26 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Unveil Sanctuary of Odysseus on Ithaca: A Monumental Discovery Rooted in Myth and History

A major archaeological breakthrough on the Greek island of Ithaca has brought new clarity to the island’s legendary past. Researchers from the University of Ioannina have identified what is now widely believed to be the sanctuary of Odysseus, the mythical king and Homeric hero, at the prominent site of Agios Athanasios–School of Homer in northern Ithaca.

Located near the spring-rich foothills of Exogi, this sacred complex, known since the 19th century as the “School of Homer,” is centered around a large rocky outcrop and consists of two carved terraces connected by stone staircases. Excavations at this site, ongoing since 2018, build upon the foundational work from systematic digs conducted between 1994 and 2011.

Unearthing the Layers of Time: From Neolithic to Roman Era

Recent findings have pushed back the timeline of human activity on the site to the Final Neolithic period (late 5th/4th millennium BCE), revealing flint tools and pottery shards that highlight the area’s long-standing importance. The Mycenaean period (14th–13th centuries BCE) is represented by dozens of vessel fragments and a rare underground spring cistern, built using the corbeling technique—a structure likely used during the Mycenaean palatial phase.

This Mycenaean presence may have been part of a broader network of 7–8 strategic sites across northwestern Ithaca, supporting regional oversight, port management, and control of the island’s vital water resources. Scholars suggest this network may correspond with the urban core of Homeric Ithaca during Odysseus’ era.

Northeast view of the underground spring at the School of Homer site in Ithaca. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα / Greek Ministry of Culture
Northeast view of the underground spring at the School of Homer site in Ithaca. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα (Christina Marampea) / Greek Ministry of Culture

The Heart of the Discovery: Sanctuary of Odysseus Confirmed

The site’s significance grows exponentially with the confirmation of a sanctuary dedicated to Odysseus, evidenced by two newly discovered inscriptions from the late Hellenistic period: ΟΔΥCCEOC (Odysseus, genitive) and ΟΔΥCCEI (dative). These epigraphic findings align with a 1930s discovery in the Polis Bay cave, which bore the inscription “ΕΥΧΗΝ ΟΔΥCCΕΙ” (“Thanks, Odysseus”), and support the longstanding theory of hero cult worship centered on the island’s most famous son.

A miniature bronze bust of Odysseus and multiple ritual artifacts—including 34 fragments of clay votives, loom weights, gold and bronze jewelry, and over 100 coins from various city-states—underscore the site’s religious and social significance during the Hellenistic and early Roman periods (3rd century BCE – 2nd century CE).

View from the south showing the upper part of the southern carved staircase at the School of Homer site. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα / Greek Ministry of Culture
View from the south showing the upper part of the southern carved staircase at the School of Homer site. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα (Christina Marampea) / Greek Ministry of Culture

A Sanctuary of Worship and Pilgrimage

The lower terrace, featuring robust architectural structures, carved niches for dedications, and stamped roof tiles bearing inscriptions such as ΔΗ (potentially denoting “public”) and references to Apollo Agyieus, confirms the site’s use for organized cultic practices. This rich archaeological context indicates that the sanctuary likely served not only the island’s inhabitants but also pilgrims from afar.

According to Professor Giannos G. Lolos, scientific director of the excavation, the site represents a “public cultic complex” central to Ithaca’s religious, social, and possibly political life. The team, including Dr. Christina Marampea and other experts, continues to analyze findings through the University of Ioannina’s research program, supported by generous private donations and regional partnerships.

Hellenistic-period fragment of a sealed roof tile inscribed with part of the name of Odysseus. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα / Greek Ministry of Culture
Hellenistic-period fragment of a sealed roof tile inscribed with part of the name of Odysseus. Credit: Χρ. Μαραμπέα (Christina Marampea) / Greek Ministry of Culture

An Enduring Legacy Bridging Myth and Reality

This discovery brings us closer than ever to verifying the physical roots of Homer’s epic legacy. Whether one views Odysseus as a myth, a man, or both, the sanctuary in northwestern Ithaca offers compelling evidence of his heroic cult and cultural importance across millennia.

