WHERE IS HE NOW?
So Odysseus arrives at the land of the Phaiakians, which I've said is Norway.
Was there any bronze age settlement in Norway in the time of Odysseus? Indeed there was:
I suggest he landed
near Stavanger on the west coast, which is
less than 200 km. north of the south coast of Norway. There is a small river entrance nearby,
with some low lying land and the city of Stavenger is only about four miles from the coast. It's
one of the oldest cities in Norway and close to a major focal point of Viking emigration.
Then we're told
something about
the Phaiakian
people:
"... there they fine down their oarblades;
for the Phaiakians have no concern with the bow or the quiver,
but it is all masts and the oars of ships, and the balanced vessels
themselves, in which they delight in crossing over the grey sea."
Homer tells us that Alkinoos their king says:
"Here are twelve who are marked out as kings in our country
with power, and they act as leaders, and I myself am the thirteenth."
He calls on all these kings to make gifts to Odysseus as a token of friendship.
Norway is divided into four groups of counties: eastern Norway (Ostfold, Vestfold, Hedmark,
Opland, Buserud, Telemark, East Agder and West Agder); western Norway (Rogaland,
Hardaland, Sogn and Fjordane, More and Romsdal); Trendlag (South Trendelag and North
Trendelag); northern Norway (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark). My understanding is that in
earlier times East and West Agder were one, as was the Trondelag, and northern Norway was
one. It so happens that this gives thirteen "counties" or kinglets, as described by Homer.
The kingly gifts to Odysseus are a going away present as the Phaiakians now propose to take him
home.
TO INDEX
Was there any bronze age settlement in Norway in the time of Odysseus? Indeed there was:
I suggest he landed
near Stavanger on the west coast, which is
less than 200 km. north of the south coast of Norway. There is a small river entrance nearby,
with some low lying land and the city of Stavenger is only about four miles from the coast. It's
one of the oldest cities in Norway and close to a major focal point of Viking emigration.
Then we're told
something about
the Phaiakian
people:
"... there they fine down their oarblades;
for the Phaiakians have no concern with the bow or the quiver,
but it is all masts and the oars of ships, and the balanced vessels
themselves, in which they delight in crossing over the grey sea."
Homer tells us that Alkinoos their king says:
"Here are twelve who are marked out as kings in our country
with power, and they act as leaders, and I myself am the thirteenth."
He calls on all these kings to make gifts to Odysseus as a token of friendship.
Norway is divided into four groups of counties: eastern Norway (Ostfold, Vestfold, Hedmark,
Opland, Buserud, Telemark, East Agder and West Agder); western Norway (Rogaland,
Hardaland, Sogn and Fjordane, More and Romsdal); Trendlag (South Trendelag and North
Trendelag); northern Norway (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark). My understanding is that in
earlier times East and West Agder were one, as was the Trondelag, and northern Norway was
one. It so happens that this gives thirteen "counties" or kinglets, as described by Homer.
The kingly gifts to Odysseus are a going away present as the Phaiakians now propose to take him
home.
TO INDEX
I suggest he landed
near Stavanger on the west coast, which is
less than 200 km. north of the south coast of Norway. There is a small river entrance nearby,
with some low lying land and the city of Stavenger is only about four miles from the coast. It's
one of the oldest cities in Norway and close to a major focal point of Viking emigration.
Then we're told
something about
the Phaiakian
people:
"... there they fine down their oarblades;
for the Phaiakians have no concern with the bow or the quiver,
but it is all masts and the oars of ships, and the balanced vessels
themselves, in which they delight in crossing over the grey sea."
Homer tells us that Alkinoos their king says:
"Here are twelve who are marked out as kings in our country
with power, and they act as leaders, and I myself am the thirteenth."
He calls on all these kings to make gifts to Odysseus as a token of friendship.
Norway is divided into four groups of counties: eastern Norway (Ostfold, Vestfold, Hedmark,
Opland, Buserud, Telemark, East Agder and West Agder); western Norway (Rogaland,
Hardaland, Sogn and Fjordane, More and Romsdal); Trendlag (South Trendelag and North
Trendelag); northern Norway (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark). My understanding is that in
earlier times East and West Agder were one, as was the Trondelag, and northern Norway was
one. It so happens that this gives thirteen "counties" or kinglets, as described by Homer.
The kingly gifts to Odysseus are a going away present as the Phaiakians now propose to take him
home.
TO INDEX