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The Winnowing Oar (''athereloigos'' - Greek ''ἀθηρηλοιγός'') is an object that appears in Books XI and XXIII of Homer's ''
"Marching Inland"
tomlewis.net
I'm marching inland from the shore, over m' shoulder I'm carrying an oar,
When someone asks me: "What - is that funny thing you've got?"
Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more,
Then I know I'll never go to sea no more!
''Poseidon's Oar''
Lance Hosey
Poseidon’s Oar : Lance Hosey
{{Greek religion, state=collapsed Objects in Greek mythology Odyssey Rowing equipment Poseidon
The Winnowing Oar (''athereloigos'' - Greek ''ἀθηρηλοιγός'') is an object that appears in Books XI and XXIII of Homer's ''Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...
''. In the epic, Odysseus
In Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, Odysseus ( ; , ), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( , ; ), is a legendary Greeks, Greek king of Homeric Ithaca, Ithaca and the hero of Homer's Epic poetry, epic poem, the ''Odyssey''. Od ...
is instructed by Tiresias
In Greek mythology, Tiresias (; ) was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, Greece, Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for seven years. He was the son of the shepherd Everes (mythology), Everes and the nymph ...
to take an oar from his ship and to walk inland until he finds a "land that knows nothing of the sea", where the oar would be mistaken for a winnowing shovel. At this point, he is to offer a sacrifice to Poseidon
Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cit ...
, and then at last his journeys would be over.
In popular culture
* In 2003 the artist Conrad Shawcross created a work, ''Winnowing Oar'', based on the object. Sculpted in oak, spruce and ash, it is an imaginary tool with a winnowing shovel at one end and an oar blade at the other. It formed part of the Shawcross' 2004 ''Continuum'' exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. *The metaphor is used in the TV series '' Black Sails''. *The song "Marching Inland" by Tom Lewis is a modern interpretation of the concept:tomlewis.net
References
External links
Lance Hosey
Poseidon’s Oar : Lance Hosey
{{Greek religion, state=collapsed Objects in Greek mythology Odyssey Rowing equipment Poseidon