So, I’m rereading the Odyssey, as one does, and I noticed a curious pattern: 6 deaths by Scylla, 6 by Polyphemus, 12 ships, 12 maids, 12 axes, 72 deaths by the Cicones, 108 suitors… these numbers would all be round in a base-6 number system: 10, 20, 200, and 300, respectively. This is particularly interesting because the ancient Greeks used a base-10 system, and the Odyssey —like other oral traditions— relied on easily memorable numbers for storytelling. Oddly specific numbers would have been harder to remember and recite.

Most scholars believe that Homer didn’t actually write the Odyssey himself. Instead, he collected stories from various nearby cultures and wove them into a single, cohesive narrative. This fits well with the structure of the Odyssey, which consists of individual episodes tied to specific islands, all strung together into a larger tale. It also aligns with the title “Rhapsode”, which roughly translates to “one who sews songs together”.

This brings me to my hypothesis. Since Homer lived on Chios, at least some of the stories he collected likely came from Asia Minor. Given that Asia Minor was within Babylonia’s sphere of influence, and the Babylonians used a base-60 number system, it’s plausible that some people in Asia Minor used a base-60 system or a derivative, such as base-6. Therefore, it’s possible that the stories within the Odyssey featuring numbers that are easier to remember in base-6 originated from cultures in Asia Minor that used such a system.

I couldn’t find anyone else who has proposed this theory, but it seems pretty plausible.