The historical influence of Homer, the great Greek poet, and what we learn from him

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Homer was a great Greek poet and the accepted author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two great literary works from the 8th century BC that have influenced literature tremendously

But not much is known about Homer himself

In fact, there’s some debate as to whether he even existed, and if he really was the author of these great poems.

This makes Homer an enigmatic, inaccessible, mysterious figure in history

Which might just make him work more appealing

The Iliad and the Odyssey, within a couple centuries of their writing, were instant classics in literature.

Homers work was already considered essential study for all people in Greece, and even the writers in Rome

His work directly influenced the way later thinkers like Virgil, Sophocles, and Aristotle thought of and appreciated the power of literature.

Homer can be considered one of the pioneers of making written literature and storytelling a key component of culture, and making it a pursuit among intellectuals and great thinkers

Today, few people really read Homer or know much about his work.

But his influence on thinkers from the 6th century BC until today is evident.

An interesting lesson can be learned from the story of Homer

One of the reasons that there’s confusion about the true authorship of the Iliad and the Odyssey is that the basic concepts in both of these poems had actually been written about in many Greek poems before

Homer basically took those concepts, threaded a slightly new story with his own flavor, and made a hit

It shows that reading and consuming good content gives way to the creation of good content

Homer was the original content recycler.

Start paying more attention to what you read. Notice patterns and deep concepts. Draw inspiration from your favorite creators. Use their influence and guidance to make your own masterpieces with your unique signature.

If Homer, one of the literary geniuses of history, can do it, so can you.