Hearths, Embers and Braziers: on the Role of Domestic Fire in the Odyssey

Abstract

Despite the relatively limited presence of fire in the Odyssey, especially in comparison to the Iliad, the poem contains a conspicuous number of images related to the fireplace. I argue that, since the hearth embodies the ideas of “fire” and “home” and appears to highlight the most important moments of Odysseus’ homecoming, it serves to establish an emblematic connection with the returning hero, whose telos, like his fireplace, lies within the household sphere. The largely domestic setting of fire in the Odyssey reflects the nature of its hero: human, controlled, persistent, and thus the opposite of the bright but volatile flames of Iliadic warriors.