Bad translation?

Question:

Bad translation?

I am reading The Odyssey in English translation from about 100yrs ago and it says in one place that they fed corn to the horses.
I also know that corn came to Europe only after the descovery of America, atleast 1500 yrs after the Odyssey was wreaten.
Can someone explain please?
thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

d h, Corn was not originally the designation for the type of grain that was found in the Americas. It was originally called maize to distinguish it from European corn, also known as barley. In fact, any kind of grain food was given the generic term corn. In the 1700's in England, there were the Corn Laws, governing importation and exportation of grain.

So all your English translator means is that the horses were fed grain as opposed to letting them graze.