‘The Odyssey’ and the Search for Historical Truth, with James Diggle and John Underhill

‘The Odyssey’ and the Search for Historical Truth, with James Diggle and John Underhill

From School of War by The Free Press

July 17, 2026 · 1h 5m

About this episode

James Diggle and John Underhill discuss their search for the real Ithaca of Homer's Odyssey and the implications of their findings.

James Diggle, emeritus professor of Greek and Latin at Cambridge University, and John Underhill, professor of geoscience and energy transition at the University of Aberdeen, join School of War to discuss their decades-long search for the real Ithaca of Homer’s Odyssey. Based on their recent Antigone journal article, “In Search of Ithaca,” they explain why the island we’ve called Ithaca for centuries may actually be the wrong one. Can modern geology solve a 3,000-year-old mystery? Have we finally found the true home of Odysseus? And what would that mean for one of the greatest stories ever told? 02:44 – The mystery of Homer's Ithaca 04:45 – Can Homer be treated as history? 06:19 – The Bronze Age world of Odysseus 09:25 – Why modern Ithaca doesn't fit Homer's description 12:02 – Robert Bittlestone's hypothesis 17:15 – The geology expedition begins 23:17 – The million-euro search for Ithaca 28:37 – Disproving the original theory 31:19 – The geological breakthrough 35:09 – The discovery that changes everything 37:22 – Homer never actually calls Ithaca an island 41:24 – Solving a 3,000-year-old mystery 46:22 – Telemachus' journey finally makes sense 50:54 – Would Robert Bittlestone…

People in this episode

Guests: James Diggle, John Underhill

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cambridge University, University of Aberdeen

Books & works: The Odyssey, In Search of Ithaca

Places: Ithaca, Bronze Age

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