Did Homer describe the bronze age?

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.thecollector.com/did-homer-describe-bronze-age/

Over for comment....

[Jim Webster]

A comment I remember reading, way back, is that warfare described by Nestor is different to that practiced in front of Troy

[Nick Harbud]

 

[Imperial Dave]

 

[Erpingham]

Returning to the article, I was a bit surprised that the author's approach was so binary. I can't see why Homer's inclusion of occassional Bronze Age elements has to be explained away.  Homer was aware no doubt that his story was set in the past, so (as a good storyteller) he dropped in some historical flavour. It is plausible to suggest there were already earlier storytelling that may have provided those sort of elements and, indeed, audiences would expect them to be referenced.

[Sharur]

Given that no one can really say who Homer was now (perhaps not just one person at all), and whether the texts cited to him were his originals, or based in whole or part on earlier materials, it's far from clear to me what point such clickbait stories are meant to have - beyond being exactly that, clickbait.

[Erpingham]

While the story may be clickbait, it may also be meant to surprise those who assumed Homer's story was "true" to the period he sets his tale in. If we consider it may in fact represent pre-hoplite Iron Age warfare, this does present some interesting wargamer questions.

For example, if Homer isn't referencing Bronze Age warfare, what should my Mycenaean army be like and fight like?  Should my chariots be battle taxis? Or were the large chariot forces of the palaces actual fighting platforms in a more Middle Eastern sort of a way? 

If, however, I want a Homeric army, do I need to ditch the Trojan War figures and look for something later?

[stevenneate]

So, an excuse to build your Mycenaean army in at least 3 different styles just to preserve possible historical accuracy?

Brilliant!

[Imperial Dave]

Got to be done 

[Jim Webster]

On a more serious note, I've read comments like the 'Book of the Ships' within the Iliad, and the choice of commanders owes far more to the Bronze age than the putative time of Homer.