An attempt at dating the Homeric Epics, the most accurate one, compares the natural phenomena described in the epics with astronomical phenomena and verifies the historical truth of the narrative. The result is evidence of the exact dates for events recorded in the epics.
"We believe that the myth revolves around real events," says Panagiota Preka-Papadima, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Athens.
She and a team that has published articles in international scientific journals believe that some of the events described, actually took place and prove that the natural phenomena mentioned, correspond to the time of their narration.
"Odysseus arrived in Ithaca on October 25, 1207 B.C.," they wrote. "Five days later there was a 75% solar eclipse covering the Ionian Sea and then the murder of the suitors happened," says Ms. Papadima.
The eclipse, as well as some of the reported events, have been verified by NASA maps describing natural phenomena from 4500 B.C. to 10,000 A.D.
"From 1300 BC to 1130 BC, the years in which the two epics are set, there were 14 solar eclipses. Only five were visible in the Ionian Sea and two of these had a 2% eclipse, so it was not possible to be noticed. "Another occurred with the setting of the sun, so we are only interested in two," Ms. Papadima explained.
One total solar eclipse occurred in 1143, very close to the setting of the Mycenaean centers, and was therefore ruled out by scientists. The second, however, took place on October 30, 1207, from half-past two in the afternoon to half-past five in the afternoon, and is believed to be reflected in the Odyssey. In Rhapsody Y, just before the murder, Homer describes Theoklymenos telling to the suitors:
"... and the sun was gone from the sky, and a heavy darkness spread everywhere!".
"This is a description of the eclipse that covered 3/4 of the sun's disk," says Mrs. Papadima. "The date of the eclipse, October 30, 1207 B.C., is in complete agreement with the Homeric descriptions of the weather, autumnal country life, and the noontime of the murder of the suitors," Ms. Papadima said.
The team researching the epics consists of professors S. Papamarinopoulos, P. Preka-Papadima, assistant professor of astrophysics and researchers P. Antonopoulos, natural and amateur astronomer, P. Mitropetrou, philologist and educator. Philologist and archeologist, A. Tsironis, also philologist-archeologist and G. Sarantitis, author, electrical engineer.
"There is a historical core to the myth".
The nagging question is whether the events described in the epics are metaphorical or literal. The answer for Ms. Preka-Papadima is given by Plutarch, who states in Ancient Greece that Natural Science, Theology and Mythology are identical. "The phenomenon in the Odyssey is created by Athena and in the Iliad by Apollo. "We believe that there is a historical core to the myth," she said.
Homer also mentions the appearance of a shower of shooting stars.
Looking at maps from NASA, scientists found that there was indeed a rain of rising stars on Oct. 28, the day Telemachus returned from the voyage to Pylos and Sparta.
