The Odyssey a Genuine Social Register.

The Odyssey is a social register of the Greeks? life at Homer?s time. He depicts us the life and the social manners of his age.

He tries to give us evidences that Greeks have reached a very laudable standard of civilization. The Greek society was an agrarian society, which came from hunting. It was a very advanced stage in the development of human civilization and the final stage of the old human history. At that age, people depended on farming. Homer gives us a vivid description of how ? the ploughman unyokes his ox? and how he ?tills his soil?. His writings show us that his age was an agrarian one; it is evident in the following lines: ? Some grind the apple- golden corn in the handmill, some weave at the loom, or sit and twist the yarn, their hands fluttering like the tall poplar?s leaves, while the soft olive-oil drips from the close-woven fabrics they have finished? and also ?Thrice ploughed?, cultivation, olive oil, distillation, plenitude, affluence, wheat, corn grinded, loom, grindstone, yawn, and spin a yarn, these words are mentioned many times in his epic. People at that stage must know how to distribute water in a good way and know their turns. Thus, the agrarian society is the first stage. The Greeks scored a high manner of living. They reached a high level of progress and enjoyed a very advanced stage of progress.
Then, Homer mentions the sea-faring nation in his following lines: ?for the Phaeacians? extraordinary skill in handling ships at sea is rivaled by the dexterity of their womenfolk at the loom.?
We observe that all Odysseus? voyages were on sea, which means that it is a sea-faring nation. Greeks lives on islands, so the sea was their main source of their livelihood. Therefore, they were crafty in building ships; for instance, Calypso instructs Odysseus how to built a ship and what are the material that used in building it?. etc.

Homer indeed describes many things in his epic. For example, Homer describes the burial rites, which is very widespread at his age and which is considered also as a sign of civilization. He depicts us exactly the cremation?s process, which is believed to be more respectable for the memory of the man. Thus, they put the body of the dead man on a heap of soil and then they set fire in it; ?the deathless gods built a mound of earth to the everlasting memory of Agamemnon?.
He describes the Greek?s social customs. At that time, the dowry was the responsibility of the bride, which is mentioned in ?let her go back to her father?s house. He is a man of consequence, and the family will provide a marriage feast, and see that she has a generous dowry?.
In addition, if one wanted some money, he had to play the role of a beggar or suppliant. Odysseus played this role of suppliant; he told the phaeacians that he is a suppliant, but their king does not believe him because he seems a respectable man who deserves hospitality. In fact, there is a right that deals with suppliants to be cared of. Zeus is the protector of suppliants, ?Zeus the Thunderer, who watches over suppliants that deserve respect.?
Homer describes also the games that were practiced at his time. For example, The Phaeacians arrange matches of archery, acrobatics and the like. These games were common among the Greeks.

He mentions the headgear many times, which indicates that it is very important and divine at his age. There are many examples in this epic, ?she put a veil on her head.? and ? take this veil and wind it round your waist. With its divine protection you need not be afraid of injury or death. But directly you touch the dry land with your hands, undo the veil and throw it far out from shore into the wine-dark sea; and as you do so turn your eyes away.?

You will be also amazed by the number of women that are mentioned here in Homer?s epic as if they are wraiths, which asserts that the role of women at his age is very important. For instance, there are Anticleia, Odysseus? mother, Arete, the queen of the Phaeacians, Eurycleia, the faithful and devoted old nurse of Odysseus, Helen, queen of Sparta, Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous, and Penelope.

Homer describes also the activities that had taken place at his time, jobs and the like. He describes us almost everything, i.e. the manners and life style that was prevalent at his age, which proves again his brilliant writing ability.