Odyssey Day

About this event

Odysseus and the Odyssey are having a cultural moment right now. In the last twenty years no fewer than nine full translations into English by classical scholars and poets have appeared, and of course the new movie by Christopher Nolan is the film of the summer, if not of all of 2026. As a response to this great interest, the Monterey Library is sponsoring a series of events in October in association with the Society of Classical Studies initiative “Odyssey Day.” “Odyssey Day” in Monterey will actually be two days. On Thursday, October 15th, there will be a program of talks at the Monterey Library starting at 7 P.M. Local classicist John Higgins will talk about the Odyssey as a text: the archaeological evidence for the Trojan War, the time of Homeric composition, and some comments on translation(s). Following that, Professor Vincent Tomasso from Trinity College in Hartford will give a talk about the Odyssey on film, particularly the predecessors of the recent Christopher Nolan film. Refreshments will be served. A week later on October 22nd, the Library will host an open discussion of Nolan’s film and the Odyssey in general for anyone who wishes. Several Monterey residents will get things started with their own reactions to the film and to (re)reading the epic, after which the floor will be open for wide and deep conversation. If you want to read the Odyssey before the event, the Monterey Library has copies available, and should be getting more copies of the Emily Wilson translation. You can always get some from CW-MARS with a Monterey library card or get one of your own. Try to get to see the movie, too, before it disappears from theatres! The program is sponsored by the Monterey Library, the Monterey Cultural Council, and the Classical Association of New England.

Description from montereymasslibrary.org