerable numerical data embedded throughout the epic. This data is directly related not only to the construction of a luni-solar calendar … Continue reading

Posted in Aeschylus, Ancient Astronomy, Ancient calendars, Ancient Greek calendars, astronomical allegory, astronomical metaphor, astronomical myth, Calendar-making, Greek drama as astronomical allegory, History of Astronomy, Homer, Homer the Astronomer, Homer's Secret Iliad, Homer's Secret Odyssey, Iliad, Odyssey, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

6. Homer and a ‘deadly secret message’

AS battle raged between Greeks and Trojans in Homer’s Iliad, two warriors confronted and challenged each other in no-man’s land. Soon, and in a strange turn of events, they established common ground and friendship before shaking hands and going their … Continue reading

Posted in Aeschylus, Ancient Astronomy, Ancient calendars, Ancient Greek calendars, astronomical allegory, astronomical metaphor, astronomical myth, encryption, Greek drama as astronomical allegory, History of Astronomy, Homer, Homer the Astronomer, Homer's Secret Iliad, Homer's Secret Odyssey, Iliad, Odyssey, The Iliad | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Astronomy and post-Homeric drama

In Greek Moon, A study of Greek drama as astronomical allegory, Dr Michael Buhagiar explores works by Aeschylus and Sophocles for astronomical connotations and a possible continuity with the  astronomy of Homer’s Secret Odyssey and Homer’s Secret Iliad . Dr … Continue reading

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