I was wondering: I am currently reading the Iliad (book 1, to be sure 
) Eventually I want to read the Odyssey, and I was under the impression that the Iliad would have to be read first (chronology and all).
Is there any info about how this was seen in ancient times? Was the Odyssey ever performed as separate from the Iliad or did it always follow the Iliad? Is there any research in this direction?
Thanks!
Hi Adelheid,
I donāt think that there is much agreement about epic performance, and it might even depend on exactly when and where it was performed. A lot of people find it hard to believe that the entire Iliad would be performed at one time, continuously, nevermind the Iliad and the Odyssey together. But, on the other hand, the structure of the Iliad seems to demand that it was created with the whole in mind. In any case, I suspect it would be an uncommon event, like at epic festivals or other large gatherings that would last over a couple of days. But I had an Indian professor in college who had a traditional wedding where a huge portion of traditional poetry was recited continuously over a period of 24 hours, with four different people taking turns; friends and family would come and go throughout, but he and his wife, and some other people, stayed for the duration. Although on a daily basis his grandfather would recite random episodes from the epic tradition at night.
So I would think that even if the Iliad and Odyssey were sung together in some kind of wild endurance-contest of a party, that the commoner practice would be for bards to recite an episode or two for evening entertainment. And I think it would have been perfectly natural for the bard and his audience to pick up anywhere along the chronological sequence, because it was traditional material that made up the fabric of the culture. This idea is confirmed in the Iliad itself, which doesnāt describe the sacking of Troy or Achillesā death, but there is no question that we are to understand both outcomes from the very beginning.
I wish I could point you to some more specific studies like you asked, but Iāll be interested to get some leads as well. I just thought Iād offer the perspective of one modern day Homer fanaticā¦ 
~N
Hi Nicholas, thanks for your info. I would like to label myself a modern day Homer fanatic too, however āfirst-bookā I may be right now . Letās just see what comes up as a reaction to this question . . .
Did you ever see Michael Woodsā series on Troy? Quite an inspiration.
Thanks!
It doesnāt have to be read first, I would say. It does seem that the Odyssey often refers back to the Iliad in indirect ways, but Iām not sure that should concern you. After you become more familiar with the Epic language, you can always go back and reread everything in order with more attention to such linkages.