Abstract

TAPIA ZUNIGA, Pedro C.. Death in Homer’s Odyssey. Andamios [online]. 2017, vol.14, n.33, pp.23-44. ISSN 2594-1917.

The aim of this paper is to present an outline of what Homer says about death in the Odyssey through a collation of the most significant concepts (thánatos, thanein, moira, kér, phónos). It distinguishes between dying, death and the way of dying as different rational realities, although they are intimately linked. In this way, the paper explores what Homer thought and what was thought at his time about death and the afterlife. In the end, some references made by the main characters of the Odyssey about dying and death are presented and it is suggested that death might not be the ultimate evil, but only one of the greatest and not the most frightening.

Keywords : Homer; Odyssey; death; dying; moira.