Homer's origins debated near Izmir as Jerusalem festival returns

The return of a Jerusalem festival, after a hiatus due to the Gaza War, has been marked by celebrations. The article, however, shifts focus to a historical and literary debate concerning the ancient Greek poet Homer.

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This place was always called Homer's Valley by the locals. Travelers from all over the world would come and see the cave where Homer is said to have composed his poems.

On a Turkish hillside near Izmir, a cave known locally as Homer's Valley is presented as a potential site where the poet composed his epic works. Turkish researcher Altan Altin, author of a book on the subject, supports the theory that Homer originated from the ancient region of Ionia, which includes Izmir (formerly Smyrna).

Altin points to a 3rd-century BC frieze that he claims depicts the Bornova cave with remarkable precision, aligning with geographical descriptions. Archaeological findings, such as coins bearing Homer's likeness discovered in ancient Smyrna, further suggest that inhabitants of the region considered the poet one of their own.

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For me, there's no doubt, Homer is from Bornova. In any case, he is from Ionia, which includes Smyrna and Chios. He's from these lands.

Despite the academic debate and claims from other locations like the Greek island of Chios, the association of Homer with the Izmir region remains strong. The article notes that Homer's influence is pervasive in Bornova, with even a Neolithic site featuring a bust of the poet claiming he composed his epics there.

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The discoveries from the excavations, especially coins bearing Homer's likeness, show us that the inhabitants of ancient Smyrna considered the poet to be one of their own.