The Odyssey is one of two epic works of ancient Greek literature – the other is the Iliad – and both are said to have been created by the blind Greek poet Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature, and many people may recognize the title but know little or nothing about the actual story – or think about the Honda minivan.
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| Odysseus' 10-year journey home |
The story basically follows the hero Odysseus – who is also known as Ulysses in the Latin version of the story – on his voyage home after the 10-year battle of Troy – which is the story told in the Iliad. Realistically speaking, 10 years to fight a war must have been the most brutal, inhuman way of life for that bloody decade. Anyone who survived that horror would have deserved to go home.
It will take Odysseus another 10 years to get back to Ithaca where he is the king. During that time he encounters creatures good and evil, faces many dangers, and loses all of his men. As the sole survivor, Odysseus has the incentive to return home not just to see his wife and son but also to tell the news of what happened to him and his crew.
While he is away – and presumed dead after so many years – his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a large group of potential suitors for Penelope's hand in marriage.
The Poem's Composition
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| The blind Greek poet Homer |
When trying to find the time that both epic poems were composed, there is no totally agreed upon answer. According classics scholar Robert Lamberton, the poems were probably composed – written down – much later, but they were certainly told long before that time in what is called the oral tradition – the poems were conceived by Homer some time in the 8th Century BC, but he would have told the stories by reciting them from memory.
The poems would then be handed down over generations, told by bards who performed them also from memory, but adapting them sometimes for a particular audience. At some point someone decided to sit down and write the long 24 chapter poems. These poems would have been transcribed in Homeric Greek sometime between the 8th and 7th Century BC.
Impact on Culture and Education
Homer's work can be considered some of the most influential literature in history because of its impact on culture and education. The poems provided the framework of what to teach during the classical age, and they also affected Greek culture for generations.
We can make connections to how the Greeks passed the torch to the Romans as Homer's work still was honored and taught, continuing to be important as Christianity spread in the Roman Empire.
Homer would be rediscovered by the Byzantine Empire in the 8th Century CE, and would also have a tremendous impact on Renaissance Italy. From that time going forward many different translations of the epic poems were made, causing them to be part of classical education throughout Europe and eventually the rest of the world.
Books, Television, and Film Adaptations
Notable Books
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| Margaret Atwood |
-The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood tells the story from Penelope's point of view. It offers a feminist perspective of the tale, highlighting the oppressive patriarchal aspects of the original work
- Circe by Madeline Miller focuses on the life of Circe, the witch whom Odysseus encounters on the island of Aeaea.
-Ithaca by Claire North is a historical fiction that also tells the story from wife Penelope's point of view as she tries to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca while Odysseus is away.
- The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason provides alternate versions of the stories told in the original epic poem.
Television Series
- Odyssey (1968) is an Italian miniseries that captures the essence of the original work.
- Ulysses 31 (1981-1982) is a French-Japanese animated series that transports Odysseus to the 31st Century, where he battles space monsters.
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| Armand Assante as Odysseus |
- The Odyssey (1997) is a Hallmark produced NBC miniseries starring Armand Assante that is faithful to the spirit of the original epic poem.
Films
Ulysses (1954) is an Italian-American film starring Kirk Douglas in the title role. It is considered a classic and faithful adaptation of the story.
The Return (2024) is a film starring Ralph Fiennes as a bruised and weary Odysseus who returns to reunite with his wife and son and reclaim his throne.
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| Matt Damon as Odysseus |
Nolan's The Odyssey premieres in the United States on July 17, 2026. For tickets and showtimes, please check here.
Reading the Original
I know there's not much time until the premier, and the original work is rather long, but I encourage you to try to read some of Homer's classic tale. Here are some tips on reading or at least getting familiar with the story. There is always a benefit of at least being aware of the highlights of the source material when viewing Nolan's film.
Please watch this video about approaching a reading of the Odyssey.
And in the End
The fact that we are still living with many of the conditions Homer describes tells us that human life – while greatly changed by technology and history – is still very similar to those times.
Recognizing ourselves in great works of literature – no matter now old – relays the notion that human beings have always been much the same over the centuries. Hopefully we can learn from the mistakes that occurred before our time, but sadly many times we find that we continue to repeat them. That is what is called being human.
Please check out the trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
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