As a metaphor for the new crescent moon, Moly
emerges from its ‘black roots’ - the dark period of the
lunar month when the moon cannot be seen.
As the new crescent waxes so too are Moly's
‘milk-white petals’ …… ‘still in the
process of growing’.
And neither the moon nor Moly can
'be uprooted by human hand’.
In the rhythm of Odysseus’s adventures throughout the Odyssey, the arrival of a new crescent
moon transforms his fortunes and in this particular case enables him to rescue his men from the
magical powers of Circe.
Even more dramatically, at the climax of the Odyssey and just as a new crescent moon emerges
from the dark period, so too does Odysseus cast off his disguise as a ragged beggar and is
revealed in all his glory as a vengeful warrior-hero.
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Luni-solar calendars
In Homer’s system the days and months were calculated according to phases
of the moon, while the passing of the seasons and year were marked by the
annual journey of the sun from winter solstice to winter solstice.
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Our website offers only a brief introduction to the remarkable
astronomical and calendrical content of Homer’s Odyssey and
much more is revealed in the pages of
Homer’s Secret Odyssey
The book is available in both print and e-book versions from
http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk or Amazon and other Booksellers
Next page: Homer’s Secret Iliad
Page links
Home Adventures in the Heavens Goat island and the lunar year
Cycles of the sun, moon and Venus Circe and Magical ‘Moly’
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