Odysseus' return from Trojan War dated

[Athena-Nadine]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25337041/

In the epic "Odyssey," one of the cornerstones of Western literature, the legendary Greek hero Odysseus returns to his queen Penelope after enduring 10 years of sailing the wine dark sea.

Now scientists have pinned down his return to April 16, 1178 B.C., close to noon local time, according to astronomical references in the epic poem that seem to pinpoint the total eclipse of the sun on the day that Odysseus supposedly returned on.

[Brightshores]

That's really a great article... it's amazing how accurate Homer seems to have been, even writing 400 years after the fact!

[Theres]

yes, a very interesting article.
i found most of the evidence compelling, except for the part about the motion of the planet Mercury.

[Kadynas]

Here's the astrological chart if anyone's interested. The eclipse was in Aries, right at the Midheaven. The Ascendant was Cancer, conjunct the lot of Fortune. :)

[Autolykos]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25337041/

There is at least one problem with this--Homer was a product of an oral tradition, going back probably to the fall of the Mykenaian kingdoms. So, at best, this pins down one of the written versions. Pisistratus, I think, compiled the versions we have now.

[forestrangergrrl]

There is at least one problem with this--Homer was a product of an oral tradition, going back probably to the fall of the Mykenaian kingdoms. So, at best, this pins down one of the written versions. Pisistratus, I think, compiled the versions we have now.

that was kinda what i was thinking as well. it's still interesting tho'.