1OnancientandmodernlocalizationofOdysseusjourney,seemywebpageIntheWakeof

Odysseus(...)
1LocatingtheOdysseysUnderworldwouldseemtobearidiculousendeavor.TheOdysseyisvague
abouthowOdysseusreachestheUnderworld;itsdescriptionofHadesissketchy.AndHadesisa
supernaturalplace:howcouldonediscoveritslocation?Indeed,thoseintentonfollowinginthewake
ofOdysseus,nomatterhowenthusiastic,oftensteerclearoftheUnderworld1.Butmanysince
AntiquityhavelocalizedtheOdysseanUnderworld,oratleastitsentrance.Othersforegorealityand
theorizeabouttheabstractcosmographyimpliedbyOdysseusjourneytotheHades.Betweenthese
extremesofrealworldlocalizationandmentalmappinglieawidevarietyofarguments,withdifferent
implicationsabouttheHomericepic.ConcentratingonOdysseusjourneytotheUnderworld,Iwill
explorehowthegeographyandspatialityofthewanderingsofOdysseushavebeenvariously
conceptualized.

2ThemostcomprehensivecollectionoflocalizationisbyA.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,Die
WirklicheReise(...)
2TherearemanydifferenttypesofHomericlocalization.Modernbooksthatpurporttotracethe
realjourneyofOdysseusaretypicallywrittenbyamateursoutsideofacademia,oratleastclassical
studies.SomearecomposedbysensationalistsclaimingthatOdysseussailedacrosstheAtlanticor
aroundtheworld2.ButthoserecountingautopticvisitationofMediterraneanlocales,besidesproviding
entertainmentastravelwriting,canbeofinteresttoHomerists.ExamplesofwhatIwillcallpopular
localizationwillbediscussedtowardstheendofthepaper.

3Forcriticismoflocalization,cf.A.Heubeck,BooksIXXII,inA.Heubeck,S.West&
J.B.Ha(...)
4J.S.Romm,TheEdgesoftheEarthinAncientThought,Princeton,PrincetonUniversity
Press,1992(...)
5Cf.A.Heubeck,op.cit.,p.45,whereancientandmodernlocalizationareconflatedas
equally(...)
3Whybother?,youmayask3.Popularlocalizersleadtheirreadersthroughaclose(iftendentious)
readingofthewanderings,andtheyoftenreferencerelevantancienttestimony.Theirargumentsmay
notpersuadeus,buttheirmethodiscomparabletootherconceptionsoftherelationofthejourneyof
Odysseustotherealworld.TheancientshabituallylinkedthewanderingsofOdysseustolocationsin
theMediterranean.IrefernotjusttogeographerslikeEratosthenesandStrabo4;GreekandRoman
inhabitantsofItalyandSicilybelievedthatOdysseushadvisitedtheirlands.Thiswasnotidle
whimsy;ancientlocalizationinvolvedseriousmattersoforiginsandgenealogy5.Homeristshave
theorizedabouttherealworldprovenanceofOdysseusjourneyandexploreditscosmographical
implications.MethodsofconnectingthewanderingstoMediterraneanplacesvarygreatly,but
recurringtendenciesarediscernible.Bycomparingandcontrastingthediversewaysinwhichthe
HomericUnderworldhasbeenconceptualized,wecanbetterframeourownapproachtotheOdysseys
underworldepisode.IwillstartwithaclosereadingoftheUnderworldintheOdysseybeforeturningto
cosmographicallocalization,geographicallocalization,andfinallypopularlocalization.

6ForawelltheorizedstudyofspatialperspectiveintheOdysseysnarrative,seeA.Purves,
Space(...)
4Thoughlocalizationcanbesimplistic,itexistsonacontinuousspectrumwithHomericresearch,
which,afterall,isanotherformofreception.Professionalsaswellasamateursareinterestedinthe
spatialaspectsoftheHomericpoem6.Scholarshiphasoftenexploredtheunderworldepisodes
provenanceintherealworldanditsabstractcosmography.Byconsideringthediversityofwaysin
whichtheHomericUnderworldhasbeenconceptualized,wecanbetterframeourownapproachtothe
Odysseysunderworldepisode.

ITheHomericUnderworld
5Ashaslongbeenrecognized,BookXIoftheOdysseyseemstobeginasanecromancy(the
summoningofshadesofthedead)beforeevolvingintoakatbasis(aheroicjourneytotheUnderworld
byamortal).TheseemingdisjunctionbetweennecromancyandcatabasisintheHomericepisode,as
wellassuspicionsofinterpolationforsuchsectionsasthecatalogueofwomen,thepunishmentof
sinners,andtheappearanceofHeracles,hasencouragedscepticismabouttheunityofOdysseyXI.In
myanalysisIwilltreatthewholeoftheepisodeasauthentic,andinparticularIdonotconsiderthe
presenceofbothnecromanticandcatabaticelementstobepoeticallyproblematic.Buttheseeming
conflationofthetwohasledtoverydifferentwaysoflocalizingthescene.Thenecromanticnatureof
theepisodehastemptedsometoseerealworldnekuomanteaasfoundationalforHomers
Underworld.TheOdysseysexplicitplacementoftheUnderworldattheedgeoftheearthhasinspired
otherstovisualizeOdysseusjourneyasmovementthroughanabstractcosmography.

6BeforeexploringgeographicalandcosmographicalinterpretationsoftheHomericUnderworld,we
shouldconsiderhowtheOdysseyitselfportraysit.InformationaboutOdysseustraveltothe
Underworldisverylimited.WhenOdysseusannounceshisintentiontoleaveCirce,sheconsentsbut
statesthenecessityoffirstundertakingajourneytothehomeofHadesandPersephone(XI,490491).
OdysseusindismaypointsoutthatnobodyhastravelledtoHadesinaship(502).Circerepliesthathis
shipwillreachHadeswithoutguidance,undertheforceofthenorthwind(506507).Whenhehas
travelledthroughOceanus(',508),sheadds,andreachestheshoreandgroves
ofPersephone(509),withpoplarsandwillows,heshouldbeachtheshipatOceanus(',
511).ThenheistoproceedtothehomeofHades,wherethePyriphlegethonandKokytos,thelatteran
offshootoftheStyx,flowtogetherintotheAcheronriverbyarock(512515).Circeprovidesno
furtherspatialinformationexceptforthedirectivetoturnthesacrificialanimalstowardsErebuswhile
facingbacktowardsthestreamsoftheriver(528529).TheriverisapparentlyOceanus;Erebus,
literallydarkness,wouldthenrefertotheregionofHades,ascommonly.

7OdysseussimilarlyquestionsElpenor(5758)abouthowhereachedHadesbyfoot,which
remindsone(...)
7TheactualjourneytoHadesseemstoproceedasforetoldbyCirce,thoughthedirectionoftheguiding
windisnotspecified(XI,10),andthereissomeadditionalinformation.Odysseusrecallsthattheship
sailedalldayuntilthesunset(1112),andthenreachedthelimits(',13)ofOceanus.There,
thePhaeaciansaretold,iswheretheCimmerianslive,undereverlastingnight(1419).TheGreeks
proceededalongthestreamofOceanus(21)untiltheycametotheplacespecifiedbyCirce.
OdysseusdoesnotreportthathefollowedCircesdirectionaladviceforthesacrifice,buthestatesthat
soulsimmediatelygatheredfromErebus(3637).Odysseusthensits,exceptwhenhetriesto
embracehismother,andallowsonlycertainsoulstoapproachanddrinkthesacrificialbloodinorder
tospeak(aconceitthateventuallyfadesfromthetelling).OffurtherrelevanceisTeiresiasobservation
thatOdysseusleavingthelightofthesuncametoseethedead,andAnticleiassurprisethather
livingsoncouldcrossriversandOceanus,whichsheclaimsispossiblebyshipbutnotbyfoot(155
159)7.IthasbeennoticedthatOdysseusrepliesthatnecessitybroughthimdowntoHades(,
164).Catabatictermstodescribethejourneyareemployedelsewhere:whentheshadeofAchillesasks
howOdysseusdaredtocomedowntoHades(,475),andwhenOdysseushimselfsaysto
PenelopethathewentdownintothehouseofHades(,XXIII,252).

