The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the most influential works of world literature, yet their author remains a mystery: 'the greatest poet that ever lived' may never have lived at all. Even in the 6th century BCE Homer was a figure of myth, and today the debate continues about who composed these poems, how, and why. Analysing the main literary, historical, cultural, and archaeological issues at the heart of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Barbara Graziosi also traces the ways in which these epic tales have inspired artists, writers, philosophers, and musicians throughout the centuries. She thus illuminates the enduring appeal of Homer and his iconic works today.