As excavation and conservation efforts continue, the School of Homer stands not only as an archaeological treasure but also as a symbolic link between myth and historical memory—a place where Odysseus, king and wanderer, is honored in stone, inscription, and enduring human fascination.

Greek Ministry of Culture

Cover Image Credit: The School of Homer site in Ithaca, identified as the sanctuary of Odysseus. Χρ. Μαραμπέα (Christina Marampea) / Greek Ministry of Culture

Related Articles

The 4,500-year-old Wisconsin canoe was built around the same time that Stonehenge was being constructed

31 May 2024

31 May 2024

Historians from Wisconsin have reported the amazing finding of at least eleven prehistoric canoes in Lake Mendota, which is close...

Archaeologists find a 5,000-year-old piece of wood in Orkney, which they describe as “astonishing”

10 August 2021

10 August 2021

Archaeologists continue to make surprising discoveries in Orkney. Although organic materials are quite difficult to find, archaeologists have found a...

Rare Anglo-Saxon Gold and Garnet Artifacts Discovered in Wiltshire

12 May 2025

12 May 2025

A breathtaking discovery in the southwestern English county of Wiltshire has captivated archaeologists and metal detecting enthusiasts alike. Two detectorists,...

An archaeological dig at Govan Old Churchyard revealed a remarkable new find: an early medieval ‘Govan Warrior’ stone

19 September 2023

19 September 2023

An archaeological excavation in the churchyard at Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, a port city on the River Clyde...

14,000-year-old settlement discovered in western Turkey

26 November 2021

26 November 2021

During the rescue excavation carried out in a cave in Dikili, İzmir, in western Turkey, 14 thousand-year-old stone tools and...

Archaeologists have unearthed a trove of artifacts at the necropolis of Saqqara

9 June 2022

9 June 2022

Archaeologists at the necropolis of Saqqara, near Cairo, have discovered a cache of 250 complete mummies in painted wooden sarcophagi...

İnkaya Cave excavations in Türkiye’s western uncovers 86,000-year-old traces of human life

22 August 2023

22 August 2023

In the excavations carried out in the İnkaya Cave in Çanakkale, located in the northwestern part of Türkiye, in addition...

Unexpected Origins of Mysterious Mummies Buried in Boats in a Chinese Desert

17 February 2024

17 February 2024

In 1990, hundreds of mummified bodies were found buried in boats in an inhospitable desert area in the Xinjiang Uyghur...

Truncated conical tombs 3,000 years old found in the Chapultepec Forest

26 November 2023

26 November 2023

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) unearthed 10 truncated conical tombs, approximately 3,000 years old, at...

Ancient Egyptian cult drank a trippy mix of drugs, human blood, and bodily fluids

7 June 2023

7 June 2023

Researchers have identified some of the components of found in an ancient Bes vase dating back to Ptolemaic era Egypt....

“Human evolution” Migration out of Africa was affected by climate constraints.

25 August 2021

25 August 2021

The story of modern man’s migration from Africa still remains unclear in many aspects. Why did people migrate? Is it...

A unique gold brooch talisman with inscriptions in Latin and Hebrew was found in the UK

19 February 2022

19 February 2022

A Medieval gold annular brooch with prayerful inscriptions has been discovered in the parish of Manningford in Wiltshire, in the...

A New Study: The Great Sphinx of Giza may have been blown into shape by the wind

1 November 2023

1 November 2023

The theory, occasionally raised by others, that the Great Sphinx of Giza may have been a lion-shaped natural landform that...

An extremely Rare Half-Shekel Coin From Year Three of the Great Revolt discovered

21 December 2022

21 December 2022

Recent excavations by archaeologists from the Hebrew University in the Ophel area south of the Temple Mount uncovered the remains...

New Study: Middle Paleolithic Human Diet was More Diverse than Previously Thought

30 November 2023

30 November 2023

In a newly published study, archaeologists from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen...