Homer and the Oral Tradition

This was such a fun image to make, as I'm a huge fan of the Iliad and Odyssey epics. My own personal "Ode to Homer". As we know so little about Homer, I wanted to place his face and upper silhouette in shadow to emphasize the mystery of his identity. From my initial thumbnail, I knew I wanted a stark contrast between the warm glow of the campfire as a light source on the figures, and the sparkling stars above. Once I reached the 3rd step, the color sketch stage, I felt I had the right balance of warm versus cool colors. It was important to me for this image to feel enchanting and charming, as I associate Homer's tale with literary enchantment. Initially the surrounding figures were meant to be peasants or travelers, but for educational purposes, I later chose to label them as the "Homeridae", the family or clan who spread his works and promoted his literary legacy.

I am Homer, a shadowy figure steeped in the mysteries of time. Am I an ancient Aedo, a bard of epic poetry, memorizing thousands of lines of poetry and orating my tales for noble banquets or rowdy taverns? Or perhaps, I am a collective of poets, refining our verses across the ages? Alas, such truths may forever elude your grasp. They say I live around the 8^th century BC, and though credited as the poet of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," the proof of my authorship remains elusive. The scholarly discourse of my identity and works is known as the "Homeric Question.” Single author or collective effort? Oral tradition or written word? The dates of my compositions? The debates continue ever on through the historic halls of academia.