8AfterOdysseushasconversationswithseveralheroeswhoapproachhim,insomeunexplained
mannerheisabletoviewsoulsinsideHades.WhenOdysseusandthemenleave,thecurrentcarries
theshiponOceanus(',639),withthemenrowinguntilawindofunnamed
directionimpelsit.TheshipleavesthecurrentofOceanus(XII,1)andreachestheflowofthesea
(,2),andeventuallyAeaea,wherethehouseofDawnislocatedandHeliosrises(34).
FurtherdemarcationoftheUnderworldisgiveninthesecondnkyiainBookXXIV.HereHermes
guidesthesoulsnearthestreamsofOceanus,awhiterock,thegatesofHelios,andtheplaceof
dreams(1112).Thentheyfindtheshadesinafieldofasphodel(13),whereOdysseushadearlier
observedshades(XI,539;573).

IIHomericcosmography
8SeeG.S.Kirk,J.E.Raven&M.Schofield,ThePresocraticPhilosophers,Cambridge,
CambridgeUni(...)
9Cf.IliadVII,421423;VIII,485;XIX,433434;OdysseyX,191;XII,374388;XXIV,
12;Hom(...)
10KeysourcesareMimnermus11aWest;Stesichorusfr.185PMG;seefurtherT.Gantz,
EarlyGreekM(...)
11D.Ogden,GreekandRomanNecromancy,Princeton,PrincetonUniversityPress,2001,
discussesheroi(...)
12C.SourvinouInwood,ReadingGreekDeath,Oxford,ClarendonPress,1995,p.5665,
describesOdyss(...)
9TheseHomericdetailscanbecontextualizedbyessentialcosmographicalconceptsofearlyGreek
thought8.Thecosmosisvisualizedasexistingonaxisofthehorizontalandthevertical.InearlyGreek
epic,OlympusissaidtobefarabovetheearthandHadesandTartarusarethoughtofasfarbelowearth
(IliadVIII,1316;Hesiod,Theogony720sq.).VerticalconnectionismanifestedbypillarsorAtlas.
ThesunsetsbelowtheearthintheWestandrisesintheEast,apparentlybyenteringOceanus,passing
beneaththeearth,andthenrisingfromOceanus9.InanotherconceptionnotfoundinHomer,Helios
andhischariotcirclebackhorizontallyfromtheWestonahugecup.Heraclesborrowsthiscupto
travelfromtheEasttoGeryonsErytheiainOceanus10.ThehorizontalnatureofHeracles
cosmographictravelonOceanusiscomparabletoOdysseushorizontalunderworldjourney,though
catabasisbyHeraclesandotherheroestoHadesisusuallyvertical,throughopeningsintheearth11.If
travellingtotheUnderworldbysailisunparalleledinGreekmyth,itconformsinsomewaysto
traditionalconceptsofGreekcosmography12.

13SeeN.Austin,TheOneandtheManyintheHomericCosmos,Arion1(19731974),
p.219274;D(...)
14SeeG.Cursaru,Entrelestetlouest,midi:structuresspatiotemporellesdellede
Circ(...)
10ItishardtocomprehendGreekcosmographyinaccordancewithourconceptionsoftimeand
space13.CalypsosislandOgygiaisatthenavelofthesea(I,50),forexample,yetalsoperipheral;not
coincidentallysheisthedaughterofAtlas(VII,245),usuallylocatedintheWest.CircesAeaeais
nearthehomeofthedawngoddessEosandtherisingofHelios,andsoattheeasternedgeoftheearth
(XII,34).YetOdysseusclaimsthathecannotthereperceivehislocationintermsofthecompass14.

15SeeJ.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.12,p.198.
16Cf.ParmenidesI,1114,whichmaysupportanalternatereadingoftheTheogonypassage
wherebyDa(...)
17LIMCSuppl.V,s.u.Helios105;seeG.F.Pinney&B.S.Ridgway,HeraklesattheEnds
ofthe(...)
11AnotherconfusingpassageisespeciallypertinenttodiscussionoftheHomericUnderworld.At
LaestrygonianTelepylus(Fargate)thepathsofNightandDayaresaidtobeneareachother(X,
86),inexplanationofwhyLaestrygonianshepherdspasseachotherinandoutofpasture(X,8283)15.
ThatinHesiodsTheogony(747757)NightandDaypasseachotheroverathresholdnexttoAtlas
holdingupheavenintheWest(at517518heisneartheHesperids)isseeminglyrelevanttothe
Odysseypassage16.Alsoapparentlyrelevantisablackfigurelekythosfromtheearlyfifthcenturythat
depictsHeliosandhischariothalfwayintheseawhileEosandNightridetowardseachotherontwo
fluidandcurvedpathsconnectedtoacavethatprobablysymbolizesanentrancetotheUnderworld17.

18SeeM.West,op.cit.,p.366367;A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.48,forbibliography.
19StraboIII,2,12,citesthispassagetosupporthisargumentthatTartarosisbasedon
Tartessus.
20G.Germain,GensedelOdysse,Paris,PressesuniversitairesdeFrance,1954,p.521524,
seest(...)
21SeeA.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.48,followedbyD.Nakassis,op.cit.n.13,p.224225,at
leas(...)
12Interpretationofsuchcosmographicalmaterialhasvariedmuch18.OnemightunderstandTelepylus
tobesomewhereonthewesternedgeoftheearth.AtIliadVIII,485486,HeliosfallsintoOceanus
whiledrawingblackNightupongraingivingland19.ThepassagewouldseemtoportrayNight
naturalisticallymovingovertheearthfromtheEastinthesamedirectionasDaysettingintheWest.
YetintheOdysseypassagethetwoshepherds,apparentlyinreactiontothemovementofDayand
Night,orperhapssignifyingthem,moveinoppositedirections20.Thatahypotheticallysleepless
herdsmancouldworknightanddayinTelepylus(OdysseyX,8485)hasencouragedsometoplaceit
inanexoticeastofperpetuallight,inpolaroppositiontotheCimmeriansofperpetualdarkness(XI,
1424)21.

22J.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.12,p.199,withreferencetocomparativemythology,following
G.Germa(...)
23G.Nagy,GreekMythologyandPoetics,Ithaca,CornellUniversityPress,1990,p.237.
24G.Cerri,op.cit.n.10,distinguishesbetweenaeighthcenturymentalmapoftheworldand
asix(...)
13ThelocationofLaestrygonianTelepylusandCircesAeaeaarecentraltocosmographical
reconstructionsofOdysseusjourneytotheUnderworld.Sucheffortsareessentiallyspatiallyabstract
versionsofpopularlocalization,especiallyintheirattentiontothedirectionalsequenceoftheheros
movementontheedgesoftheearthandtotheUnderworld.Accordingtomyownanalysis,Odysseusis
abletotravelfromTelepylusonthewesternornorthwesternedgeoftheworlddirectlytoCirces
Aeaeaontheeasternedgeoftheworldbecausethepointsofthecompasscollapseattheearths
periphery22.G.NagyarguesthatOdysseusarrivesatawesternAeaeafromawesternTelepylus,yet
returnstoaneasternAeaeafromtheUnderworld23.G.CerridifferentlyarguesthatOdysseusandhis
menexperiencetheiradventuresonOceanus,travellingclockwisetoTelepylusinthenorthandthen
aroundeasttoAeaea.ItismaintainedthatanearlyGreekconceptionoftheworldwouldconflatethe
ItalianpeninsulawiththeEuropeancontinent;throughawidechannelthatweknowofasthestraitsof
Messina,OdysseussailsoutwardtoOceanus,enteringbackintotheMediterraneanafterafullcircle24.

