Part 3 moves toward identifying the author of the Odyssey. Butler estimates the poem’s date and shows how its descriptions of northwestern Sicily align with Thucydides’ historical account. He presents evidence for an early Ionian settlement near Trapani, strengthening the claim of a local female author. The discussion then situates the Odyssey in relation to the Iliad and the wider Trojan cycle, stressing its originality. Finally, Butler concludes by showing how the poem’s development reflects a woman’s perspective, thus completing his argument on authorship.
