Ithaca in The Odyssey: Location and Identification

Homeric Description

Ithaca is an island in the Ionian Sea west of mainland Greece: small, rugged, with a harbor, mountain, and nearby isles (Same, Zakynthos).

Modern Identification

The prevailing theory identifies Homeric Ithaca with the modern island of Ithaki (Ithaca) in the Ionian Islands. Its geography—indented coast, two harbors, mountains—matches the epic. Neighboring Kefalonia (Same) and Zakynthos align.

Alternative Theories

Some scholars propose Lefkada (south of Corfu) or an islet off Kefalonia based on archaeological evidence.

Conclusion

The exact location remains debated, but Ithaki is the most widely accepted correlate.