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Epic poetry, which began to develop in the early Geometric Period (1000 BC), reached its full maturity with Homer, who lived in the 8th century BC.
Through his heroic epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer celebrates and brings together two fundamental models of heroism: Achilles, distinguished by his courage, willpower and right action, and Odysseus, distinguished by his prudence, skill in action, effectiveness and altruistic intelligence, which connects the hero with himself and with nature.
Homer and Philosophy: Convergences and Analogies Through Time
Achilles’ right action, that is, action free from attachment to its fruits or outcomes, would later find expression in various philosophical traditions: in Plato, in Stoic philosophy (according to which virtue has value in and of itself), in Giordano Bruno and in Kant (acting out of duty, for the sake of duty itself).
Plato considered that the philosopher’s primary task was to weave together the virtues of courage and prudence, harmonising will and wisdom. Furthermore, he believed that the fundamental task of the philosopher who becomes a statesman is to ensure the harmonious coexistence of all citizens within the fabric of social life.
When a single ruler governs, it is essential that he combines the virtues of courage and prudence. When several rulers govern, courageous and prudent individuals must coexist.
Homer in the Renaissance: The Harmony of Strength and Wisdom
The representatives of the Renaissance spirit sought to overcome the contradictions and conflicts of their time and to create a better world. This desire for change led them to seek inspiration in the classical world.
Ancient thought was revived through philosophy, while myths and symbols re-emerged through art, particularly painting.
Giordano Bruno symbolically portrayed the harmony between strength and wisdom in his work On the Composition of Images, Signs and Ideas, through the figure of a man holding a sceptre in his right hand and a book in his left, symbolising power and wisdom respectively.
Paolo Veronese also depicted the symbolic union of strength and wisdom in his painting Allegory of Strength and Wisdom. The painting portrays Hercules, whose gaze is directed towards the earthly world, alongside a female figure representing wisdom, whose gaze is directed towards the celestial and spiritual world.
Homer in the Contemporary World: The Timeless Relevance of His Values
Courage Leads to Prudence
A courageous person follows the golden mean. They avoid extremes, both recklessness and cowardice. They maintain their inner balance and do not allow difficulties, despair, melancholy or sorrow to dominate their thoughts and behaviour.
Courage helps them overcome psychological and physical difficulties, master their impulses and preserve their inner strength.
Prudence, on the other hand, enables them to distinguish right from wrong and to choose the appropriate course of action.
Courage without prudence can turn into recklessness, while prudence without courage can remain inactive knowledge.
The true fulfilment of the human being lies in the harmonious coexistence of courage and prudence, of strength and wisdom.
This is perhaps the timeless message that we can draw from Homer and carry into the contemporary world.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Yannis K. Fikas
President of the Academy of Farsala
