Homer and His Age

The author examines claims that the epics are composite, arguing that their internal consistency and depictions of life suggest origin in a single short cultural age. He critiques overly analytical methods, surveys archaeological and linguistic evidence, and considers specific topics such as armour, weapons, burial customs, houses, metal technology, and suspected interpolations. Comparative chapters place the epics alongside other early narratives and medieval epic traditions to test hypotheses of growth and authorship. The conclusion emphasizes careful, scientific yet cautious criticism and finds the poems largely coherent while acknowledging minor later alterations.