Science & Technology in the Homeric epics

International Symposium: Science and Technology in prehistory (long before Homer)

The historical and scientific-technological background of the content of Homer's epics, today, is increasingly disputed by fewer researchers and scientists. In the Greek scientific community, the first to mention and record the scientific content of these poems was Dr. of natural sciences Konstantinos D. Zegelis in 1891, in his 122-page doctoral dissertation on "The science of Nature before Homer", who later became professor of inorganic chemistry and metallurgy at the Technical (Metsovian) University of Athens and professor of natural chemistry at the National University...

A few years ago, in 1873, the self-taught Homeric Errik Schliemann, led by references to the Iliad, excavated the western part of the Hisarlik hill in Turkey, where he discovered the ruins of a large city with a palace, fortifications and buildings and a rich "treasure" of bronze and gold objects, all of which justified the identification with Homeric Troy. Thus, the "historical core" of the content of the Homeric Iliad was confirmed ...

Many centuries ago, before the common dating, the Latin writer and architect Vitruvius praised the technology of the Mycenaean era for its "science" ...

In recent decades Homer's verses have been studied and analyzed in detail and most researchers have recognized the wealth of information they provide us in all disciplines, science, technology, culture, literature, history and fiction. The Homerians rightly pointed out that Homer, while living in the Iron Age, around the first century of the beginning of iron processing, describes more vividly the culture of the Bronze Age.

All the above, confirms the realization of the international symposium "Science and Technology in Homeric epics' from 27 to 30 August 2006 at the Conference Center SPAP of Ancient Olympia on the initiative of the Mechanical Department and Aeronautical Engineering (Department of Engineering), University of Patras and the Institute of Culture and Quality of Life.

Greek and foreign professors from all over the world summarized by each scientific branch the accumulated knowledge about the Greek world in the Mycenaean years. Indicatively, we are currently publishing summary conclusions in many different categories.

The descriptions of the shields of Achilles and Ajax of Telamon

Homer in many of his rhapsodies in both the Iliad and the Odyssey describes bronze and brass objects and especially weapons, shields, cuirasses, etc. Two of the topics covered by the scientists at the International Conference were the study of the shield of Achilles and Ajax (Aias) taking into account the astonishing constructive descriptions made by the poet.

Professor Stefanos A. Paipetis of the University of Patras digitally reproduced the shield of Achilles - following the Homeric descriptions: 2 layers of bronze, 2 layers of tin and 1 layer of gold - and proved through laboratory experiments that the combination of materials was not random. It was unbreakable in a blow commensurate with the power of the world record holder in the javelin in 2000. The study of the shield is still in progress, and shows the interest of people in the countryside descriptions of Homer ...
From a foretaste given in a press conference by the chairman of the International Symposium committee, Professor SA Paipetis (University of Patras) for the digital reproduction of the shield of Achilles and Ajax - always based on Homeric descriptions - one understands how well the technicians knew of the era the possibilities and limits of materials in shock conditions.
Specifically, the shield of Achilles inside the two outer layers of hard bronze (brass tin) and also the two layers of tin, had a brave layer of pure gold. These are materials with very different -mechanical and other- properties, which allows the propagation of the perforation to be inhibited in the shield materials. This "obstacle" of the piercing is achieved mainly through the absorption of the impact energy of the spear, from the plastic deformation of the central plate from gold! The shield is described in Rhapsody S of the Homeric Iliad (verses 474-608). Below are some verses about its construction and decoration by Hephaestus:

«Ο Ήφαιστος... σκληρό χαλκό, κασσίτερο,
πολύτιμο χρυσάφι και ασήμι βάζει στη φωτιά.., κατόπιν μεγ’ αμόνι,
εις τον κορμόν τοποθετεί και στο δεξί του χέρι
σφύραν αδρανεί δυνατήν και το διλάβι στ' άλλο.
Κι έπλασε πρώτα δυνατήν ασπίδα και μεγάλην,
όλην με τέχνην και τριπλόν λαμπρόν τριγύρω κύκλο
με πέντε διπλές έγινεν η ασπίδα και σ' εκείνην λογιών εικόνες έπλαθε με τη σοφή του γνώση.
Τη γη αυτού τον ουρανό, τη θάλασσα μορφώνει, τον ήλιο τον ακούραστο,
γεμάτο το φεγγάρι, τ' αστέρια οπού τον ουρανό ολούθε στεφανώνουν,
τη δύναμη του Ωρίωνα, Υάδαις, Πληιάδαις την Άρκτον,
που και άμαξα καλούν και αυτού γυρίζει πάντοτε τον Ωρίωνα,
ασάλευτα τηρώντας η μόνη που τ’ Ωκεανού το λούσμα δεν γνωρίζει...».

