For centuries, scholars and archaeologists have been captivated by Homer’s Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic that chronicles the perilous voyage of the cunning and long-suffering hero, Odysseus. While it remains uncertain whether Odysseus was a historical figure or purely mythological, new discoveries on his fabled home island of Ithaca suggest that the locals once revered him not only as a literary icon—but as a figure of cult worship.
A June 9 announcement from Greece’s Ministry of Culture has confirmed a major find at the Agios Athanasios site—known as the School of Homer. Excavators uncovered a rare underground spring cistern dating back to the Mycenaean palatial era (14th–13th centuries BCE), a period widely believed to form the backdrop of Homeric myth.
The settlement at the School of Homer likely served as a strategic administrative centre, overseeing nearby ports and fertile lands, while also protecting vital water sources. It is one of up to eight archaeological sites in northwest Ithaca believed to collectively represent the ancient urban centre described in The Odyssey.
While no evidence definitively proves Odysseus’s real-life existence, findings at the site point to his deep cultural and religious significance. Among the most compelling are two Hellenistic-era inscriptions. One reads ΟΔΥCCEOC—the genitive form of Odysseus, implying possession or dedication, likely referencing a palace or temple. The second inscription, ΟΔΥCCEI, appears to be a votive offering, possibly made by a passing pilgrim.
These discoveries echo a 1930s finding at nearby Polis Bay cave: the inscription ΕΥΧΗΝ ΟΔΥCCΕΙ, or “Thanks, Odysseus.” Taken together with ritual artefacts and a small bronze bust resembling traditional depictions of the Homeric figure, the evidence strongly suggests that Odysseus was venerated at Ithaca as a cult figure well into Hellenistic times.
“The complex is characterised by robust structures on terraces, incorporating impressive elements of carved architecture, as well as niches for votive offerings or inscriptions, which testify to the intensive cultic use,” the Ministry of Culture stated.
Perhaps even more surprising than the Odyssean connections are new finds pushing the site’s significance further back in time. Although previously dated to the Bronze Age, the latest excavations uncovered flint tools and pottery fragments that trace human activity at the School of Homer site to the Final Neolithic period—between the late 5th and 4th millennium BCE.
This suggests that long before Odysseus became a symbol of cunning and resilience, the location already held spiritual or strategic importance. The layering of history—from Neolithic settlements to Mycenaean fortifications and Hellenistic inscriptions—paints a picture of Ithaca as a deeply symbolic island, shaped as much by myth as by memory.
