Homer’s Ogygia : an imaginary or a historiography?

Abstract

Epic poetry and legends are thought to be imaginary. Studies and science show that they may have a basis in history, yet the study of places-names – toponomy – supported by a multi-disciplinary approach provides sufficient tangible evidence as to enable the tracing of unwritten historic events and the description of forgotten contexts. In this paper, the researcher will conduct an analysis of Homer’s Ogygia, its character Calypso, and the events mentioned in the text. These factors provide enough details to classify and transform the perception of an imaginary story into a fact-based historic account – an early form of historiography – set on the island of Gozo-Malta.