The release of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of ‘The Odyssey’ is anticipated to spark a surge in interest in the classics. Scholars and teachers are preparing for an influx of students eager to learn about the ancient world.

Preparing for a Boom in Student Interest

At universities and high schools across the globe, classics teachers have been preparing for what they hope will be a boom in student interest in their field. Meanwhile, museums have been hosting ‘Odyssey’-themed events, while academic-led book clubs focusing on the classic Greek tale have reached capacity.

Jennie Luongo, a Latin teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, and president of the American Classical League, expressed her excitement about the film’s potential impact. ‘I knew it was going to be big if Christopher Nolan was directing it, and anytime we can get people talking about the things that we’re studying in class, it’s exciting for me as an educator,’ she said.

A Potential ‘Gladiator’ Effect

The film’s release is drawing comparisons to the ‘Gladiator’ effect, which saw a surge in interest in the classics after the release of Ridley Scott’s film in 2000. Scholars are hoping that Nolan’s film will have a similar impact, inspiring a new generation of students to explore the ancient world.

Nina Papathanasopoulou, a classics professor at College Year in Athens and the public engagement coordinator for the Society for Classical Studies, believes that the film could be a valuable tool for rekindling interest in the ancient world. ‘Clearly, it’s going to have a huge impact and a huge audience,’ she said. ‘It seems like it could be a really good way to rekindle interest in the ancient world.’

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.