THE CONTRAST WITH THE HOMERIC ITHACAS OF LEFKADA. WHAT IS THE SIZE OF HOMERIC ITHACA (It concerns both LEFKADA and THIAKI)?
One of the most important rhapsodies of the Odyssey is the 16th - π', regarding the geographical specification of Homer's Ithaca, is important for many reasons.
Today we will focus on one of them: The at least five-hour duration of the ship's voyage (that brought Telemachus from Pylos) from the moment it departed from Athera, - an area where father Odysseus had already arrived (at Eumaeus) to meet him - until his arrival at the main port of Ithaca, indicates that the two ports of Ithaca are far apart.
... Arriving later, the swineherd Eumaeus at the palace to inform Penelope that Telemachus had returned from Pylos, so she would not worry. He 'runs into' a messenger at the entrance, and they entered together, who had come from the aforementioned ship (which had just docked), to convey the same news to the queen:
τῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκ’ ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί. ...»
Odyssey π' (16) 333-334
... At this point, the herald and the divine swineherd met
for the same news, which would tell the woman. ...
κῆρυξ, ὅς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν ...»
Odyssey π' (16) 468-469
... And a swift messenger joined (with) me from the companions,
a herald, who first spoke the words of your mother. ...
Regarding the lines at π΄ 333-334 and π΄ 468-469, they help us draw decisive conclusions about the distances on Ithaca, with the aid of the difference in travel times.
The shape of Ithaca—and its size—must be such that Telemachus' ship, after landing him on the first coast (Atheras), is obliged to spend the same amount of time reaching our port-ημέτερο λιμένα as the time required for the following:
a'. The time it took Telemachus to climb the slope to go to Eumaeus' hut where he meets his father (Odyssey ο' 15. 554-557 and π' 16. 1-4, lines 8, duration one hour), given that from where the entrance to the pigsty is, there is no visual contact with the sandy beach where the ships are anchored because Eumaeus, from there, never notices the arrival of ships, and because the difficulty and duration are confirmed by the process with the sandals that Telemachus had tied securely on his feet.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
b. The time spent on greetings, the meal, and some discussions: He asks about his mother, they eat...
- 'Who is the stranger?', description about Crete and Thesprotia,
- 'The stranger must not come to the city, I will send provisions.'
The beggar speaks at length. Telemachus explains that the people are on his side. He analyzes the problem with the suitors, sends Eumaeus to Penelope, but Eumaeus asks for instructions on whom to see and whom not to see, for example Laertes
(π΄ 5-155, lines 151, approximately one hour).
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
c. The final time needed by Eumaeus – a three-hour walk – to reach the palace where he meets the herald who has just arrived from the ship that had arrived a little earlier, while at the same time the following events occur in the pigsty:
Athena calls and transforms Odysseus. Telemachus mistakes him for a god.
- I am your father
- You are a demon
- Athena guides and transforms me.
- Ok... prolonged recognition crying (it would become night).
- How did you come? On foot?
- The Phaeacians brought me, we hid gifts with Athena, we devised a plan.
- Can we do it alone?
- We have Athena with her father!...
Instructions for: Traveling to the city and enduring humiliation patiently, hiding the household arsenal, planning secretly from everyone, testing everyone to see if they are loyal. Other details
(π' 156-322, verses 167, approximately three hours).
The total duration of these events is about 5 hours, lines from ο΄ 554 to π΄ 322, a total of 326 lines.
In any case, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar with a staff, walking behind Eumaeus, along the steep path - secretly - took four hours (they left after lunch and arrived before the evening meal!).
Dear friends, the duration of the ship's journey is very long, just like the duration of events from the moment he left Telemachus and he took the path uphill from the beach until the events unfolded, Eumaeus arrived at the palace, and he met the herald in front of Penelope.
In contrast, in Lefkada, the distance between Syvota and Nydri is very short...
... While the possible distances in Thiaki are minimal (see dashed lines).
Only the tour of Palliki can meet these specifications...
Nikos LIVADAS Toumasatos "ODYSSEUS ITHACA THE RIDDLE SOLVED"
Three cases are excluded from this analysis:
- The route Agios Nikitas - Nydri in Lefkada, because there was neither a harbor with docks in Agios Nikitas, nor could Eumaeus travel back and forth from there to bring messages to Nydri.
- Vathy in Thikaki and the route Afales, Frikes, Stavros, or anything that would be 'close' to Vathy, in what is today called Ithaca, because road communication for Eumaeus to make quick trips frequently from the others to Vathy is impossible.
- Karavomylos and Melissani in Kefalonia with the route to Poros, Janata, and Skala as the 'first coast', neither relate nor are discussed.
We will continue tomorrow with the chapter: e. ΠΑΕΙ ΚΑΝΕΙΣ ΠΕΖΟΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΙΘΑΚΗ; https://homericithaca.com/threads/26/.
