ABSTRACT
Greekthoughtaboutvirtue,knowledge,andthegoodlifebegins, notwithphilosophy,butwithliterature.Understandingthe historicaloriginofaconceptisoftenvitaltounderstandingits meaning;itisparticularlyimportantinthiscase,foratthe beginningofGreekliteratureandthoughtstandthetwogreat Homericepicpoems,theIliadandtheOdyssey,whoseinfluenceon laterGreekthoughtisunparalleled.