25A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.78.Thisargumenthastheadvantageofaccountingforthenorth
wind(...)
26A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.78,deniesthatOdysseustraversesOceanus,orthatithasa
farther(...)
14OneisremindedofA.HeubecksexplanationofOdysseustriptoHadesasaclockwise
circumnavigationofOceanus,startingfromAeaeaintheEast,stoppingatHadesintheWest,andthen
continuingonOceanusbacktoAeaea25.ButG.Cerrisargumentisverydifferent.Besidesthe
placementofmostofOdysseuswanderingsonOceanus,G.CerrilocatestheentrancetoHadesinthe
East,withrecoursetothemotifofHelioscup.MostlocateacosmographicalentrancetoHadesinthe
West,asthesettingofthesunwouldseemtosuggest,thoughGreekcosmographyimpliestheexistence
ofagateintheEastfromwhichHeliosrises.G.CerricontendsthatsailingthroughtheOceanus(X,
508)tothepeirataoftheOceanus(XI,13)mustmeancrossingfromAeaeaontheinnerborder
eastwardtotheouterborderofOceanus26.

15TheseabstractlocalizationsofOdysseusjourneytoHadesallfocusonthesamesuggestivedetails
inOdysseusaccount,ascontextualizedbyearlyGreekcosmography.Perhapseach,includingmy
own,isvulnerabletocriticismtotheextentthatdirectionandsequenceofmovementisemphasized.
Greekcosmographydefiesnormalmeasuresofspaceandtime.TheargumentofD.Nakassisthatthere
existeddifferentbipolarandunipolarconceptionsofsolarphenomenathatweresometimesconflated
providesthemostusefulapproachtothecomplexandoftenperplexingnatureofGreekcosmography.

IIIGeographicallocalization
27SeeL.Kim,HomerBetweenHistoryandFictioninImperialGreekLiterature,Cambridge,
CambridgeU(...)
28Cf.C.Dougherty,TheRaftofOdysseus,Oxford,OxfordUniversityPress,2001;J.
S.Burgess,(...)
16AnotherperspectiveontheHomericUnderworldfocusesonactualplacesasinspirationforthe
cosmographicaljourney.Thisisthereforeaninvestigationintoorigins,notanidentificationofthe
spatialityinHomersepic.BeliefinaMediterraneanrealitythatHomerexaggeratesisessentiallythe
methodofStrabo27.LikeEratosthenes,healsoassumesthatahistoricalOdysseusmadearealvoyage
inthewesternMediterranean(asdomostpopularlocalizersandsomeHomerists).Amorenuanced
versionofthegeographicalapproachisprovidedbymodernpostcolonialstudiesoftheHomeric
epic28.SincetheOdysseywascomposedintheageofGreekcolonizationoftheWest,itmaypresenta
mythologizedportrayalofthishistoricalcontext.Thatneednotentailmakingexactidentificationof
localesinthewanderings.Butasweshallsee,somelocalizersconsiderGreekexpansioninthewestern
MediterraneantobefoundationalfortheHomericconceptoftheUnderworld.

29Cf.E.Rohde,Psyche,NewYork,Harper&Row(EnglishtranslationbyW.B.Hillis),1966,
p.24:(...)
30E.g.,G.L.Huxley,OdysseusandtheThesprotianOracleoftheDead,PP13(1958),
p.246247(...)
 31D.Ogden,op.cit.n.11,p.XXIVXXVand4364,withD.Ogden,HowWesternwere
theAncient(...)
17Pausanias(I,17,4)claimsthatHomercreatedhisUnderworldafterviewingtheriverAcheronin
Thesprotia,tothepointoftransferringthenamesoftheThesprotianriversAcheronandCocytusto
Hades29.SinceThesprotianAcheronwasthesiteofanekuomanteonassociatedwithmythological
catabases,manyhavefoundthisapproachattractive30.D.OgdenarguesthattheThesprotian
nekuomanteonisdocumentedbytheHomericepisodeofOdysseusjourneytotheUnderworld,
maintainingfurtherthatGreekcolonistsrelocatedtheHomericepisodetoAvernusinItaly31.

32Cf.IliadII,749750;XVI,234235;OdysseyXIV,327328=XIX,296297,with
particularrefere(...)
33ForthepossibilityofaHomericconceptionofPylus(Gate)ofwesternGreeceasthe
gatesof(...)
18PausaniasassumesthatHomerinnovativelytransformedhisautopticknowledgeofThesprotian
Acheronintosomethingfantastic,buttheAcherontheoryneednotimplythataThesprotianlocation
forOdysseusunderworldjourneyissignalledbytheHomerictext.Homericmeaningisnotthesame
asHomericoriginsorreception.TheOdysseyexplicitlyspeaksofOdysseustravelingtotheedgeofthe
earthandotherwisereferencesThesprotiaasaknownpartofnorthwestGreece32.Thepoemprobably
doesnotexpectitsaudiencetoregardonelocaleasbothgeographicallyidentifiableandfantastic33.

34SeeR.J.Clark,Catabasis:VergilandtheWisdomTradition,Amsterdam,B.R.Grner,
1978,p.54(...)
35SeeM.L.West,OdysseyandArgonautica,CQ55(2005),p.3964.AtOdysseyXII,70
Circement(...)
36Creteisoftenfeaturedinthedisguisedherostales.SeeS.Reece,TheCretanOdyssey:A
Lie(...)
37G.Danek,EposundZitat:StudienzudenQuellenderOdyssee,Vienna,Verlagder
sterreichischen(...)
38G.Danek,Ibid.,explorestheOdysseysrelationtoalternativeorcompetingnarratives.Cf.
J.S.(...)
19TheThesprotianAcherontheoryisonlyoneofseveralhypothesesconcerningthegeographical
originsoftheOdyssey34.ManybelievethatthewanderingsofOdysseusarebasedonthevoyageofthe
ArgointheBlackSea35,andthereisalsoaCretanhypothesis,accordingtowhichtherealworldlying
talesofOdysseusresembleanoriginalorcompetingversionofthewanderings36.Thistheoryis
especiallyrelevanttoourconcernsbecauseofitsThesprotiancorollary,inwhichthevisitby
OdysseustotheThesprotianoracleofDodonainOdysseuslyingtales(XIV,314340;XIX,270
299)reflectsapreHomericversionofthewanderingsofOdysseus37.Arguablyasummoningofthe
shadeofTeiresiaswouldthenoccurattheAcheronnekuomanteon.Butthequestionremainswhether
preHomericmaterialhasapresencewithnarratologicalsignificanceintheOdyssey.Opinionvaries
abouttheallusiveresonanceofvestigialpreHomericmaterialintheOdyssey.TheHomericpoemmay
acknowledgeordisownitsbackgroundifitisevenawareofit38.

