Discovering the Authentic Spirit of Homer’s Odyssey

Greeks will tell you that Homer’s epic tale, with its themes of hospitality, loyalty, feasting, and homecoming, is still a true reflection of Greek culture today. Having lived in Megalo Nisi (the big island) of Crete for more than 15 years and speaking the language, I’ve come to experience this firsthand. Like the story of Nausicaa, who finds the shipwrecked Odysseus and feeds and guides him, I’ve been touched by the kindness of my neighbors, who have left bags of grapes and bunches of vlita (wild greens) on my doorstep, or helped me out when my old jeep has broken down.

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Homer’s obsession with nostos—homecoming—is seen here every Easter when families return from the cities or overseas to be with their loved ones and leave reluctantly, bearing gifts of raki made in a local still, yiayia’s kalitsounia pastries, and other homemade souvenirs. As for the trauma of war and the acquisition of resilience through hardship, all of these themes are familiar to modern Greeks whose parents or grandparents lived through the tragic population exchange in 1922, the civil war after WW2, and the succeeding poverty that forced more than a million of the country’s inhabitants to emigrate in search of work.

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Exploring the Odyssey Trail

With Nolan’s movie about to hit screens, set-jetters will be flocking to some of the most recognizable spots linked to the film: Messenia, with its Bronze Age Nestor’s Palace and dramatic natural scenery, or Voidokilia Beach’s omega-shaped bay. Beyond those glitzy screen settings, however, there are more authentic ways to experience Homer’s epic.

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Here are seven alternative ways to take a deep dive into the psyche that shaped The Odyssey:

• Take a guided philosophy walk: Echoing the ancient Peripatetic tradition of debate and walking that was popular with Socrates and Aristotle, Costa Navarino’s guided Echoes of the Odyssey philosophy walks are led by classical scholars and academics who shed light on life in ancient Greece while exploring themes from Homer’s epic poem, composed in the 8th century BC.
• Take an Ithaca history tour: My home is Ithaca, crowned with clear-seen Mount Neriton, covered with waving forests, Odysseus says in Book Nine when he reveals his identity to the Phaeacians. Although it wasn’t used for filming in Nolan’s film, this rugged island, steeped in history and strewn with ancient sites where Penelope awaited her hero’s return, is well worth visiting.
• Hop on a Homer-aligned sailing trip: Nolan, who prides himself on the authenticity of his films, used a real wooden ship modified to resemble an ancient Mycenaean-era vessel in his Odyssey, and all the actors had rowing lessons before they stepped aboard. For a less challenging (but just as fascinating) way to mimic Odysseus’ travels through the Ionian Islands, try a hands-on, Homer-inspired sailing trip.
• Discover behind-the-scenes Messenia: Nolan filmed extensively in Messenia, the region where Odysseus’ son Telemachus hunts for news of his father. In Nolan’s film, however, you’ll only glimpse these legendary sites. For a real immersive experience, you need to spend a week here: ambling through Nestor’s beautifully conserved Bronze Age Palace, with its clay bath where it’s thought that ‘the fair Polycaste’ anointed Telemachus with oil before he departed for Sparta.
• Visit a theme park: Another location that doesn’t feature in Nolan’s film, the lush green Ionian island of Kefalonia, with its dramatic mountain landscapes and idyllic turquoise water-trimmed bays, and impressive Bronze Age tombs, certainly merits cinematic glory.
• Learn to weave like Penelope: Penelope’s patience as she worked at her loom in the Odyssey mirrors the weaving tradition of the Messenia region, which dates back to ancient times. During the 19th century, the Messenian capital of Kalamata, with its castle-topped old town and café-strewn seafront, was an important centre for silk production, which was used to weave the finest brocade and damask goods, often on the same kind of vertical warp-weighted loom used by Odysseus’s cunning wife.
• Cast away in Corfu, Greece: Towards the end of Homer’s epic, our shipwrecked hero washes up on the island of Scheria, land of the seafaring Phaeacians, where he’s discovered by the princess Nausicaa. Nolan might not have filmed in Corfu, but this lush island is generally considered to be one of the most beautiful destinations in Greece.

Each of these experiences offers a unique way to connect with the timeless spirit of Homer’s Odyssey. Whether you’re a history buff, a literature lover, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of Greece, there’s something for everyone in this incredible country.