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I rarely write about Homer, being daunted by the topic, but since the poet is having a moment, here's a piece about the alphabet, writing, and their absence in the epics. Inspired by a chat with @viewsproject.bsky.social, I hesitantly suggest a theory for that absence. dannybate.com/2026/07/24/h...

dannybate.comHomer’s ABCsOr: Why don’t people in the Iliad and Odyssey write anything down? Sing, goddess, of how Homer is all the rage right now. My timelines have become streams of Nolan-inspired analyses, hot takes and …

24/7/26, 2:56 pm23 reposts88 likes

The Night Sky

@star86above.bsky.social

24 July

I wish I had a 30-minute work break instead of a 15-minute one! Will read at home.

Nancy Cooper Frank

@ncooperfrank.bsky.social

24 July

I enjoyed reading this. Thank you!

Dr Danny Bate

@dannybate.com

24 July

Thanks for the thoughts and thanks!

Dr Danny Bate

@dannybate.com

24 July

The dauntedness derives in part from the mass of relevant literature on Homer, and partly from a difficulty in keeping track of chronology – much like watching some Christopher Nolan films. The feeling was validated by an insightful (and damning?) comment that arrived shortly after posting:

Dr Danny Bate

@dannybate.com

25 July

As another example of personal Homeric confusion, I recently received some interest to write about Homer's dialect for a popular magazine. After a day's preparatory research into the topic, I'd forgotten what my original point was. The article remains unwritten.