Hollywood’s Odyssey: The Historians' Verdict
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archaeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com slash subscribe. Did you know that the ancient world's greatest monster killer? Well, he was also a man who left death and destruction all around him wherever he went. From the snake-filled crib at Thebes to the impossible labours that took him across the ancient Greek world.
Heracles, or Hercules if you prefer the Roman version. Well, he's one of the most extraordinary figures in myth. A hero whose life was as thrilling as it was brutal. I'm Tristan Hughes and I'm thrilled to be bringing Heracles' story to Australia this August on the Ancients Live Tour. I'm going to be joined by the brilliant Alistair Blanchard, Professor of Classics and Ancient History, and together we're going to dig into the myths, the geography and the archaeology behind the labours. From the Nemean lion and the Hydra, to Troy and the tragic end of Greece's greatest hero. Tickets are on sale. We are coming to Sydney on the 3rd, Brisbane on the 4th, Perth on the 6th, and finishing in Melbourne on the 9th of August.
It's going to be epic. Tickets are selling fast, so book yours now so you don't miss out at fane.com.au. I cannot wait to see you there. The Odyssey. For nearly 3,000 years, Homer and his epic poem have inspired countless artists, authors and filmmakers. And now, one of cinema's biggest directors, Christopher Nolan, has taken on the epic homecoming story of Odysseus, reimagining it for modern day audiences on the silver screen. I'm Tristan Hughes, this is The Ancients, and I'm once again joined by acclaimed classicist Dr Emily Hauser. Over the last two weeks we've unpacked the story of Homer's Odyssey, but now we are turning to Nolan's Odyssey. We're going to be exploring everything from his portrayal of the Greek gods to Agamemnon's striking Batman-esque armour, asking what the film gets right, where it takes creative licence and whether it's worthy to be known as the best adaptation of Greek myth ever made.
It's safe to say there are spoilers ahead, so if you're trying to avoid them, look away now. Otherwise, let's get into it.
Emily, it is great to have you back on the show.
It's wonderful to be back.
It's been some time since we last chatted. I mean, last time we chatted, we hadn't seen Christopher Nolan's Odyssey. Now we have.
Yeah, last time we were on the edge of our seats.
Well, yeah, it's been quite a few weeks. And to attend the premiere as well on Leicester Square, that was quite a surreal experience.
It was absolutely surreal. I have been saying to friends, you know, you always kind of go to see a Christopher Nolan movie, but to go and see a Christopher Nolan movie with Christopher Nolan, it's pretty cool. Yeah.
And they had the Trojan horse set up in Leicester Square and it was all very cool and glitzy. But now it's out and everyone is going to see it. And the reviews are already coming in thick and fast from all corners. Should we get some overarching thoughts first of all? What did you think? When you left that theatre in Leicester Square, what were your overall thoughts first of all?
Well, it was a kind of combination. And I suppose there's that split personality that I have, because I was going there as an audience member, as someone who's familiar with these big epic cinematic movies that Nolan makes. And so coming out, there was this feel of having had an experience, having had A kind of emotion thrumming through me, those action scenes, that kind of viscerality, the dynamism of it, that was definitely still kind of resonating with me on coming out. But I think already this was happening while I was watching it.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–9:42
2
How does Nolan’s Odyssey set up the film and podcast discussion?
9:42–15:30
3
What were our first reactions after the Leicester Square premiere?
15:30–27:36
4
How does Nolan handle the Odyssey’s non-linear timelines and pacing?
27:36–54:23
5
Why is Athena the only god shown and how does Nolan interpret the gods?
54:23–1:13:34