IVModernpopularlocalization
20PopularlocalizerstypicallyfindexplicitevidenceforreallocationsintheHomericpoem.Itisa
tropeofthegenreforthelocalizertotravelwithatextoftheOdysseyopeninhand.Someconsider
OdysseusahistoricalcharacterwhoreallydidwanderintheMediterranean;somebelievethatHomer
hadcertainlocationsinmind,perhapsaftervisitingtheseplaceshimself.Thedistinctionbetweena
historicalandafictionalizedjourneyofOdysseusisnotalwaysmade.Concernwithtracingacoherent
wholeofthejourney,characteristicofthepopularizinglocalizer,isseeminglymotivatedbyfaithinits
historicalrealityoradesiretovindicateHomersgeographicalknowledge.WheretheHomerictextis
notforthcomingwithinformation,thelocalizerseekstoexplain,oftenwiththerhetoricofdiscovery,
whatHomerreallymeant.Keytextualevidenceforpopularlocalizersincludesdirectionofwind,
durationoftravelbetweenlandings,anddescriptionoftopographicalfeatures.Autopsyisconsidered
essential;thepopularlocalizerseekstomatchfeaturesofvisitedlandscapetoHomericdescriptionsof
Odysseusstoppingpoints.

39P.Clver,SiciliaAntiqua,Leiden,1619,p.255264.
40Ibid.,p.256.
21Giventheamountofpopularlocalization,ImustdiscussitstreatmentoftheHomericUnderworldby
referencetojustafewselectexamples.Intheearly17thcenturyPhilippClver,thePolishhistorian
andgeographer,wroteanessayonthejourneyofOdysseusinhisbookaboutSicily39.P.Clver
traveledextensivelythroughthelandshewroteabout.Unlikemanypopularlocalizers,hemakesclear
fromthestartthatheisinterpretingHomerstellingofthevoyage,nottheactualvoyageofahistorical
Odysseus40.ThegeographerbelievedthatHomericlocationscouldbefoundinSicilyandItaly,andhe
portrayedtheseasstopsonacontinuous,coherentjourney.InthisP.Clveranticipatesacommon
tenetofmodernlocalization.

41Ibid.,p.260261.D.Ogden,op.cit.n.11,p.6174,convincinglyarguesthatnocaveinthe
are(...)
42P.Clver,op.cit.,p.258259.
43OnwhichseeE.D.Phillips,op.cit.n.31,withI.Malkin,op.cit.n.5,p.178209.
22P.ClverseesAvernusasthelocaleoftheOdysseanUnderworld,withacaveservingasthe
entrancetotheUnderworld41.TopographyiscentraltoP.Clversargumentation.Forexample,he
assertsthatwestnoteastSicilywasthelocationoftheCyclopes,sinceonlytheEgadiislandsoffereda
suitablecandidateforGoatIsland42.Lessrealistically,P.Clverthinksthatthewatersofthe
LucrinebayandLakeAvernusrepresenttheOceanusoftheHomericepisode.WhytheHomerictext
transformstheItalianlocationintoOceanus,hisconciseLatindoesnotarticulate.ButP.Clverisnot
interpretingtheOdyssey;instead,hecitedtheextremelybriefLatinsummaryoftheepicbythe4th
centuryAusonius.Tobefair,P.Clversknowledgeofancientmythologicalandliterarytraditionsis
superiortothatofmanyrecentlocalizers.Heisaware,forexample,ofthelegendwherebyAeneasand
OdysseustraveltoItalytogether43,andheiscertainthatAeneasvisitedAvernusintraditionslong
beforeVergil.Allthisiscommendable,exceptingtheundertheorizedlinkageofAvernustothe
HomericUnderworld.

44F.L.zuStolberg,TravelsthroughGermany,Switzerland,Italy,andSicily,London,G.G.&
J.Rob(...)
45F.L.zuStolberg,Ibid.,vol.2,p.438,translatingP.ClveronAvernus;furtheronAvernus,
s(...)
23Inthelate18thcenturyFriedrichLeopoldzuStolbergcriticizedP.Clveronthisverypointinhis
epistolaryaccountoftravelsinEurope.Heknowshisclassicalliterature,andheisalsoinformedon
localizationtheories.F.L.zuStolbergisnotnecessarilyhostiletothem;heisinclinedtothink,for
example,thattheHomericCyclopesareanexaggeratedportrayalofnativesonwestSicily44.Buthe
complainsthatP.ClverwronglyencouragesthedreamthatAvernusistheplaceoftheHomeric
Underworld45.IfHomervisitedthearea,F.L.zuStolbergstates,hewouldnothavebeenimpressed
enoughtomaketheconnection.HeisnotwillingtoconcedethatAvernusontheItalianpeninsula
couldcorrespondtoamythologicalriversurroundingtheearth,eventhroughhyperbole.

46SeeA.Wolf,op.cit.n.3,p.311312.
24Manylocalizers,itshouldbesaid,leaveOdysseustriptoHadestooneside,viewingtheepisodeas
toosupernaturaltorelatetotherealworldinanyway.Thosewhotrytomaketheconnectionmust
ignoremuchofthetext,orconstructanelaboratehypothesisinvolvingoriginarylayeringand/or
poeticalembellishment.ItisrelevantthatF.L.zuStolbergrefersapprovinglytothemapofhis
contemporaryJ.H.Voss,whichbecomesincreasinglyconceptualattheperipheryoftheMediterranean
world46.Thedevelopmentofthistypeofmapmarksanadvanceinthetheorizationofthelocalization
ofOdysseusjourney.

47V.Brard,LOdysse.Posiehomrique,Paris,LesBellesLettres,1924.Thelocalization
booksar(...)
48V.Brard,LesPhniciensetlOdysse,Paris,ArmandColin,19021903,p.312329;Les
Navigatio(...)
49V.Brard,LesPhniciensetlOdysse,Paris,ArmandColin,19021903,p.313319;Les
Navigation(...)
25Overthelasthundredyears,popularlocalizationoftherouteofOdysseushasexpandedgreatly.The
mostprominentlocalizerinthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcenturywasVictorBrard,aHomericscholar
whoproducedacriticaltextandtranslationoftheOdyssey47.V.Brardtravelledextensivelyto
Odysseanlocales(hispublicationsoftenincludedatedjournalentriesthatreadliketravelwriting).For
theUnderworldV.BrardessentiallyadheredtotheAvernustheory48.Theauthorisplausibleenough
inhisnauticaldemonstrationofadayssailsouthfromMonteCirceotoCapeMisenum,andinhis
frequentcomparisonsofvolcanicactivitytotheHomericdescriptionofHades.Thereadermaybe
forgiven,however,forbeinglessthanpatientwithadescriptionoftheLucrinelakeasOceanus,
bolsteredbyatendentiousetymologicalandgeographicalexplanation49.Etymologicalargumentation
withreferencetoSemiticrootsiscentraltoV.Brardsmainhypothesis,whichwasthatPhoenician
perploi,orshippingroutes,weretheultimatesourceofHomersinformation.Thisargumentisnot
takenseriouslytoday.AlsoproblematicistheclaimthattheidentificationofAvernusandotherItalian
siteswithOdysseusgoesbacktoprehistory.

50V.Brard,DanslesillagedUlysse,Paris,ArmandColin,1933,publishesthephotosof
FrdricB(...)
51J.Cuisenier,LePripledUlysse,Paris,Fayard,2003,p.293300.
26ButV.BrardsreturntotracingOdysseustravelonageographicallycorrectmaphasbecomethe
currentnorm,andhismethodofautopticresearchbyboathasbeeninfluential50.Forexample,atthe
beginningofthismillenniumJeanCuisenierupdatedtheseagoingapproachofV.Brard.Thougha
philosopherandanthropologistbytraining,J.Cuisenierdisplaysmuchoceanographicaland
meterologicalknowledgeinhisexpeditions.However,helargelyfollowsinthewakeofV.Brard
likehispredecessor,hesailsdownfromMonteCirceo,moorshisboatatMisenum,andwalksto
Avernus51.