More impressive, however, is the most materially humble case of the shield of Aiada of Telamonius, from his duel with Hector, with the seven layers of skin and one outer layer of hard bronze.
In the laboratory test of drilling with a projectile of mass and a rupture rate similar to that of the world record holder in javelin in 2000, the description of Homer, who wanted it to be perforated, was verified.
In both the six layers of skin and the eight the shield was pierced by the tip of the spear.
The "golden section" of the 7 leather layers, with which the spear is finally deflected with any deformations and frictions, was well known by the tanner and manufacturer of Tichios. The construction of the shield and its behavior in battle are described in the Iliad (Rhapsody H 219-232, 244-248, 258-267). Here are some lyrics:

«...Και ο Αίας επροχώρησε μ' ασπίδα ωσάν πύργον,
χάλκινην μ' επτά δέρματα, που του έκαμε ο Τυχίος
των σκυτοτόμων έξοχος, εγκάτοικος στην Ύλην,
λαμπρήν την ετεχνούργησεν εφτά-διπλην με δέρμα
δυνατών ταύρων, κι έβαλεν δίπλαν χαλκού ογδόην.
Αυτήν στα στήθη επρόβαλεν ο Τελαμώνιος Αίας.
Κι εστάθη εμπρός στον Έκτορα και τούπε με φοβέρες:
«Ω Έκτωρ, θα γνωρίσεις συ, μόνος με μόνον τώρα,
αν άλλοι εδώ των Δαναών ευρίσκονται ανδρειωμένοι,
έξω από τον λεοντόκαρδον Πηλείδην ανδροφόνον,
Αλλ' αυτός μένει στα κυρτά θαλασσοπόρο πλοία,
Αφού στον πρώτον αρχηγόν Ατρείδην εχολώθη.
Αλλ' εμείς είμεθ' αρκετοί με σε να μετρηθούμε
Και πάμπολλοι, αλλ' άρχισε πρώτος εσύ την μάχην».

The strait of Scylla and Charybdis

In his own presentation, Professor G. Vatistas analyzed how Kirki's descriptions of crossing the Straits of Scylla and Charybdis solved aerodynamic equations associated with the gravitational slingshot technology for Space!
The Odyssey mentions it as a narrow strait, which on one side has a cannibal sea monster, called Skyla, and on the other side a huge vortex, Charybdis. The Dog (Skyla) is a scary sea monster with many heads and many eyes. Opposite the Dog is Charybdis, a huge vortex that swirls, sucks in everything that is nearby and then pulls it out again. As they enter the strait, the sky darkens. Suddenly multiple waves appear out of nowhere. Odysseus drives the ship away from Charybdis. As he passes by, he sees the giant vortex sucking the sea, swallowing whatever is near it. Suddenly, from the opposite side of the ship, Skyla strikes. He grabs six men from the deck of the ship and swallows them alive.
Odysseus describes this moment as the worst of his journey. The men in the mouths of this terrible creature shout his name: “Odysseus, help us! Help us! " And he, not only can not, but knows that these men are dying because of his own decision.

In Medicine:

The Iliad provides a revealing picture of military surgery and descriptive anatomy during the Trojan War, say professors Spyros Marketos and Georgios Androutsos. The text of the Iliad includes realistic descriptions of a wide variety of wounds and injuries with many anatomical references. According to the most reliable statistical analysis, the overall mortality rate from traumatic injuries was 77.6%. The most dangerous wounds were due to swords, swords or spears and the least dangerous to arrows.

In technology:

According to the professor of NTUA TH.P. Tassio, "technology, as a natural complement of nature, has always been considered a gift from the gods to humanity. Therefore, the advanced technology of the Greeks during the Mycenaean times is not a surprise". All we have to do is look at the Mycenaean city irrigation systems, flood control and land reclamation, building technology, bridges and metallurgy.

In astronomy:

Homeric epics prove to be revealing about the astronomical knowledge of the ancient Greeks, according to Maro Papathanassiou, a professor at the University of Athens. References to the Sun, Moon and some bright stars and constellations, which are visible at certain times of the year at night or to constellations that rise or set at twilights, as well as references to small or large duration of the days after the winter or summer solstice, indicate the existence of an ancient astral calendar, associated with agricultural and maritime activities.

In fashion:

The analysis of the information gathered from the thorough study of the texts brought to the surface 2,442 animal references corresponding to 71 different animal names. The populations of some animal species that were common at that time in Greece have disappeared or decreased significantly. On the other hand, some modern common species are not mentioned in the epics because they were introduced later.

In the fauna:

The Homeric heroines, support in their presentation Messrs. I. Tzachili, G. Spantidaki and C. Moulherat from the University of Crete, are famous as great weavers and the fabrics are products of high value. However, Homeric weaving technology is less well known. In the Homeric epics themselves technical details are inserted in the descriptions of the looms inside the houses. Another area of ​​information is the representations of textiles and clothing in Mycenaean murals and geometric angiographies.