Founders' Writings on Homer

Heading to the movies to see “The Odyssey”?

Revolutionaries like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, whose admiration for classical writers like Shakespeare, Cicero, and more are well documented, referenced Homer’s epic poem many times in their writings and both collected copies of the Greek poet’s works.

In 1818, Jefferson compiled a List of Recommended Books for Female Education, which included Alexander Pope's translation of The Iliad and The Odyssey, though Jefferson wrote in 1800 that he preferred Homer's original writing to the translation:

"...to read the Latin & Greek authors in their original is a sublime luxury; and I deem luxury in science to be at least as justifiable as in architecture, painting, gardening or the other arts. I enjoy Homer in his own language infinitely beyond Pope’s translation of him, & both beyond the dull narrative of the same events by Dares Phrygius, & it is an innocent enjoyment."

“I have an edition of Homer’s Iliad, Gr. & Lat. 12mo. printed by the Foulis in Glasgow, and should be very glad to get their corresponding edition of the Odyssey. if you have it, or can procure it in Philadelphia, I shall be obliged to you for it,” Jefferson wrote to a friend in 1802. Jefferson's copy of "The Iliad" is featured at Monticello.

In 1781, Adams wrote to his son, John Quincy Adams, to encourage him to read more and learn languages like Greek and Latin.

"But I want to have you, upon some higher Authors than Phaedrus and Nepos," he wrote. "I want to have you upon Demosthenes. The plainer Authors you may learn yourself at any time. I absolutely insist upon it, that you begin upon Demosthenes, and Cicero. I will not be put by. You may learn Greek from Demosthenes and Homer as well as from Isocrates and Lucian—and Latin from Virgil and Cicero as well as Phaedrus and Nepos."

In another letter in 1796, Adams writes to his wife Abigail with a direct reference to the poem, “Let not my Communications worry thee. I am unchangeably determined to serve Under no other than Washington. Telemachus Says to the Suitors. 1. Odyssey. 490 &c

I am not averse.

From Kingly cares if Jove appoint me Such.”

Adams and Jefferson even quoted Homer to each other.

In 1816, Jefferson responded to a letter from Adams, writing: “Your two philosophical letters of May 4. and 6. have been too long in my Carton of ‘Letters to be answered.’ to the question indeed on the utility of Grief, no answer remains to be given. you have exhausted the subject. I see that, with the other evils of life, it is destined to temper the cup we are to drink.

Two urns by Jove’s high throne have ever stood,

The source of evil one, and one of good;

From thence the cup of mortal man he fills,

Blessings to these, to those distributes ills;

To most he mingles both.”