52T.Severin,TheUlyssesVoyage,London,Hutchison,1987p.143150.Thegreattravel
writerPatric(...)
 53T.Severin,Ibid.,p.184193.
27AmorehistoricizingrecreationofthejourneyofOdysseuswasmadeinthe1980sbyTimSeverin,
whohasmadeacareeroutofretracingjourneys,bothhistoricalandfictional.ForGreekmyth,
T.SeverinfirstgavehisattentiontothevoyageoftheArgo,constructingaBronzeAgeshipinwhich
torecreatethejourney.ThisArgowassubsequentlyutilizedtorecreatethejourneyofOdysseus.The
resultingrouteintheeasternMediterraneantotheIonianIslandsisratherrestricted,portrayedasa
historicaljourneythatlaterbecamegreatlyexaggerated.OnestopisatCapeTainaron,whichhappens
tobethesiteofanancientnekuomanteon52.Acavetherewassometimeslinkedwithheroiccatabasis.
ThoughT.SeverinissympathetictotheviewthatwesternGreececouldoncehavebeenregardedas
theedgeoftheworld(cf.supran.33),hecontinuesfurthernorthtoThesprotianAcheronforthe
HomericUnderworld53.T.Severinisanexpertseamanandisreasonablywellinformedaboutancient
evidence,buttheargumentisnaivelyhistoricist.Andasoftenwithpopularlocalization,thebook
expendsmoreenergyontryingtoastoundthereaderthanexplainingthemethodologyinaclear
manner.

54L.G.Pocock,RealityandAllegoryintheOdyssey,Amsterdam,A.M.Hakkert,1959,p.72
88.
55SeeH.G.Nesselrath,op.cit.n.29.
28ThoughLakeAvernusisthefavoredlocalizationofOdysseusUnderworld,bothinAntiquityand
postAntiquity,othertheorieshaveoccasionallyarisen.OnewouldplacetheOdysseanUnderworldat
orjustoutsidethepillarsofHeracles.Inthe1950sLewisPocockarguedatlengthforthis
identification,thoughasanadmirerofSamuelButlersTheAuthoressoftheOdysseyhefocusedon
Sicilyformostofhislocalizations54.SoonafterwardErnleBradford,anexperiencedsailorwitha
backgroundinClassics,madethesameargumentmorediffidently.TheGibraltarlocalizationatleast
hasthebenefitofrespectingtheperipheralnatureoftheOdysseanunderworldentrance,andthePillars
ofHeracleswerenotuncommonlyconsideredtheedgeoftheworldinearlyGreekmyth55.However,a
glanceatE.Bradfordsmapindicateswhythisidentificationisinconsistentwithhisrealworld
methodology:itistoofarwestfromtheotherlocalizationsforadaystrip.

56A.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.5361.
57W.Geisthovel,HomersMediterranean,London,HausPublishing,2010,p.91100.
58ThedescentwastraditionallyatthefountainCyanenearSyracuse.See,e.g.Diodorus
SiculusV,(...)
59A.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.30;A.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.322.
29AnotherlocalizationoftheHomericUnderworldisatEnna.ThisisproposedbyArminWolf,a
Medievalistwhowiththeassistanceofabrotherproducedthemostcomprehensivecompilationof
localizationtheories56.NotingthattheabductionofPersephonewaslocatedinthefieldsoutsideof
EnnainAntiquity,A.WolfarguesthatthisisOdysseusUnderworldentrance.Theexcellenttravel
writerWolfgangGeisthovelfollowsA.Wolfinthisandotherlocalizations,andatleastmakesthe
theoryentertainingastravelwriting57.Butofcoursethehypothesisisnotdefensibleifjudgedin
geographicalorrationalterms.PoorOdysseusmustmoorhisboatatHimera,afarwalkfromEnna,
andifEnnaisapparentlywhereHadesascends,itisnotwherehedescendswithPersephone58.
A.Wolfsargumentismotivatedbyaneedtofindanearbyunderworldentranceinthevicinityof
Sicily,aroundwhichhelocatesmostofthejourney.Butitshouldbenotedthatbeforepursuing
localizationonarealworldmaptheWolfscreateamoredefensibleschematicmap,basedonthe
Odysseysindicationofwinddirectionanddurationoftravel59.
30OnecannotfindmuchclarityintheOdysseyaboutthespatialityofOdysseuswanderings,real
worldorotherworld.Thewanderingsaretoldbyacharacterwhoisperpetuallylost,andhistravelto
theunderworldepisodedependsontheinstructionsandmagicalassistanceofCirce.Aswith
indicationsoftravelintherestofthewanderings(usuallywinddirectionanddurationofsailing),the
informationthatOdysseusreportsabouthisvoyagetoandbackfromtheUnderworldismeagerand
incomplete.TheOdysseywouldseemmoreinterestedinexploringthepoeticsofOdysseusmeeting
shadesthanprovidinganitinerary,explicitorlatent,fortraveltoandfromHades.Theepicdoesnot
plausiblymotivatethejourneyandseemsunconcernedbyinconcinnity,suchastheapparentconflation
ofnecromancywithcatabasis.

60OntheoriesofHomerichintingbyancienthistoriansandStrabo,seeL.Kim,op.cit.n.28,p.
30(...)
31ItmaybethattheOdysseyassumesanaudienceconversantwithGreekcosmographyandthusable
tocomprehendthespatialityofthissupernaturaljourney.Acosmographicalinterpretationof
OdysseustraveltoHades,evenifinsufficientlysupportedbytheevidenceofthetext,mightserveto
informthemodernaudienceofthepropermentalitwithwhichtounderstandanancientconceptionof
thetrip.Butlocalizerstendtodisregardreceptionofthepoem,portrayingthemselvesasuncovering
hiddenmeanings.Itisthetextsinsufficientevidenceandinconsistencythatoffersopportunityfor
originalanalysis.Ancientaswellasmodernlocalizerswouldhaveusbelievethatthewanderings
containkeybitsofinformationaboutrealMediterraneanlocations,whethervestigialorallusive60.
ConceivingofthetextasatransformedorveiledaccountofanactualjourneybyahistoricalOdysseus,
theyareconfidentintheirabilitytocrackitscode.

32Suchaninterpretativestanceshouldbemetwithscepticism.Butweshouldalsorecognizethat
Homeristsindulgeinsimilarproclivities,iflessbaldlyandclumsily.Withrecoursetovaryingdegrees
ofhistoricismandintentionalism,theyhaveinterpretedthewanderingsasareflectionortransformation
ofaprecedingreality.ThesuppositionthattheHomericwanderingsinnovativelymodifya
geographicallyanchoredversionofthewanderings,asinthelyingtales,isespeciallypopular.The
possibilitythattheHomericpoeminspiredsubsequentlocalizationisoflessinteresttoHomerists,
sincelocalizationisdismissedasnonHomeric.

