Is The Telegony Considered Canon To The Odyssey?

Finished the Odyssey and curious if The Telegony's events are treated as official Homeric canon or just ancient fan fiction. Not sure which version to believe.
2025-12-10 08:15:45
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11 Answers

Best Answer
LeonPerry
LeonPerry
Twist Chaser Student
No, 'The Telegony' is not traditionally considered part of the Homeric canon. Most scholars treat the 'Odyssey' and the 'Iliad' as the core works, while the Epic Cycle poems like the 'Telegony' are seen as later, non-canonical additions that continue the myths. For a modern take that reimagines a character from that world, I've been reading 'She's The Queen - Book 2 of Calypso's Story', which explores the nymph's perspective and agency long after Odysseus sails away, focusing on her political struggles to rule and protect her own mystical realm.
2026-08-04 07:54:27
57
Violet
Violet
Plot Detective Teacher
I’ve always been intrigued by how fragmented ancient texts can be, and 'The Telegony' is a perfect example. It’s not like today’s franchises where canon is strictly defined—back then, multiple versions of myths coexisted. Some audiences might’ve treated 'The Telegony' as a continuation, while others ignored it entirely. The fact that only summaries survive tells you how differently it was valued compared to 'The Odyssey'. If you ask me, canon is whatever resonates with you. I enjoy the extra lore, even if it’s not 'official' in the modern sense.
2025-12-11 07:27:37
18
Wade
Wade
Book Clue Finder Chef
Canon is a slippery concept with ancient texts, and 'The Telegony' definitely blurs the lines. It’s part of the Epic Cycle, but unlike 'The Odyssey', it doesn’t have the same cultural footprint. If you’re a completionist, you’ll want to check it out, but don’t expect it to feel like a seamless extension. The way it handles Odysseus’ fate is dramatic, though—almost like a Greek tragedy in itself.
2025-12-13 02:15:25
4
Isaac
Isaac
Bibliophile Analyst
Debating the canonicity of 'The Telegony' feels like arguing about deleted scenes from a movie—some fans swear by them, others pretend they don’t exist. The epic was attributed to Eugammon of Cyrene, but it’s so loosely connected to Homer’s style that it’s hard to take it as a direct sequel. What’s wild is how it introduces new characters like Telegonus, Odysseus’ son with circe, who accidentally kills his dad. That’s a huge twist! But since most of the text is lost, we’re left piecing together its importance from secondhand accounts. I’d say it’s more of a curiosity than a must-read for casual fans.
2025-12-13 02:30:17
18
Bryce
Bryce
Active Reader Driver
The Telegony is such a fascinating piece of ancient literature, but its relationship to 'the odyssey' is pretty murky. While it was traditionally part of the Epic Cycle, which included other works like 'the iliad' and 'The Odyssey', scholars debate whether it was ever truly considered 'canon' in the way we think of it today. The Telegony picks up where 'The Odyssey' leaves off, following Odysseus' later adventures and his eventual death, but its authorship and authenticity are sketchy at best.

Personally, I think of it more like fanfiction—an attempt by later poets to tie up loose ends. It doesn’t have the same weight or recognition as Homer’s works, and most modern readers treat it as supplementary rather than essential. Still, if you’re deep into Greek mythology, it’s worth exploring for the extra layers it adds to Odysseus’ story.
2025-12-15 10:07:56
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The Telegony is like this obscure epilogue to 'The Odyssey' that most folks don’t even know exists! It’s part of the Epic Cycle, a collection of ancient Greek poems that fill in the gaps around Homer’s works. Written by Eugammon of Cyrene, it picks up right where 'The Odyssey' leaves off, following Odysseus’ later adventures and his eventual death at the hands of Telegonus, his son with Circe. Yeah, the guy didn’t exactly retire peacefully! The poem’s wild because it ties up loose ends—like Telemachus marrying Circe (weird, right?) and Penelope marrying Telegonus after Odysseus dies. It’s messy family drama, but it adds this tragic, almost soap-opera layer to Odysseus’ legacy. Honestly, it makes me wonder how much of Greek epic poetry was just authors vibing with 'what’s the most dramatic way this could go?' The Telegony isn’t as polished as Homer’s work, but it’s fascinating for completionists who want the full, chaotic Odysseus experience.

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8 Answers2025-12-10 17:44:14
While diving into ancient Greek epics, I stumbled upon 'The Telegony,' a fascinating but often overlooked piece of the Homeric tradition. It's technically considered a sequel to 'The Odyssey,' but it’s not by Homer—it’s attributed to Eugammon of Cyrene. The poem follows Telegonus, Odysseus’ son with Circe, who accidentally kills his father and later marries Penelope. It ties up loose ends from 'The Odyssey,' like the fate of Odysseus, but it’s way more obscure. Only fragments survive, so much of its content is pieced together from summaries by later writers like Proclus. I wish more of it existed because the themes of unintended consequences and family drama sound epic! Honestly, the fact that it’s not as celebrated as Homer’s works makes it even more intriguing to me. It feels like a lost gem of mythology, blending tragedy and irony in a way that’s ripe for modern adaptations. If you’re into deep cuts of classical lit, it’s worth exploring—just don’t expect the same narrative polish as 'The Odyssey.'

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4 Answers2025-12-10 15:13:52
Ever since I stumbled upon fragments of 'The Telegony' in a dusty old anthology, I've been fascinated by how it expands Homer's universe. This lost epic, attributed to Eugammon of Cyrene, picks up right after 'The Odyssey' ends, weaving a wild tapestry of Odysseus' later years and his son Telegonus' quest. It's got everything—accidental patricide, secret half-siblings, and even Odysseus' ghost giving advice from the underworld. The sheer audacity of killing off the hero through a stingray spear (of all things!) shows how Greek myths love tragic irony. What really grabs me is how it reframes Penelope's story. She marries Telegonus after he unknowingly kills Odysseus, which adds such messy, human complexity to her character. While some scholars dismiss it as fanfiction-tier material, I think it reveals how ancient audiences craved continuation just like modern fandoms. The way it ties up loose ends—Telemachus marrying Circe, Circe making everyone immortal—feels like a Bronze Age 'epilogue fever.' Makes me wish we had the full text instead of just summaries by Proclus.

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