The ancient Greek poet Homer’s Odyssey is arguably the greatest adventure story ever told, inspiring many contemporary literary adaptations and films about heroes embarking on fateful and twisting journeys as they make their way home. This month, the National Hellenic Museum (NHM) and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Department of Classics and Mediterranean Studies are proud to co-present their popular Homerathon, a reading of the Odyssey aloud in its entirety with public participation, on Friday, October 25 from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at NHM (333 S. Halsted Street, Chicago). Museum admission is free on both dates for this special event.
Registration for Homerathon readers is now open. For more information or to register as a reader, visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org/homerathon. Descriptions of the Odyssey passages available for recitation during the event are listed on this webpage. Select passages will be reserved for walk-in guests.
Students and lifelong learners of all ages with an interest in Greek storytelling and mythology are encouraged to sign up in advance to read aloud a short three-minute passage from the Odyssey. School groups are welcome. Alongside the readings, educational activities will be offered throughout Homerathon, including play areas with replicas of ancient children's toys such as astragaloi (ancient dice), and mythology-based coloring activities and puzzles.
“There is a reason this ancient text is so enduring. Homer’s Odyssey brims with universal themes: the emptiness of loss, the unpredictability of love, and the strength and endurance of the human spirit through incredible challenges,” says Katherine Kelaidis, NHM’s Director of Research and Content. “Reading the poem aloud honors the oral storytelling tradition of ancient epics, which were recited aloud to audiences, usually by memory. Of course, during our Homerathon, readers will have the text in front of them!”
The original text of Homer’s Odyssey was written in ancient Greek. During Homerathon on October 25 and 26, readings will primarily be from Professor Stanley Lombardo's English-language translation.
“Professor Lombardo's mission was to translate Homer's words to make them as exciting and engaging to hear aloud as the original Greek would have been to its first audiences. He read the audiobook version himself, so you know he worked hard to make his translation readable,” says Krishni Burns, Senior Lecturer of Latin at UIC’s Department of Classics and Mediterranean Studies. “We will also have the original Greek available, along with modern Greek and Spanish translations. If you would like to read in any languages other than English, just let us know!"
The National Hellenic Museum (333 S. Halsted Street, Chicago) presents Homerathon in partnership with the UIC Department of Classics and Mediterranean Studies on Friday, October 25 from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Museum admission is free during this special event. Regular NHM tickets are $10 and include admission to all exhibits, with special discounts available for seniors, students and children. Admission is always free for NHM Members. For more information on current exhibitions, events and memberships, visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.
Homerathon attendees will have access to explore the entire Museum, including NHM’s core exhibition Reaching for the American Dream: The Greek Story in America as well as current exhibitions Gather Together: Chicago Street Photography by Diane Alexander White and Legacy, Renewal & Unity: Celebrating 100 Years of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Protecting the Future of Faith.
The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) has a mission to share Greek history, art, culture and the Greek American story. NHM preserves the Hellenic legacy and makes this rich heritage relevant today through its extensive collection of more than 10,000 physical artifacts, hundreds of oral histories, exhibitions, educational programs and special events. Originally founded in 1983 and located in Chicago’s historic Greektown neighborhood since 2011, NHM provides lifelong learning for the community and sparks inquiry and discussion about the broader issues in our lives and society. Regular Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.