33InthesensethattheepicwantsustothinkthatitsHeroicAgeherotravelsinunknownlands,
localizationisindeednonHomeric.Butancientlocalizationofthewanderings,whichmaybean
organicaspectofOdysseanmythratherthanreceptionoftheOdyssey,isanimportantaspectofthe
culturalhistoryofAntiquity.Andlinkageoftheunderworldepisode,withrealworldnekuomanteaas
suggestedinAntiquityandinmodernscholarship,isofcontextualrelevancetotheOdyssey.Though
thepoemdoesnotlocatethesceneataknowngeographicalplace,thebehaviorofOdysseussuggests
necromancy.Therelevanceofhistoricalplacesofnecromancytothepoem,whetherintermsoforigins
orreception,shouldcontinuetobediscussed.

61SeeJ.S.Burgess,BelatednessintheTravelsofOdysseus,inF.Montanari&A.
Rengakos(eds)(...)
34Thoughlocalizationofthewanderingsinallitsformsisflawed,itremainsproblematic,inthe
mannerofEratosthenes,toportraytheHomericaccountofthejourneyofOdysseusasmerepoetic
fantasy.Thispointofview,bothinAntiquityandinthemodernworld,tendstocontaintheunfortunate
implicationthatmythandpoetryarefreeofthetaintoftherealworld.Wecertainlyshouldavoid
succumbingtoahistoricistbeliefintherealityofOdysseusjourneyoranintentionalistinterpretation
ofHomershiddenmeaning,butitisalsoproblematictoinsistthatthismythologicalstoryofaHeroic
AgejourneyiscompletelydivorcedfromtheworldcontemporarytotheOdysseyscomposition.The
HomerictextdoesnotplacethewanderingsofOdysseusinlocationsknowntothehero,butthe
wanderingswouldseemtooccurinaMediterraneaninhabitedbyexoticnonGreeksaswellasmore
supernaturalbeings61.Thepostcolonialinterpretationoftheepicasemployingdiscoursesarisingfrom
historicalandgeographicalrealitiesofthetimeofitscompositionavoidsthepositivismofother
interpretativepositionssurveyedabove.Theconcernsofthisapproach,however,arenotasrelevantto
underworldepisode.

62TociteskilledUnitarianstudiesofBookXIoftheOdyssey,seeG.Crane,op.cit.n.30;
O.Tsa(...)
63IthankthestudentresearcherswhohaveworkedonmyIntheWakeofOdysseus
website,withpa(...)
35Mydiscussionmayseemunusuallyaccommodatingofpopularlocalization,whichisroutinely
rejectedbytheacademicworld.Butbesidesidentifyingdifficultiesofpopularlocalization,Ihave
pointedoutthatitsmethodologyiscomparabletothatofHomeriststosomedegree62.Bothpopular
localizationandHomericstudiesundertakeclosereadinginasearchforclues,andtheargumentsof
bothcanbebreathtakingintheirboldness.ThismayseemtocondemnthepropensityofHomeriststo
speculateasmuchasitdefendspopularlocalization.Butthespatialityofthewanderingsremainsa
fascinatingandimportanttopic,ifbestpursuedwithselfconsciousawarenessofourassumptionsand
methodology63.

Hautdepage
Notes
1OnancientandmodernlocalizationofOdysseusjourney,seemywebpageIntheWakeof
Odysseus.OnesectionconcernsTheUltimateJourney:TheUnderworld.L.Antonelli,Le
LocalizzazionidellaNkyiadiOdisseoinL.Braccesi(ed.),Hesperi:StudisullaGrecitdi
Occidente,Rome,LErmadiBretschneider,1995,vol.5,p.203222,surveysmethodsoflocalizingthe
Nkyia.

2ThemostcomprehensivecollectionoflocalizationisbyA.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,DieWirklicheReise
desOdysseus,Munich/Vienna,LangenMller,1983.MywebsiteIntheWakeofOdysseus
providesmorerecentexamples.SeeA.Wolf,HatteHomereineKarte?Karlsruhe,Fachhochschule
Karlsruhe,1997,forexpositionofArminWolfsownthesis.A.Wolf,MappingHomersOdyssey,
inG.Tolias&D.Loupis(eds),EasternMediterraneanCartographies,Athens,Institutefor
NeohellenicResearch,2004,p.309334,usefullysurveysmapsofthejourneyofOdysseus,notingthat
comprehensivetracingofthewholejourneyisakeycharacteristicofmodernlocalization.

3Forcriticismoflocalization,cf.A.Heubeck,BooksIXXII,inA.Heubeck,S.West&
J.B.Hainsworth(eds),ACommentaryonHomersOdyssey,Oxford,ClarendonPress,1990,vol.2,
p.47;J.S.Romm,OdysseusWanderings,inM.Finkelberg(ed.),TheHomerEncyclopedia,
Malden/Oxford,Blackwell,2011,vol.2,p.587.

4J.S.Romm,TheEdgesoftheEarthinAncientThought,Princeton,PrincetonUniversityPress,1992,
p.183195,surveysgeographicaldebateaboutOdysseusjourneyinAntiquity.
5Cf.A.Heubeck,op.cit.,p.45,whereancientandmodernlocalizationareconflatedasequally
pointless.SeeI.Malkin,TheReturnsofOdysseus,Berkeley,UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1998,
forthehistoricalandgeographicalemploymentofnostoimyths,includingthatofOdysseus.

6ForawelltheorizedstudyofspatialperspectiveintheOdysseysnarrative,seeA.Purves,Spaceand
TimeinAncientGreekNarrative,Cambridge,CambridgeUniversityPress,2010,p.6596.

7OdysseussimilarlyquestionsElpenor(5758)abouthowhereachedHadesbyfoot,whichreminds
oneofatypologicalquestionputtonewcomerstoIthaca,sometimesseenasajoke.Cf.OdysseyI,171
173=XIV,188190;XVI,5759and222224.

8SeeG.S.Kirk,J.E.Raven&M.Schofield,ThePresocraticPhilosophers,Cambridge,Cambridge
UniversityPress,1983(1957),p.913,foranoverview.Hesiodisessential;seeD.Clay,TheWorld
ofHesiod,Ramus21(1992),p.131155.D.Ogden,DimensionsofDeathintheGreekandRoman
Worlds,inP.Gemeinhardt&A.Zgoll(eds),Weltkonstruktionen,Tbingen,MohrSiebeck,2010,
p.103131,insightfullydiscussesthespatialandtemporalaspectsoftheGreekUnderworldfromthe
perspectiveofnekuomantea.

9Cf.IliadVII,421423;VIII,485;XIX,433434;OdysseyX,191;XII,374388;XXIV,12;
HomericHymntoHermes6869.SeefurtherA.Ballabriga,LeSoleiletletartare:Limagemythique
dumondeenGrcearchaque,Paris,ditionsEHESS,1986.

10KeysourcesareMimnermus11aWest;Stesichorusfr.185PMG;seefurtherT.Gantz,Early
GreekMyth,Baltimore,JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1993,p.31,andG.Cerri,LAdeadOriente,
viaggioquotidianodelcarrodelSoleedirezionedellacorrentedellOceano,inL.Breglia&
A.Moleti(eds),Hespera.Tradizioni,Rotte,Paesaggi,Paestum,Pandemos,2014,p.169172,for
discussion.

11D.Ogden,GreekandRomanNecromancy,Princeton,PrincetonUniversityPress,2001,discusses
heroiccatabasisatnecromanticsites.

12C.SourvinouInwood,ReadingGreekDeath,Oxford,ClarendonPress,1995,p.5665,describes
OdysseusjourneytoHadesasinnovative.NonGreekMesopotamian,Egyptian,andIndoEuropean
traditionsarecomparable,however;seeJ.S.Burgess,OdysseusandGilgameshintheOtherworld,
ClassicalViews/chosdumondeclassique18(1999),p.171210.

