TIME-LINE
OF THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY COMPARED
ILIAD
| |
ILIAD
BEGINS |
| NINE
YEARS OF DANAAN RAIDING AND PILLAGING ALONG THE TROJAN
COAST |
36
LUNATIONS |
| BULL |
TWINS |
CRAB |
LION(ESS?) |
VIRGIN |
SCALES |
SCORPION |
BOWMAN |
GOAT |
WATERMAID |
FISH |
RAM |
| JANUARY |
FEBRUARY |
MARCH |
APRIL |
MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUGUST |
SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER |
DECEMBER |
The inference
of 3 years, or 36 lunations (actually, 37.1), for the duration
of the Trojan War (that is, the events narrated in the Iliad)
is made from the number of years after the Trojan War—nineteen—when
the Odyssey occurs, that is, the make-believe events "narrated"
by Odysseus to the Phaeacians on Scheria as he drowns while
trying to make his way from Ogygia to Phorkis, since nineteen
is the number of years in the Metonic cycle of the moon, which
has a direct effect on the tides.
ODYSSEY:
| |
ODYSSEY
BEGINS |
| ODYSSEUS
DROWNS,"VISITS"
NETHERWORLD |
| KIKONES |
LOTOPHAGOI |
KYKLOPES |
AIOLIA |
TELEPYLOS |
AIAIA |
SIRENS |
KHARYBDIS |
THRINAKIA |
OGYGIA |
SKHERIA |
PHORKIS |
| BULL |
TWINS |
CRAB |
LION(ESS?) |
VIRGIN |
SCALES |
SCORPION |
BOWMAN |
GOAT |
WATERMAID |
FISH |
RAM |
| JANUARY |
FEBRUARY |
MARCH |
APRIL |
MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUGUST |
SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER |
DECEMBER |
Oysseus
wanders nine years before arriving in Ogygia, where he stays
another nine under the spell of Calypso, and leaves in the
tenth year, that is, nineteen years since his departure from
the fighting fields of the Troic and Ileian Plains. Popular
lore has always put Odysseus absent from Ithaka for thirty
years, but the correct count is thirty two years before he
once again arrives on his native soil (Phorkis), and thirty
three before he and Penelope are one again reunited.
|
