Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle as they begin their journey through Homer’s Odyssey. Discover the meaning of polytropos, the growth of Telemachus, and how the Latin language tradition interprets this Greek masterpiece.
Introduction: A Wintry Day in the Vomitorium
Welcome back to the “vomitorium,” listeners! In Episode 22 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, hosts Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe are braving the “cold, wintry day” in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While the weather outside is frightful, the discussion inside is temperate as the hosts embark on a monumental journey.
This week marks the beginning of a multi-part series on one of the foundational texts of Western literature: Homer’s Odyssey. While students of the Latin language often spend their time with Vergil’s Aeneid, it is impossible to fully appreciate the Roman epic without understanding its Greek predecessor. After all, before there was Aeneas, there was Odysseus.
Whether you are reading Fagles, Lattimore, or struggling through the original Greek, this episode sets the stage for the adventures of the “Man of Many Turns.”
The Invocation: Andra vs. Virum
The episode begins where all great epics begin: with the Invocation of the Muse.
Dr. Noe recites the famous opening line in Greek:
Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, polytropon…
“Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways…”
For the Latin language student, this line echoes immediately with the opening of Vergil’s Aeneid: Arma virumque cano (“I sing of arms and the man”).
- The Greek Andra: Meaning “Man” (specifically a male hero).
- The Latin Virum: The direct equivalent used by Vergil.
However, the hosts point out a key difference. The Iliad begins with Menin (Rage/Wrath). The Odyssey begins with Andra (Man). This signals a shift from a poem about a specific emotion (Achilles’ rage) to a poem about a specific character: Odysseus.
** Polytropos: The Man of Many Turns**
The defining epithet for Odysseus in the first line is polytropos.
- Poly = Many.
- Tropos = Turns or Ways.
Dr. Winkle notes that this word is incredibly difficult to translate. It means “much-turned” or “of many ways.”
- Lattimore translates it as: “The man of many ways.”
- Fagles translates it as: “The man of twists and turns.”
- Antisthenes (a pupil of Socrates): Argued that it doesn’t mean Odysseus is a liar (“shifty”), but that he is adaptable. He has the right tool for every situation.
In the Latin language, this quality is often associated with the virtue of prudentia (foresight/wisdom) or sometimes astutia (cunning). Odysseus is the ultimate survivor because he can adapt his speech and behavior to fit his audience, whether it is a goddess, a king, or a swineherd.
The Telemachy: A Bildungsroman
The first four books of the Odyssey are often called the Telemachy because Odysseus is conspicuously absent. Instead, the focus is on his son, Telemachus.
The Setup:
The Trojan War has been over for 10 years. Odysseus has been gone for 20 years total. Telemachus is now a young man of 20, but he is stuck in a state of arrested development.
Dr. Noe describes this section as a Bildungsroman (a coming-of-age story). Telemachus begins the poem as a passive, whiny figure. He sits among the suitors, daydreaming that his father might suddenly return and fix everything. He is “passive” and “impotent” in the face of the chaos in his house.
Enter Athena (Mentes/Mentor):
The goddess Athena, Odysseus’s patron, arrives in disguise to jumpstart Telemachus’s growth. She first appears as Mentes, a Taphian chieftain, and later as Mentor (giving us the modern English word for a teacher/guide).
She shames Telemachus into action:
“You must not cling to your boyhood any longer—it’s time you were a man.” (Fagles translation).
The Suitors: Violation of Xenia
The antagonists of the Telemachy are the Suitors (Mnesteres). There are 108 of them living in Odysseus’s palace, eating his food, drinking his wine, and sleeping with his slave girls—all while trying to marry his wife, Penelope.
Why are they villains?
Dr. Winkle explains that they are violating the sacred code of Xenia (Guest-Friendship). In the ancient world, hospitality was a religious duty protected by Zeus Xenios.
- Good Xenia: You feed the stranger first, then ask his name. You give gifts.
- Bad Xenia (The Suitors): They are uninvited parasites who abuse the host’s generosity.
Penelope’s Web:
We also learn of Penelope’s famous trick. She promised to choose a husband once she finished weaving a shroud for Laertes (Odysseus’s father). For three years, she wove it by day and unraveled it by night, holding off the suitors with her own brand of polytropos cunning.
Translation Wars: Fagles vs. Lattimore
The hosts briefly discuss which translation to use.
- Richmond Lattimore: Dr. Noe prefers this for its “ruggedness.” It sticks closer to the original Greek syntax and line numbers, making it scholarly but sometimes clunky.
- Robert Fagles: Dr. Winkle prefers Fagles for its speed and readability. It captures the “propulsive” nature of the narrative, even if it plays looser with the text.
For the Latin language learner, comparing these translations is a great exercise in understanding how to move between ancient and modern languages.
Conclusion: The Journey Begins
As the episode wraps up, Telemachus has set sail for Pylos and Sparta to seek news of his father. He has defied the suitors and begun his journey into manhood. Meanwhile, the “Man of Sorrows” (Odysseus) sits weeping on the shores of Calypso’s island, waiting for his story to truly begin.
Gustatory Parting Shot
Dr. Winkle leaves us with a quote from Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) regarding the delicate balance of life:
“Life is half delicious yogurt, half crap, and your job is to keep the plastic spoon in the yogurt.”
Valete!
Resources for the Classical Learner
- Hackett Publishing: For excellent translations of Homer (including the Stanley Lombardo version), use code AN2021 for 20% off at Hackett Publishing.
- The Moss Method: Want to read Homer in the original Greek? Check out Dr. Noe’s course at the Moss Method website.
Ratio Coffee: Fuel your epic journey with the Ratio 6. Use code ANCO for 15% off at Ratio Coffee.
