In the epic “Odyssey,” one of the cornerstones of Western literature, the legendary Greek hero Odysseus returns to his queen Penelope after enduring 10 years of sailing the wine dark sea.

Now scientists have pinned down his return to April 16, 1178 B.C., close to noon local time, according to astronomical references in the epic poem that seem to pinpoint the total eclipse of the sun on the day that Odysseus supposedly returned on.

I have difficulty describing how cool I think that is.  The only problem with such a thing is that it de-mythologizes (if that’s a word) the excitement of it all.  I mean, if Odysseus was killing Penelope’s suitors on the 16th or whatever, what did he do on May 16, 1178 BC?  Did he till a field?  Hang out with some buddies at the wine bar?  Was he really just another dude going off to a foreign land for some excitement, then he came home and was bored?

Seriously, how could Odysseus not be bored?  He fought in the greatest war of the ancient ancient world, was harassed by multiple supernatural creatures and finally made his way home.  And then he just got on with domestic life, watching the flies buzz around his office?  In a modern context he would probably be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, but that seems unlikely in ancient greece.  Probably he just drank a lot and exaggerated what happened to him.  Hence, the Odyssey.

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