The release of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of ‘The Odyssey’ is expected to spark a surge in interest in the classics, with scholars and teachers preparing for an influx of new students. The film, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, is based on the ancient epic poem by Homer and is set to be released on July 17.

Impact on Classics Studies

Classics Studies teachers are hoping that the film will inspire many moviegoers to pick up a copy of the original poem or sign up for a class. According to Jennie Luongo, a Latin teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, ‘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.’

Nina Papathanasopoulou, a classics professor at College Year in Athens, also expressed enthusiasm for the film’s potential impact, stating, ‘Clearly, it’s going to have a huge impact and a huge audience… It seems like it could be a really good way to rekindle interest in the ancient world.’

Preparations and Events

In preparation for the film’s release, museums and academic institutions have been hosting ‘Odyssey’-themed events, including lectures, discussions, and performances. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, for example, planned an entire day of events inspired by the film, while a prominent book retailer in Australia convened a month of in-person and online lectures themed around the text.

Additionally, the Society for Classical Studies is planning to invite the public to a round table of experts discussing the film at their upcoming annual conference in Boston in January.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.