The Greeks moved Odysseus to Sicily for political reasons, but Homer's Winds reveals that he actually sailed the Adriatic

In a new edition of his book Tragovima Odiseja, Croatian writer Jasen Boko claims that Homer’s epic poem does not describe Odysseus’s journey through the western Mediterranean and Sicily, as traditionally believed, but rather along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. This assertion challenges long-standing interpretations of the ancient Greek text and has sparked renewed debate among scholars and readers alike. The book, originally published in 2012 and awarded the Kiklop Prize for best literary work, has been revised and expanded with greater conviction in its second edition, which was released on August 13, 2026. Boko, who describes himself as a “nomad” by passion, having worked in gold mines in Australia, picked berries in Quebec, hitchhiked through Iran and Burma, climbed the Himalayas, and traveled the Silk Road, has spent over fifteen years tracing Odysseus’s path. His research led him to conclude that the hero did not spend ten years wandering Sicily and the western Mediterranean, but instead followed the eastern Adriatic coastline. According to Boko, locations such as Melite (modern-day Mali Losinj), Calypso’s island (Mljet), Polyphemus’s home (Hvar), and the Laestrygonians (Omiš) all align with this interpretation. He argues that these sites were historically accurate and reflect Homer’s deep knowledge of maritime conditions. When asked why he returned to Odysseus after so many years, Boko emphasized that the Odyssey remains a timeless subject, one that lies at the foundation of modern civilization. He noted that the epic, alongside The Epic of Gilgamesh, is among the earliest world travel narratives. After fourteen years since the initial publication of his book, which had already sold out, Boko decided to prepare a significantly expanded edition. He explained that while Odysseus has always fascinated him, new scholarly findings have further solidified his convictions. Boko’s interest in Homer’s geography began during his studies of classical literature. He pointed out that debates over the authorship of the Homeric epics have persisted since the 19th century, with scholars divided between analytical critics, who argue that parts of the works originated from different authors, and unitarians, who support their unity and Homer’s authorship. Boko cited Lord and Perry’s study of Bosnian-Herzegovinian epics in the early 20th century as evidence that the works likely came from a single author. He added that the structure of both The Iliad and The Odyssey suggests a unified narrative, with a sophisticated use of literary techniques. He also addressed the broader question of whether Homer’s geography is purely fictional or rooted in historical reality. Boko argued that even in antiquity, there were divisions on this issue. Some viewed the epics as pure fiction, akin to the father of geography, Eratosthenes, while others found real-world locations corresponding to the descriptions in The Odyssey. Boko, however, firmly believes that Homer’s geography is based on actual historical and geographical knowledge. Boko criticized traditional interpretations that place Odysseus’s journey primarily around Sicily and the central Mediterranean. He noted that these views often rely on ancient commentaries and later redactions, such as those attributed to Pizistratus in the 5th century BCE. Instead, he contends that Homer’s detailed descriptions of specific winds, such as the maestral (northwest wind), the not (southern wind), the boreas (northern wind), and the eurus (eastern wind), reflect a keen understanding of Mediterranean navigation. These winds, he explains, dictated the course of Odysseus’s voyage, especially during an era when sailing depended almost entirely on wind patterns.