Poseidon and Zeus in Iliad 7 and Odyssey 13: on a case of Homeric imitation

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the current debate on how imitation in early Greek epic can be identified and assessed. Two divine scenes in Iliad Book 7 and Odyssey Book 13 are compared in the light of their traditional background and contextual significance. It is suggested that there are grounds to interpret this as a case of imitation on the Odyssey poet’s part which, however, was not necessarily meant to elicit recognition of the subtext. A methodological point is made by showing that it is possible to argue for a specific intertextual relation by considering the traditional techniques involved.