Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of the Homeric epic The Odyssey (2026) is one of the biggest films of the year. But it is by far the first attempt to capture the epic cycle on screen.
Interestingly, despite the universality of the Homeric epics there have been remarkable few film adaptations of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Those that have been made however tell interesting stories. Stories of the film's production and creative ambitions; stories of audience responses and recognition and stories of how each film reflects the contemporary world that produced it as much as the world of Bronze Age Greece.
Using clips from some of these films including The Return (2024), Troy (2004), Ulysses (1955) and Ulysses against the Son of Hercules (1962) we will look at the 100 year tradition of telling Homer's stories on the big screen and will examine how the myths have been adapted as well as placing Nolan's massive film within a broader context of cinematic storytelling
From Kubrick to the Coens it is also interesting seeing how other film makers have been inspired by The Odyssey as a concept; just as visual arts and authors have for centuries. We will explore some of the films that were based on The Odyssey without you even knowing it (ahem, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004)).
Speakers Estelle Lazer and Craig Barker are two archaeologists who also love cinema. They really love films - good, bad and B-grade. For years they have enjoyed seeing archaeology and ancient history portrayed in movies.
So grab your popcorn and join them as we explore depictions of Homer in Hollywood!
Dr Estelle Lazer is an Honorary Research Associate with the University of Sydney and the Chau Chak Wing Museum. She is one of Australia's leading bio-archaeologists and leads the Pompeii Cast Project which uses non-destructive techniques to examine the plaster casts of Pompeii's victims. She is a renowned educator and tour leader and has worked on sites in the Middle East, Italy, Cyprus, the UK, Antarctica and Australia.
Dr Craig Barker is Manager, Education and Experience at the Chau Chak Wing Museum and a Mediterranean archaeologist with decades of fieldwork experience in Cyprus, Greece and Australia. He is Director of the University of Sydney's Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project in Cyprus and has published widely on the archaeology of Cyprus, ancient theatre and museum education.
Header image: Kirk Douglas as Odysseus in the 1954 Italian-American film Ulysses produced by Lux Films and Paramount Pictures
