As we explore the Odyssey, we will begin with a reading of each book followed by an in-depth analysis of the events, characters and themes. Today we will start with Book 1, which launches us into action with a great council of the gods before Athena heads to Ithaca to set events in motion. Enjoy!

Before we launch into the world Homer paints for us in the Odyssey, it’s important to establish the context of the great war the precedes it. The Trojan War was a defining event in Greek mythology, around which so many narratives and characters were shaped, and its many events, people and places were common cultural knowledge. For our benefit, let’s explore all these key features in advance, so we can have a bit more of that native context the ancient Greek audience would have been endowed with.

You can also watch the video version of this episode here:

Tune in soon for an audio reading of Book 1, before we get stuck into our analysis of the text. See you then!

Welcome to the start of our journey through the Odyssey. Today we’re starting with some introductory ideas, about the nature and style of epic poetry, the identity of Homer, and what the key plot points and themes of the Odyssey are.

I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to seeing you next time! Feel free to leave a comment below, I appreciate your feedback.

You can also watch the video version of this episode here: