the final odyssey the science and astronomy in odysseus’ trip home analysis of the odyssey by...

THE FINAL ODYSSEY

The Science and Astronomy in

Odysseus’ Trip Home

Analysis of The Odyssey by Homer

By John C. MannonePresented at Mid Atlantic Star PartyOctober 15, 2004

INTRODUCTION & GENERAL SUMMARY

Motto: Rediscovering History and Literature through AstronomySee Webpage “Adventures in Astronomy by John C. Mannone”

Motivated by making Astronomy even more interesting than good texts like The Universe, by Kaufmann and Freeman which identifies Homer’s work as an example of precession.

Object: To determine exactly how the celestial navigation was done

Findings: Apparently trivial discourse is subtly complex Invoke many disciplines: literary criticism and linguistics, meteorology, oceanography, climatology, and astronomy

Conclusions: Keeps the Homeric controversies alive andProvides fascinating insight to other great literature embracing the Mediterranean/Aegean Seas

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

HOMERGREEK POET

8th - 9th century BC

Literary vs. Oral Tradition

The Fall of Troy => Troy VII 1260 BCHomeric EpicOral Traditional Poetry

Linguistic Criteria => 743-713 BC ( Richard Janko)

Historical/Archeological CriteriaSocial Context => 8th century BC (Jan Morris)

Earliest Poetic Inscriptions => 550 BC

Iconographical Evidence => 530 BC

Composition & Performance did not require development of alphabet writing; only transcription did (Gregory Nagy)

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

Homing in on Homer

Troy

ChiosHomer’sBirthplace

Ithaca

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

The Iliad

The Odyssey

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

The Sun, Earth, Moon, and Most PlanetsLay in the Same Plane (Equatorial)

Earth-Sun System

Tilted Spin Axis Causes

(1) Seasons

(2) Changing Perspective of Celestial Bodies

Celestial Sphere ViewsCleveland, TN; Charlotte, NC; or Malta

A Rigid Body Like Earth Spins, Precesses, and NutatesUnder the Action of Gravitational Forces of the Moon and Sun

Spin Period 1 day

Precession Period 25,800 years

Nutation Period 42,000 years

(only + 1 degree: spin axis stabilized by our large moon)

Libration

Circular Path Traced-out byEarth’s Precessing Spin Axis

Only in recent times is Polaris the “North Star”. It will be closest to North in around another 125 years or so.

The angular separation between the North Celestial Pole and Polaris from Malta (35N 14E) is tabulated below [incidentally for Oct 15, 10 PM Local Time]:

2200 AD 47’ 16” 2125 AD 26’ 41”2000 AD 42’ 12”1500 AD 3o 24’ 1000 AD 6o 16’

1 BC 11o 42’ 250 BC 12o 42’ 550 BC 14o 50’ 750 BC 15o 46’

1250 BC 18o 11’

Position of Polaris Over the Centuries

STA

Polaris Identified by the Pointer Stars in Ursa Major

Polaris

Starry Night Deluxe

Arc to Arcturus

Pleiades on the Ecliptic

BOOTES

Arcturus

Note the resemblance to a kite.

This is called an asterism.

Adapted from Sea and Sky, J. D. Knight

Boötes, along with his faithful hounds, Canes Venatici, follows the two bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, around the pole.

Many believe Boötes to be the most ancient constellation in the sky. It has been recognized by many cultures throughout the ages in many forms.

Once known as Arctophylax, which means "the protector of the Bear".

The Romans called him Venator Ursae, "the Bear Hunter".

Arcturus, -Boo, is the 4th brightest star in the night sky, is an orange-colored red giant star about 20 times the size of the sun.

Bootes is Associated with The Bear

Pleiades

© T. Credner & S. Kohle, AlltheSky.com

CONSTELLATION ORION

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

Excerpts from Book V of Homer’s The Odyssey

The Perseus ProjectPerseus Digital Library Tufts University

“Now the fourth day came and all his work was done. And on the fifth the beautiful Calypso sent him on his way from the island after she had bathed him and clothed him in fragrant raiment. [265] On the raft the goddess put a skin of dark wine, and another, a great one, of water, and provisions, too, in a wallet. Therein she put abundance of dainties to satisfy his heart, and she sent forth a gentle wind and warm. Gladly then did goodly Odysseus spread his sail to the breeze;”

“[270] and he sat and guided his raft skillfully with the steering-oar, nor did sleep fall upon his eyelids, as he watched the Pleiads, and late-setting Bootes, and the Bear, which men also call the Wain, which ever circles where it is and watches Orion, [275] and alone has no part in the baths of Ocean. For this star Calypso, the beautiful goddess, had bidden him to keep on the left hand as he sailed over the sea. For seventeen days then he sailed over the sea, and on the eighteenth appeared the shadowy mountains [280] of the land of the Phaeacians, where it lay nearest to him; and it shewed like unto a shield in the misty deep.”

Questions to Answer

Why not Ithaca direct?

How were all the constellations mentioned used?

In what season was the trip made?

Can the range of possible dates, 1260 BC to 530 BC, be reduced?

These questions are not mutually exclusive; therefore, they are not simply addressed and may require some astronomy basics

Celestial Navigation to CorfuNot Directly to Ithaca

“he sat and guided his raft skillfully with the steering-oar, nor did sleep fall upon his eyelids… and on the eighteenth [day] appeared the shadowy mountains of the land of the Phaeacians [Corfu]”

Malta to Ithaca 62o/59o

Malta to Corfu 47o/43o

343 nmMalta

Corfu

KefalloniaIthaca

Flight Software is a courtesy of Landings.com

Estimated Initial/Final Bearing and Distance

But Why not Direct Ithaca?

(1) Awake at night => sleep throughout the day

This suggests a current in the general northeast direction that he can drift with. The steering oar would be set for the current and perhaps sails deployed to take advantage of southern desert winds.

(2) If this current exists, then it would probably favor the coastal boundary and be well north of a direct route to Ithaca.

Navigational Hypothesis

Part A

Postulate the existence of a current that aided navigation by guiding the raft in the correct general direction during the day while fine corrections by the stars were made at night.

Winds &Thermohaline Current

Malta-Corfu-Ithaca-Crete-MaltaCounterclockwise in January-MarchClockwise September/OctoberCurrents are about 0.5 to 1 knot

There are more than 45 identified localized winds in the Mediterranean region.

Forecast of gale-force conditions for seven of these:

Bora-Adriatic Sea, Bora-Aegean Sea, Etesian, Levante, Mistral, Sirocco, and Westerly

Ref: Brody, L. R. & Nestor, M.J.R. (1980), Regional Forecasting Aids for the Mediterranean Basin (Handbook for Forecasters in the Mediterranean, Part 2), Naval Research Laboratory, 7 Grace Hopper Avenue, Monterey, California, 93943-5502, 178 pp.

Mediterranean Winds

NOAA Mediterranean Surface Currents

Malta

Ithaca

Fall circulation clockwiseWinter circulation counter clockwise

Crete

Use of This Current MakesSense for Other Reasons

Raft in a NNE current will often be within 25 nm of the Italian coast and visible on a good day.

(curvature limited distance to see a 1-mile high mountain is about 75 nm, but moisture will limit to 20 nm)

=> Current swings down around Corfu and passes by the mouth of the bay to Ithaca.

=> Time-speed-distance is reasonable:

(343 nm + 10% /18 days = 0.75 knot is consistent with a current speed of ½ to 1 knot)

Malta

Flight Software is a courtesy of Landings.com

Estimated Initial Bearing

(1) Corfu via Current33o NNE

(2) Corfu via Direct47o NE

(3) Ithaca via Direct 62o ENE

1

2

3

When Was This Trip Made?Supporting Evidence for the Fall Season: Month/Day

Direct Textual Reference-Autumn winds (The Odyssey, Book V, lines 315-330)-Winter is near (The Odyssey, Book V, lines 480-485; Book VI, line 305)Astronomical Reference-Orion faces the Bear (The Odyssey, Book V, lines 270-280)-Pleiades seasonal constellation; sailing & planting (The Odyssey, Book V, lines 270-280); Hesiod Works and Days (lines 609-641)Vegetation-Leaves down; Thistles (The Odyssey, Book V, lines 480-485)-Harvest grapes normally mid September (Hesiod Works and Days (lines 609-615) but year round in Corfu (The Odyssey, Book VII, lines 114-129); Homer's Odyssey, Merry, Riddell, and Monro(1886-1901).

When Was This Trip Made? (cont.)

Meteorological/Climactic/Oceanographic-Thermo-haline current circulation pattern clockwise in the Fall-Favorable sailing winds: Scirocco winds favor the Mediterranean just before the gales occur. Warm winds out of the South/Southwest off the African desert.-Gale season begins late October/early November and ends in February. Ships should winter during this dangerous season.

When was this Trip Made? (cont.)

Day 1 Departs from Malta October 15Day 18 Encounters Strong 2-Day Gale November 3Day 20 Beached on Corfu November 5Day 23 Departs Corfu at Night November 8Day 24 Arrives Ithaca Daybreak November 9

Celestial Navigation

-Navigation with the benefit of a Pole StarCurrently Polaris is a pole star (42’ in 2000 AD)Provides a North fix; bearing off the bowAllows Latitude sailing

-Navigation without the benefit of a Pole StarPolaris angular position from the pole 16 +/- 2 degrees during 1250 BC to 550BC; does not give direct bearingRequires coastal navigation and way-finding techniques (Polynesians)

How is This Ancient Celestial Navigation Done?(Say in 750 BC)

Recall,“Eyes never closed” => Celestial navigation at nightSleeps during daylight => Steering oar fixed to last known correct bearing; correct course with skillful rudder at night. Marine bearing desired 47o NE (Corfu) or 62o ENE (Ithaca).

Consider,“as he watched the Pleiads, and…Bootes, and the Bear”. The Greek in context is to fix your eye on (dokeuei, to keep an eye on, to watch narrowly)

How can The Bear, Bootes, and the Pleiades navigational guidance alone?

W

S

E

N

Ursa Major is circumpolar and remains above the horizon. It tracks throughout the night from North to Northeast and back to North. The other half of the circular path is not shown since it is in daylight.

If kept strictly to the left (90o left off the bow), then the course is too far off, E to ESE to E).

Malta in the Fall

W

S

E

N

Bootes tracks throughout the night from Northwest to Northeast. It goes below the horizon in the North, but only for a little while.

“Eyes fixed on Bootes” doesn’t provide much guidance. It may be helpful after it rises, but if tracked throughout the night, the course will be too far to the north.

Malta in the Fall

W

S

E

N

Pleiades track throughout the night from the East to West Southwest approximately on the ecliptic.

With “eyes fixed on Pleiads”, no navigational guidance is provided for it follows the ecliptic. It is visible in the E early in the evening after sunset; then it progresses to WSW to set.

Malta in the Fall

Navigational Hypothesis

Part B

The primary celestial navigational aid is the Great Bear and Bootes combined.

A Reasonable Explanation:

Bootes (Guardian of the Bear) and The Bear can be considered as one “consolidated constellation”.

However, if the Bear is kept strictly to the left during the first part of night and on Bootes when it rises the rest of the night, a wild zigzag course results- first to the East, then to the Northeast, with an average ENE.

A better strategy is to keep The Bear just off the starboard bow and then follow Bootes when it is up until dawn.

A careful translation from the Greek and supporting commentary defends this:

Collective use of Constellations May be Implied

“For this star [The Bear] Calypso, the beautiful goddess, had bidden him to keep on the left hand as he sailed over the sea.”

“tên gar dê min anôge Kalupsô, dia theaôn,pontoporeuemenai ep' aristera cheiros echonta.”

