Turkey's cultural misappropriation to new heights - Homer is "Omar from Anatolia"

June 15, 2026
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

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Turkey's cultural misappropriation to new heights - Homer is "Omar from Anatolia"

A new cultural controversy has erupted after Turkish institutions and media reportedly began presenting Homer, the legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, as an “Anatolian” figure under the name “Omar from Anatolia,” while also emphasizing Troy as part of Turkey's national historical heritage.

The argument is based on the fact that ancient Troy was located in northwestern Asia Minor, within the borders of modern Turkey. Turkish narratives increasingly highlight the geographic location of ancient civilizations rather than their cultural and ethnic identities, allowing them to present figures such as Homer as belonging to the heritage of Anatolia.

Critics argue that this approach ignores the Greek character of Homeric literature and the wider context of ancient Greek civilization. Homer wrote in ancient Greek, his epics form the foundation of Greek literature, and for over two millennia he has been regarded as one of the central figures of the Greek cultural tradition.

The debate reflects a broader struggle over historical memory and cultural heritage in the eastern Mediterranean, where competing national narratives often seek to claim ownership of ancient civilizations whose legacy predates modern states by thousands of years.

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