13SeeN.Austin,TheOneandtheManyintheHomericCosmos,Arion1(19731974),p.219
274;D.Nakassis,GeminationattheHorizons:EastandWestintheMythicalGeographyofArchaic
GreekEpic,TAPhA134(2004),p.215233.TheobservationsofD.Ogden,op.cit.n.8,onthe
elasticityofspaceandtimeintheUnderworldarerelevant.

14SeeG.Cursaru,Entrelestetlouest,midi:structuresspatiotemporellesdelledeCirc,
LEC76(2008),p.3964,forthespatialtemporalcomplexityofAeaea.Humanperceptionofspatiality
maybeimpossibleattheedgeoftheearth,butseeJ.S.Burgess,BelatednessintheOdyssey,in
F.Montanari,A.Rengakos&C.C.Tsagalis(eds),HomericContexts:Neoanalysisandthe
InterpretationofOralPoetry,Berlin,deGruyter,2012,p.276277,foralesscosmographical
interpretationofthispassage.
15SeeJ.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.12,p.198.

16Cf.ParmenidesI,1114,whichmaysupportanalternatereadingoftheTheogonypassagewhereby
DayandNightareseparate.ThisisrejectedbyD.Nakassis,op.cit.,p.218n.13,following
M.L.West,Hesiod:Theogony,Oxford,OxfordUniversityPress,1966,p.366367.D.Nakassis
arguesthatfromacosmicorpanopticperspectivethesunisconceivedtoriseandsetinauni
polarlocation.

17LIMCSuppl.V,s.u.Helios105;seeG.F.Pinney&B.S.Ridgway,HeraklesattheEndsofthe
Earth,JHS101(1981),p.141144,whoseinterpretationIfollowatJ.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.12,
p196197,thoughseeingpathsnotmist.

18SeeM.West,op.cit.,p.366367;A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.48,forbibliography.

19StraboIII,2,12,citesthispassagetosupporthisargumentthatTartarosisbasedonTartessus.

20G.Germain,GensedelOdysse,Paris,PressesuniversitairesdeFrance,1954,p.521524,sees
theshepherdsasmetaphorsforDayandNight.

21SeeA.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.48,followedbyD.Nakassis,op.cit.n.13,p.224225,atleastfrom
abipolarperspective.Crates(schol.adX,86)initiatedthepopulartheorythatdescriptionof
Telepylusreflectsknowledgeoflongdaysinthefarnorth.SomebelievewithStrabo(III,2,12)that
HomerinnovativelytransferredhistoricalCimmeriansoftheEasttotheWest.Ontherelationbetween
HomericCimmeriansandthehistoricalCimmeriansseeA.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.7779;D.Ogden,
op.cit.n.11,p.44.

22J.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.12,p.199,withreferencetocomparativemythology,following
G.Germain,op.cit.,p.414417and421422.

23G.Nagy,GreekMythologyandPoetics,Ithaca,CornellUniversityPress,1990,p.237.

24G.Cerri,op.cit.n.10,distinguishesbetweenaeighthcenturymentalmapoftheworldandasixth
centuryconception;actualmapsareprovidedasdemonstration.The1926mapbyAlbertHerrmann
similarlyplacedtheCyclopes,Laestrygonians,andCimmeriansontheinnershoreofOceanus
(A.Wolf,MappingHomersOdyssey,inG.Tolias&D.Loupis(eds),EasternMediterranean
Cartographies,Athens,InstituteforNeohellenicResearch,2004,p.316).A.Wolfincludesanumber
ofmodernmapsofthevoyageofOdysseuswithageographicallycorrectcentralMediterranean
surroundedbyhazieroutlinestowardsOceanus.Cf.theconceptualmapbyA.Ballabriga,LesFictions
dHomre.LinventionmythologiqueetcosmographiquedanslOdysse,Paris,Pressesuniversitaires
deFrance,1998,p.111,representinganArchaicAgeconceptoftheworld.

25A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.78.Thisargumenthastheadvantageofaccountingforthenorthwind
(X,507)thatimpelsOdysseusshipatthestartofthejourney,asG.Cerrisexplicationdoesnot.

26A.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.78,deniesthatOdysseustraversesOceanus,orthatithasafarther
shore.
27SeeL.Kim,HomerBetweenHistoryandFictioninImperialGreekLiterature,Cambridge,
CambridgeUniversityPress,2010,p.4784,foranincisiveexplorationofStrabosattitudetowards
Homer.

28Cf.C.Dougherty,TheRaftofOdysseus,Oxford,OxfordUniversityPress,2001;J.S.Burgess,
IfPeopledandCultured:BartramsTravelsandtheOdyssey,inG.R.Ricci(ed.),Travel,
Discovery,Transformation,NewBrunswick,TransactionPublishers,2014,p.1944,with
bibliography.

29Cf.E.Rohde,Psyche,NewYork,Harper&Row(EnglishtranslationbyW.B.Hillis),1966,p.24:
Homerknowsnothingofnecromancyortheoraclesofthedead;seefurtherp.52,n.73.Pausanias
alsoreportsthatOrpheusvisitedtheThesprotiannekuomanteon(IX,30,6)andthatHeraclesbrought
thewhitepoplar(V,14,23,cf.X,510)fromThesprotianAcheronintoGreece.Evidencefornorthwest
GreeklocalizationhasbeenfoundatOdysseyXXIV,11:thesoulsoftheslainsuitorspassbyawhite
rock,perhapstheLeukadianclifffromwhichSappholeapt(seeG.Nagy,op.cit.n.23,p.223
262).SeeA.Heubeck,BooksXXIIIXXIV,inA.Heubeck,S.West&J.B.Hainsworth(eds),A
CommentaryonHomersOdyssey,Oxford,ClarendonPress,1992,vol.3,p.360,withD.Ogden,
op.cit.n.11,p.44;H.G.Nesselrath,WheretheLordoftheSeaGrantsPassagetoSailorsthrough
theDeepBlueMereNoMore:TheGreeksandtheWesternSeas,G&R52(2005),p.154.The
shadesfirstpassOceanus,however.R.G.EdmondsIII,Underworld,Topographyof,in
M.Finkelberg(ed.)TheHomerEncyclopedia,Malden/Oxford,Blackwell,2011,vol.3,p.909,links
thewhiterockofXXIV,11totherockbyunderworldriversatX,515.

30E.g.,G.L.Huxley,OdysseusandtheThesprotianOracleoftheDead,PP13(1958),p.246
247;W.Burkert,GreekReligion,Cambridge,Blackwell(EnglishtranslationbyJ.Raffan),1985,
p.114;G.Crane,Calypso:BackgroundsandConventionsoftheOdyssey,Frankfurt,Athenum,
1988,p.93;J.Marks,ZeusintheOdyssey,Washington/Cambridge,CenterforHellenicStudies,
2008,p.102;S.West,OdysseanStratigraphy,inO.Andersen&D.T.T.Haug(eds),Relative
ChronologyinEarlyGreekEpicPoetry,Cambridge,CambridgeUniversityPress,2012,p.129130.
SeeA.Heubeck,op.cit.n.4,p.75,forfurtherbibliography.SeeD.Ogden,op.cit.n.11,p.4360,on
theAcheronnekuomanteon.

31D.Ogden,op.cit.n.11,p.XXIVXXVand4364,withD.Ogden,HowWesternwerethe
AncientOraclesoftheDead?,inL.Breglia&A.Moleti(eds),op.cit.n.10,p.231236.On
OdysseusassociatedwithAvernusbytheClassicalPeriod,seeE.D.Phillips,OdysseusinItaly,
JHS73(1953),p.56;5960;67.L.Antonelli,op.cit.n.2,p.221222,arguesforaEuboeanrolein
localizationoftheOdysseanUnderworldatThesprotianAcheronandbeyond.

