The Mystery of Bornova Cave: Claims in Turkey That Homer Composed the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” There

On the outskirts of Izmir, on a hill in Turkey, lies a cave that local residents believe is where Homer wrote the “Odyssey.” The area is known as Homer Valley and, according to Turkish researcher Altan Altın, the author of a book on the subject, it once attracted travelers from around the world.

However, the exact place where Homer created his poems remains unknown, and numerous myths have arisen around the cave. The debate has been further revived by Nolan’s film “The Odyssey.”

Reaching and entering the rock-filled cave is difficult. Visitors have left inscriptions in Greek on its interior walls.

Besides Bornova, the Greek island of Chios also claims to be Homer’s birthplace. Nevertheless, the poet is also closely associated with ancient Smyrna and its surrounding areas, including Bornova.

“Homer is Ionian. But where is Ionia? Right here, in these lands, in Western Anatolia: Izmir, Aliağa, Claros, Chios… He is a man of this land. In Anatolia, we have a tradition of epic storytelling. In Eastern Anatolia, this tradition is known as ‘dengbêj.’ Homer was a representative of this tradition 2,800 years ago,” Altın said.

Ionia was an ancient Greek region along the Aegean coast, within the territory of present-day Turkey. In support of his theory, the researcher refers to a work from the third century BC depicting the deification of Homer. According to Altın, this work reproduces Bornova Cave with extraordinary accuracy.

“This bas-relief had been known for a long time, but no one had previously noticed the details identical to those found in Homer’s cave. This is the first time such a detailed geographical description has come to light,” he said.

The connection to Homer also appears to be reinforced by archaeological finds, particularly coins bearing his portrait. The poet’s image can be found in many places across Bornova. At Yeşilova Höyük, the earliest known prehistoric settlement in Izmir, a bust of Homer has been erected with the inscription: “On this land, I composed the epics ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey.’ I lived in Bornova.”

The city now hosts a book fair dedicated to Homer, while a park also features a statue of Hector, the hero of the Trojan War. Seeking to capitalize on renewed interest in the ancient poet, local authorities plan to restore the cave and open it to visitors.

This vision, however, does not enjoy full support. In 2024, municipal officials from Erdoğan’s party called for “Homer Valley” to be renamed in honor of a Turkish fighter, arguing that the area should not bear a Greek name. Altın believes that Homer’s origins should not become a source of rivalry between Turkey and Greece.

According to him, Homer is 2,800 years old, whereas the Turkish-Greek border has existed for only a century. He stresses that Homer is Greek and, at the same time, from Anatolia, adding that none of us, not even our states, is older than the poet.