[flying Elvis]

On the other hand, the owner of the broach could have heard the story of Odysseus, admired him, and had a copy made, or a local monarch could have sought to legitimize his rule by claming kinship to Odysseus and had a copy made.

[wagglebee]

IIRC, Homer's epics were centuries after the Trojan War. It would have been difficult, even in that era, to fake this.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

On the other hand, the owner of the broach could have heard the story of Odysseus, admired him, and had a copy made, or a local monarch could have sought to legitimize his rule by claming kinship to Odysseus and had a copy made.

My thoughts exactly. The existence of this brooch is not proof. Homer's work was so widely performed that most people would have heard it, and anyone who was interested and who had the money could have had such a brooch created for them.

Be pretty cool if this is true, though!

[FreedomCalls]

On the other hand, the owner of the broach could have heard the story of Odysseus, admired him, and had a copy made

That's what I was thinking. If I lived in the area in ancient times and had the financial means to duplicate the brooch, I sure would have. Much like finding a copy today of the necklace described in the Titanic movie would not validate the story of Jack and Rose.

[ccmay]

On the other hand, the owner of the broach could have heard the story of Odysseus, admired him, and had a copy made, or a local monarch could have sought to legitimize his rule by claming kinship to Odysseus and had a copy made.

Or a modern Chamber-of-Commerce type could have had a forgery made, with an eye to revving up the tourist trade.

-ccm