32Cf.IliadII,749750;XVI,234235;OdysseyXIV,327328=XIX,296297,withparticular
referencetotheoracleatDodona,onwhichseeH.W.Parke,TheOraclesofZeus:Dodona,Olympia,
Ammon,Oxford,Blackwell,1967,p.1113;2033.

33ForthepossibilityofaHomericconceptionofPylus(Gate)ofwesternGreeceasthegatesof
Hades,seeG.Nagy,op.cit.n.23,p.226,withIliadV,397.J.Marks,op.cit.n.30,p.101,arguesthat
theOdysseysfailuretolinktheCyclopesorThrinaciatoSicilydespitereferencestotheisland(XX,
383;XXIV,211;307;366;389)resultsfrompanHellenicsuppressionoflocaltraditions.
34SeeR.J.Clark,Catabasis:VergilandtheWisdomTradition,Amsterdam,B.R.Grner,1978,
p.5472,forasurvey.

35SeeM.L.West,OdysseyandArgonautica,CQ55(2005),p.3964.AtOdysseyXII,70Circe
mentionsthattheArgopassedthroughthewanderingrocks,butthisservesrathertodistinguish
OdysseusjourneyfromthatoftheArgo,cf.J.S.Burgess,op.cit.n.14,p.273274.

36Creteisoftenfeaturedinthedisguisedherostales.SeeS.Reece,TheCretanOdyssey:ALie
TruerthanTruth,AJP115(1994),p.157173;S.West,op.cit.n.30,p.125.

37G.Danek,EposundZitat:StudienzudenQuellenderOdyssee,Vienna,Verlagder
sterreichischenAkademiederWissenschaften,1998,p.215216;J.Marks,op.cit.n.30,p.8992,
providesexcellentdiscussion.

38G.Danek,Ibid.,explorestheOdysseysrelationtoalternativeorcompetingnarratives.Cf.J.S.
Burgess,TheDeathandAfterlifeofAchilles,Baltimore,JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,2009,which
arguesfortheallusivepresenceofpreHomericmythintheIliad.

39P.Clver,SiciliaAntiqua,Leiden,1619,p.255264.

40Ibid.,p.256.

41Ibid.,p.260261.D.Ogden,op.cit.n.11,p.6174,convincinglyarguesthatnocaveintheareawas
connectedwiththenekuomanteon.TheamateurpopulizerR.Paget,IntheFootstepsofOrpheus:The
StoryoftheFindingandIdentificationoftheLostEntrancetoHades,theOracleoftheDead,theRiver
StyxandtheInfernalRegionsoftheGreeks,London,Hale,1967,claimedthattunnelsandwater
channelsunderBaiaewerethecaveandtheStyx.

42P.Clver,op.cit.,p.258259.

43OnwhichseeE.D.Phillips,op.cit.n.31,withI.Malkin,op.cit.n.5,p.178209.

44F.L.zuStolberg,TravelsthroughGermany,Switzerland,Italy,andSicily,London,G.G.&J.
Robinson(EnglishtranslationbyT.Holcroft),1797,vol.3,p.365.

45F.L.zuStolberg,Ibid.,vol.2,p.438,translatingP.ClveronAvernus;furtheronAvernus,see
vol.2,p.425and435445;vol.3,p.922and5354.

46SeeA.Wolf,op.cit.n.3,p.311312.

47V.Brard,LOdysse.Posiehomrique,Paris,LesBellesLettres,1924.Thelocalizationbooksare
LesPhniciensetlOdysse,Paris,ArmandColin,19021903,andLesNavigationsdUlysse,Paris,
ArmandColin,19271929,infourvolumes.AnappendixtoV.Brard,DanslesillagedUlysse,Paris,
ArmandColin,1933,convenientlysummarizeshisotherwiseverboselyexpressedviews.

48V.Brard,LesPhniciensetlOdysse,Paris,ArmandColin,19021903,p.312329;Les
NavigationsdUlysse,Paris,ArmandColin,1929,vol.4,p.346374.E.D.Phillips,op.cit.n.31,
p.161162,findsV.BrardslocalizationinwesternItalyofinterest.
49V.Brard,LesPhniciensetlOdysse,Paris,ArmandColin,19021903,p.313319;Les
NavigationsdUlysse,Paris,ArmandColin,1929,vol.4,p.361363.

50V.Brard,DanslesillagedUlysse,Paris,ArmandColin,1933,publishesthephotosof
FrdricBoissonnas,whoaccompaniedhimonsometravels.

51J.Cuisenier,LePripledUlysse,Paris,Fayard,2003,p.293300.

52T.Severin,TheUlyssesVoyage,London,Hutchison,1987p.143150.Thegreattravelwriter
PatrickLeighFermorhasabriefsectioninwhichhevisitsthecaveofHadesatCapeTainaron
(Mani.TravelsintheSouthernPeloponnese,NewYork,Murray,1958,p.129132).Hislocalguide
actuallytakeshimtoaseasidecave,nottheundergroundcavernassociatedwiththenekuomanteon.
P.L.Fermorsevocativeprosedoesrewarduswithavividdescriptionofhisswimintheseacave,as
wellasabriefandrathermisleadinglyvaguesummaryofthecapesassociationwithheroiccatabases
(forOdysseus,heprefersThesprotianAcheron).

53T.Severin,Ibid.,p.184193.

54L.G.Pocock,RealityandAllegoryintheOdyssey,Amsterdam,A.M.Hakkert,1959,p.7288.

55SeeH.G.Nesselrath,op.cit.n.29.

56A.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.5361.

57W.Geisthovel,HomersMediterranean,London,HausPublishing,2010,p.91100.

58ThedescentwastraditionallyatthefountainCyanenearSyracuse.See,e.g.DiodorusSiculusV,3
4;Cicero,VerresIV,107,withD.Ogden,op.cit.n.8,p.108109.

59A.Wolf&H.H.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.30;A.Wolf,op.cit.n.2,p.322.

60OntheoriesofHomerichintingbyancienthistoriansandStrabo,seeL.Kim,op.cit.n.28,p.30
35;51.

61SeeJ.S.Burgess,BelatednessintheTravelsofOdysseus,inF.Montanari&A.Rengakos(eds),
op.cit.n.14,p.269290.

62TociteskilledUnitarianstudiesofBookXIoftheOdyssey,seeG.Crane,op.cit.n.30;
O.Tsagarakis,StudiesinOdysseyXI,Stuttgart,Steiner,2000,andS.West,op.cit.n.30.G.Craneand
O.Tsagarakiswellsurveypotentialinfluences,includingnecromancy,butdefendtheepisodespoetic
coherence.S.WestacknowledgesproblemsinordertotracehowHomerchangedhistextovertime.

63IthankthestudentresearcherswhohaveworkedonmyIntheWakeofOdysseuswebsite,with
particulargratitudefortheresearchofHanaCarrozza,MayaChakravorty,andTimPerryforthisstudy.
IamgratefulforfundingfromtheSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilofCanada.

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JonathanS.Burgess,LocalizationoftheOdysseysUnderworld,Cahiersdestudesanciennes,
LIII|1,1537.

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JonathanS.Burgess,LocalizationoftheOdysseysUnderworld,Cahiersdestudesanciennes
[Enligne],LIII|2016,misenlignele10avril2016,consultle12avril2017.URL:
http://etudesanciennes.revues.org/906

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JonathanS.Burgess

UniversityofToronto

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