The Vision of Homer: The Eyes of Heroes and Gods

Abstract

It is evident’that references to eyes and vision in Homer are mainly formulaic. However, in a stimulating article J.P. Holoka discussed the Homeric formulaύπόδρα ίδώνshowing that ‘In all instances, the facial gestureύπόδρα ίδώνcharges the speech it introduces with a decidedly minatory fervency and excitement: a threshold has been reached and such inflammable materials as wounded pride, righteous indignation, frustration, shame, and shock are nearing the combustion point.’ Homeric facial gestures may thus reflect aspects of character and reveal psychological situations; they may, in a way, substitute for acts and above all for words. This study, therefore, will attempt to concentrate, or rather to focus attention, on the eyes of Homeric heroes—and in some cases on those of gods—and where it is possible on their reflections of characters. In certain cases the way the Homeric heroes see and the subsequent details add one more dimension to the depiction of their characters; that is, the supplement to their acts and sayings3 makes for a better understanding of them.