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Eye references in the Homeric Epics

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Abstract

After a short introduction to the Homeric Epics, the name of Homer and the time and place where the poems were written, the authors refer to the terms of the eyes and to the verses where they are found. Among these terms, the most important is the term oφθaλμóς, the first term for the eye in ophthalmology, which has remained throughout the years unchanged.

Finally, they refer to the injuries of the eyes, the participation of the two sons of Asclepios in the Trojan campaign and to the verses including the classical paragraph ‘ ... a doctor is more capable than the other men ...’

Both Epics relating to the cardinal human values: prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, contain the lofty ideal of human excellence, called by the Greeks aϱετη.

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References

  1. Bernardakis N.D. Three lessons on Homer's Epics. Ed. Pandora, pp. 370–373, 1865.

  2. Croiset, Alfred and Maurice. The history of the Ancient Greek Literature. Transl. into Greek by A. I. Pournaras, V. A., Athens, 1938.

  3. Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. XIII, p. 4182, 1963.

  4. History of Greek Literature. Hadas, Moses, New York, 1950.

  5. Kallitsounakis, J. Article on the Homer. The Great Greek Encyclopedia. V. 18, p. 864–876 (contains the most important bibliography).

  6. Leirpfeld, D. Treatises on Home. Published in “Kathimerini’, 20 and 27 March, 1939. Leirpfeld, D. The Homer's Epics. Published in ‘University of Kathimerini’, V. A, p. 14–22 and V.B, p. 94–95, 1934.

  7. Mistriotis, G. The history of the Homers' Epics. Leipzig, 1867. Edition in Greek, Athens, 1903.

  8. Murray, G. The history of the Ancient Greek Literature, Trans. into Greek by S. Menandros, Athens, 1922.

  9. Sideris, Z. Odyssey and Ilias. The Library of the Ancient Greek Writers. Ed. J. Zacharopoulos, Athens, 1939.

  10. Schoemann, G.F. The Homer's Greece. Ed. 1861, Trans. into Greek by G.F. Tzerepi, Athens, 1867.

  11. Vlachos, A. Homer's Topic. Athens, 1886.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 6 Neofytou Vamva St., 10674, Athens, Greece

    J. Fronimopoulos & J. Lascaratos

  2. 6 Neofytou Vamva St., 10674, Athens, Greece

    J. Fronimopoulos

Authors
  1. J. Fronimopoulos
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  2. J. Lascaratos
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Fronimopoulos, J., Lascaratos, J. Eye references in the Homeric Epics. Doc Ophthalmol 74, 125–133 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165670

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