The Phaiakis as political argument -Thoughts concerning the social-political interpretation of the Homerian epics
Prof. Dr. Eckart Olshausen
Germany
Summary: The written publication of the Homerian epics was a glaring breach of a taboo revealing the formula behind the oral epic tradition practised by the Aoiden gilds to the wider public. Like other historic first-time publications of material from the carefully protected oral tradition, this act had a political background. The Homerian Phaiakis should be regarded as an important argument for the retention of the prevailing aristocratic state order.