From the Greek-English lexicon (Riddell and Scott), “ep' aristera” means “towards, i.e. on, the left” From notes on this line (277), “It is not unlikely that here cheiros has a picturesque reference to the hand of the steersman, as presenting a sort of centre point from which the various directions seem to diverge.”

Therefore, keeping The Bear towards the left is a reasonable translation that includes the entire 90-degree west sector of the bow of the boat.

Now, What Century?

The key details are in the words “late” and “setting”:

English: “he watched the Pleiads, and late-setting Bootes”Greek: “Plêiadas t' esorônti kai opse duonta Boôtên”

A better translation is “slow setting”: Bootes rises in a horizontal, but sets in a vertical, attitude (Sir Geo. C. Lewis, Astron. of the Anc., p. 59 ap. Ellis).

Another example of this is in the work of Gaius Valerius Catullus, Carmina (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton): (Loquitur) Berenice’s Lock:

“Even as weeping-wet sought I the fanes of Celestials Placed me the Goddess a new light amid star-lights of old:For with Virgo in touch and joining the furious Lion'sRadiance with Callisto, maid of Lyc´on beloved, Wind I still to the west, conducting tardy Boötes,Who unwilling and slow must into Ocean merge.”

Bootes Time to Set 4:39Time to Rise 2:00

7:10 PM

11:10 PM

3:10 AM

Malta Oct 15/16, 750 BC

Starry Night Backyard v. 3.1

Setting starts withArcturus 7:11 PM

Setting complete withNekkar 11:50 PM

Rising starts withSeginus 1:16 AM

Rising complete with-Boo 3:16 AM

What is the Earliest Date of the Odyssey? Consistent with the Astronomical Facts

The modestly faint, 3.46 magnitude -Boo or Nekkar determines when Bootes has set. 814 BC is the latest possible date since Nekkar is circumpolar 815 BC and earlier.

Consider the tabulated data of rise and set times for this star quickly shows the conclusion:

Nekkar (-Boo) Malta

October 15 Rise Time Set Time

2004 AD 4:52 AM 10:01 PM

001 AD 2:26 AM 10:17 PM

500 BC 1:37 AM 10:56 PM

600 BC 1:23 AM 11:09 PM

700 BC 1:O4 AM 11:25 PM

750 BC 12:54 AM 11:38 PM

800 BC 12:33 AM 11:55 PM

810 BC 12:27 AM 12:04 AM

811 BC 12:25 AM 12:04 AM

812 BC 12:23 AM 12:05 AM

813 BC 12:21 AM 12:05 AM

814 BC 12:21 AM 12:10 AM

815 BC CIRCUMPOLAR

Norse Mythology: The WainScandinavian Thor’s Wagon

Line 273 in Book V:“the Bear, which men also call the Wain” has a Celtic translation.

Celts first identifiable in 12th century BC, they covered Britain and Asia Minor by the 4th and 5th century BC.

Their influence appeared in Greek texts in 500 BC.

This supports a later age Homer, but does not rule out earlier ones because of the possibility of oral tradition.

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

Phaeacia (Corfu) to Ithaca

“The ship bounded forward on her way as a four in hand chariot flies over the course when the horses feel the whip. Her prow curveted as it were the neck of a stallion, and a great wave of dark blue water seethed in her wake. She held steadily on her course, and even a falcon, swiftest of all birds, could not have kept pace with her. Thus, then, she cut her way through the water. carrying one who was as cunning as the gods, but who was now sleeping peacefully, forgetful of all that he had suffered both on the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea.

When the bright star that heralds the approach of dawn began to show, the ship drew near to land. Now there is in Ithaca a haven of the old merman Phorcys, which lies between two points that break the line of the sea and shut the harbour in.”

(Odyssey, Book XIII, Sam Butler translation)

Early to mid-November night departure from Corfu, perhaps 8-10 PM. Arrival at the sea break at dawn around 6 AM.

Approximately 90 nm => 10 +/- 1 Kt

Consistent with brisk northwesterly wind and current and the renowned reputation of the sailors.

The newly launched sleek vessel was manned by 52 rowers.

