Homer:
* Lack of Contemporary Evidence: No contemporary accounts or artifacts mention Homer, making it difficult to verify his existence. This has led to speculation that he was a collective of poets or even a myth.
* Inconsistencies in the Epics: Internal contradictions and discrepancies within the *Iliad* and the *Odyssey* have been used to argue against a single author.
* Oral Tradition: The epics were likely passed down orally for centuries before being written down, making it difficult to pinpoint a definitive author.
Aesop:
* Lack of Historical Records: No reliable contemporary records about Aesop's life exist.
* Fables as Common Folktales: Fables attributed to Aesop share similarities with fables found in other cultures, suggesting their origin in oral tradition rather than a single author.
* Later Development of the Aesopian Corpus: The collection of Aesop's fables as we know them today developed over centuries, making it difficult to pinpoint a single author.
Important Notes:
* Acceptance of Oral Tradition: Modern scholarship generally acknowledges the importance of oral tradition in ancient Greece. Many scholars believe Homer and Aesop were likely real individuals who played a crucial role in shaping the stories and traditions passed down to them.
* Focus on the Works: Even if there's debate about the individual's existence, the works attributed to Homer and Aesop are still considered important cultural artifacts that offer insight into ancient Greek society and thought.
* Ongoing Debate: The debate about Homer and Aesop's historicity is likely to continue, as new evidence and interpretations emerge.
In essence, the "doubt" surrounding these figures stems from the lack of definitive historical evidence and the challenges of separating individual authorship from the broader context of oral tradition. However, their impact on literature and culture remains undeniable.