The film "The Odyssey", directed by Christopher Nolan, has once again brought to the fore the ancient debate about Homer's origin, the Greek poet author of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey". The cinematic work has rekindled public interest in the question that has divided historians and archaeologists for centuries.
The debate has once again focused attention on the city of Smyrna, now Izmir, on the west coast of present-day Turkey. This city is frequently associated with Homer in ancient tradition, being one of the most mentioned candidates as the poet's birthplace.
Archaeologist Aylin Ümit Erdem analyzed ancient clues about Homer's possible connection to Smyrna in an exclusive interview. Her work seeks to better understand the historical traces that support this millennia-old theory.
However, according to the specialist, there is still no direct physical proof that conclusively confirms that Homer actually wrote in Izmir. The absence of definitive material evidence keeps the debate open among historians and researchers.
