Scholars Argue Ithaca Was a Peninsula on Kefalonia, Not an Island

Two scholars, Professor James Diggle of Cambridge and Professor John Underhill of Aberdeen, contend that Homer never described Ithaca as an island. Their analysis of the Greek text shows consistent use of words meaning “land” or “native land,” and they combine this philological evidence with geological surveys indicating that the Paliki peninsula on the island of Kefalonia fits Homer’s description of Odysseus’s homeland. The researchers say the channel that would have made Paliki an island in the Late Bronze Age never existed, supporting the view that Ithaca was part of a larger landmass. Their paper was published online in the journal Antigone.

A separate commentary explores a cinematic interpretation of Odysseus’s motives, suggesting the hero may have been reluctant to return home and was drawn to adventure, a view speculated in discussions of Christopher Nolan’s film starring Matt Damon. The piece reflects on how modern storytelling can reshape classic literary characters.