Abstract
In this exploration of two seminal works, the Old Irish Audacht Moriann and the Greek Odyssey, two passages that show similarities in both diction and theme are compared in order to illuminate their history. Word-level examination demonstrates that many of the Greek and the Old Irish words in the texts can be traced back to their origin, Proto Indo-European. In order to fully comprehend the connections between the words and phrases, this paper then considers how they reflect on the larger theme known as speculum principum or ‘instruction of princes.’ This genre, present in works from many Indo-European cultures but especially evident in Irish and Greek society, focuses on prosperity as the direct result of a just king. Both texts specify what such prosperity entails, including plentiful fruit, flocks, fish, and grain, and explicitly state that this abundance is due to the justice of the ruler. Furthermore, the poetic elements in the two texts contain intriguing clues that point back to a common tradition. Therefore, this examination of individual words and phrases reveals patterns and similarities between the Old Irish and Greek texts, shedding light on the language and culture of their shared ancestors, the Proto Indo-Europeans.