Meteorological Assessment of Homer's Odyssey
Randall S. Cerveny
Department of Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Abstract
A chronology of the meteorological events described by Homer in the Odyssey following the Achæans’ conquest of Troy (ca. 1200 B.C.) is developed. Application of polar front theory to the voyages of six separate fleets as they sailed from Troy provides a unique test of the factual nature of a portion of the epic. Nothing beyond the limits of accepted meteorological theory occurred during the first 18 days following the departure from Troy. The Odyssey consistently shows a credible set of weather observations. Evidence suggests that the tragedies experienced by the Achæans in the Odyssey may have been caused by a cyclonic storm crossing the area in the early summer. If the Achæans’ initial travels after the conquest of Troy are factual, the chronology developed in this study extends our knowledge of daily weather events to an earlier time than has previously been available and creates a new component in the global history of climate and weather. A description in the Odyssey of a possible microburst event is also presented.
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/1520-0477%281993%29074%3C1025%3AMAOH%3E2.0.CO%3B2
One of the topics I cover in weather and climate classes is the assessment of past climate using proxy data. It's fascinating how much insight can be gleaned from literature, art, journals, crop records, and so on.
Love the maps; that's an extremely clever idea!
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