Greek archaeologists uncover ancient palace linked to Odyssey

Aug 26, 2010, 9:06 GMT

Athens - Greek archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a royal residence on the island of Ithaca, long associated with the Homeric hero Odysseus and the epic Odyssey, the Athens News Agency (ANA) reported Thursday.

More than 16 years of excavations by a team of experts from the University of Ioannina have led to the remains of an 8th century BC royal residence which they believe was the home of Odysseus, fuelling theories that the hero of Homer's epic poem was real.

'According to evidence so far which is extremely significant, we believe we are before the palace of Odysseus and Penelope - the only one of the Homeric-era palaces that has not yet been discovered,' Professror Thanassis Papadopoulos was quoted by ANA as saying.

The dig has uncovered the remains of a three-storey building with an interior staircase cut into the side of sheer rock, a fountain dating to back to the 13th century BC as well as Mycenaean-era pottery.

According to Papadopoulos, the layout of the building is very similar to palaces discovered at Mycenae, Pylos and other ancient sites.

Odysseus, also known as Ulysses to the ancient Romans, took 10 years to return hime to his island of Ithaca and to his wife Penelope after the fall of Troy.

After fighting the war against the city of Troy with the Greeks Odysseus started his journey home where he was twice shipwrecked, encountered a cyclops and tempting sirens on the island of Gavdos.

Finally home on Ithaca, he found his wife Penelope under pressure to remarry an army of suitors who had invaded the royal palace.

With the help of his father, Laertes and his son Telemachus he slaughtered his rivals and re-established his rule.