The Odyssey "thanks" Byzantium

Τhe first page of Laurentianus 32.24

The survival of Homer's Odyssey is largely due to Byzantine scholars and copyists, who for centuries copied the works of ancient Greek literature with exceptional care.

Of particular importance is Codex Laurentianus 32.24, a Byzantine manuscript dating to the late 10th century AD and constituting the oldest complete surviving manuscript of the Odyssey.

This particular manuscript is the oldest complete witness to the original text and one of the most important sources for modern scholarly editions of the work.

The Byzantine contribution was not limited to simple copying. Scholars of the time added commentaries and interpretations, compared different traditions of the text, and ensured that the Homeric epics continued to be taught and studied.

Without this long-term effort, it is very likely that the Odyssey, like many other masterpieces of ancient Greek literature, would have been lost forever.