View to the ESE obstructed by mountains; limits horizon to 1 degree

Topographic Information from an Aeronautical Chart

No heliacal rising of Sirius until the 8th millennium AD

The heliacal rising of a star occurs when it first becomes visible above the eastern horizon at dawn

Is the Bright Star Sirius?

The Brightest, not Simply Bright

A different and better translation provides a good clue:

English: “Now when that brightest of stars rose which ever comes to herald the light of early Dawn, [95] even then the seafaring ship drew near to the island.” (Perseus Project)

Greek: “eut' astêr huperesche phaantatos, hos te malistaerchetai angellôn phaos Êous êrigeneiês, 95 têmos dê nêsôi prosepilnato pontoporos nêus”

Venus is the Brightest of all “Stars”

Visual magnitude -4.2 is very easy to see at Dawn

Daylight (sunrise) center of solar disc 0 degrees below the horizonCivil Twilight “ 6 “Nautical Twilight “ 12 “Astronomical Twilight “ 18 “

“Rosy-fingered Dawn” is likely later than civil twilight. Arbitrarilytake the center of the solar disc at 3 degrees below the horizon

5:53 AM November 9, 812 BC

6:00 AM

6:12 AM Sunrise

Solar disc 0 degrees

Solar disc -3 degrees

Solar disc -4 degrees

ITHACA

38.5N20.5E

Candidate Years for Arrival in Ithaca, Greece

Assume solar disc approximately 3 degrees below horizon andVenus arbitrarily no higher than 8 degree above the horizon.Mountains obscure the view of the horizon; Venus must be higher than 1 degree. Examine the range 814 BC to 530 BC for Nov. 9.

BC Venus Altitude

812 1.8 degrees

804 1736 4728 7.5657 8649 7.3641 6.5633 6

BC Venus Altitude

625 5.5 degrees

617 5609 4.2601 3.5593 3585 2.3577 2569 1.5

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

(1) This interesting literary example invokes astronomy as a didactic tool and not simply as a metaphor.

(2) A multidiscipline approach helped to uncover the nuances of celestial navigation in The Odyssey.

(3) The navigational hypotheses have been supported and perhaps elevated to the stature of a theory: - the key role of the thermohaline current - the Bear and Bootes collectively provide the main celestial navigational guidance - Orion and Pleiades establish the season, month, and week

(4) A reasonable time line has been established for Odysseus’ final trip home:

Departs from Malta October 15 Encounters Strong 2-Day Gale November 3 Beached on Corfu November 5 Departs Corfu at Night November 8 Arrives Ithaca Daybreak November 9

(5) Astronomical analysis does not support an oral tradition from the 13th century BC. Candidate years for his adventure have been reduced from 1260 BC to 530 BC (730 years) to:

- 814 BC to 530 BC (265 years) slow setting Bootes - 814 BC to 530 BC (~15 years) heliacal rising Venus

(6) Norse mythology and Celtic migration may favor a 6th century BC tradition, but is indeterminate because of possible oral tradition. If true, however, the notion of multiple Homers is suggested.

OUTLINE

Profile of Homer: Literature and History

Geographical Setting

Story Synopsis

Astronomy Basics

Central Verses in Book V: Malta to CorfuAnalysis

Central Verses in Book XIII: Corfu to IthacaAnalysis

Conclusions

Epilog

Now, the story continues in Ithaca, but you will have to read the rest of it to find out the ending.

Rather, I will end this story by opening another.

About another sailor in the same sea who encountered the same current, in the same season, and shipwrecked on the same island of Malta.

Most of the ship’s crew believed like Odysseus and felt the gods needed to be placated. So this ship sailed under the sign of Castor and Pollux, the Twins, to appease Poseidon (Neptune).

Homer, through the character of Odysseus, ends his journey home with the brightest star heralding the rosy fingered dawn.

But, St. Paul ends his journey home with the proclamation of the Bright and Morning star heralding a new dawn, a new hope, and a new joy every day…….

JESUS, THE CHRIST