The Geoscientific Quest for Odysseus’ Homeland, Ancient Ithaca

The Geoscientific Quest for Odysseus’ Homeland, Ancient Ithaca

Until Schliemann’s discovery of Troy in the 19th Century, the people and places described in Homer’s classic texts, The Illiad and The Odyssey were works of poetic licence and imprecise geography. The homeland of the wandering Odysseus — ancient Ithaca — has never been found.

Whilst its location has long been sought on the modern Ionian island going by that name, excavations there have only led to archaeological disappointment while also being plagued by the following a nagging geographical inconsistency:

“Around her a ring of islands circle side-by-side, Doulichion and Same, and wooded Zacynthos too, But mine [Ithaca], lies low and away, the furthest out to sea, rearing into the western dusk While the others face the east and the breaking day”

By contrast, the modern island of Ithaca features a vertiginous coastline, high topographic elevation and an easterly position, leading to a search for alternative sites for ancient Ithaca, mostly centred on neighbouring islands in the Ionian Sea.

With just a single quote from the Odyssey, one might be tempted to think that Homer was simply loose with his language or, if one were harsh, perhaps conclude that he was an incompetent geographer, and abandon the search for Odysseus’ Ithaca.

However, a detailed geographical description of Kefalonia by an independent observer, Strabo, narrows the search for the location of ancient Ithaca, and hints at an intriguingly neat solution to the conundrum.

In his description of the people and places of the Roman Empire in the early years of the first century AD — entitled Geography — the Greek geographer describes the island as follows: “Where the island is narrowest it forms an isthmus so low-lying that it is often submerged from sea to sea”.

Conveniently, Strabo also describes the location of the isthmus:“Both Paleis [Pale] and Crannoi are on the gulf near the narrows”, the exact position of which are known: Pale is situated on the Paliki peninsula of west Kefalonia, and Crannoi lies to the east. Their two territories are separated from one another by a shallow 4-km-wide marine embayment, the Gulf of Livadi, at the head of which lies Thinia, a 6-km-long and 2-km-wide steep-sided valley. The valley now forms the only land bridge between Paliki and the rest of Kefalonia

The AGS talk will describe the geological and geophysical quest to test the theory that “Strabo’s Channel” existed, something that would result in the Paliki Peninsula being an island, and the stratigraphic studies that afford an opportunity to determine the dates and rates of geological processes operating. The presentation will also look at the archaeological evidence that has exists to support the theory that Paliki equates with Odysseus’ Homeland, Ancient Ithaca and outline the next steps in the research.

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John Underhill is Aberdeen University’s Director for Energy Transition and Professor in Geoscience and Energy Transition. He is the academic executive director of the Centres of Doctoral Training (CDT) in Oil & Gas and in GeoNetZero. He populates the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) and the UK’s Exploration Task Force (XTF). His research interests focus upon the role of geoscience in the energy transition and use of methods and data in providing the best solutions and outcomes to deliver low-carbon net zero goals. Before taking up an academic career that has seen him hold posts at Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt and Aberdeen Universities, John worked as an Exploration Geoscientist for Shell and has also undertaken sabbaticals with BP in Glasgow and Norsk Hydro in bergen. John has been the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Geological Society’s Lyell Medal, their Energy Group’s Silver Medal, AAPG’s Matson, Beydoun and Grover Murray Awards, EAGE’s Alfred Wegener Award and the Scottish Geological Society’s Clough Medal. An unusual fact is that he also was a professional football referee who officiated in flight in Scotland and European Champions League. John’s association with Kefalonia began with his PhD studies in the 80’s and were resumed in 2003 when he received a call from the Professor of Classics at Cambridge University. As they say, the rest is history…