I agree that Homer matters, as least as much as any literature can.
A little book i’ve got here ,dated 1757, Believes Homer to be a very well travel individual of high status in Greece society.
“An excellent well travelled Geographer with access to the accounts of his countrymen”.
“Collecting the Stories of those around ,and editing them into an accurate account of proceedings “.
(Thomas Blackwell)
Sounds plausible. (?)