The Odyssey

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, composed in the 8th century BCE. Together with its companion poem the Iliad, it stands as one of the foundational works of Western literature and has shaped storytelling for nearly three thousand years.

The poem follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home after the fall of Troy. Over ten years of wandering, he encounters the Cyclops Polyphemus, the enchantress Circe, the song of the Sirens, and the terrors of Scylla and Charybdis. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his faithful wife Penelope fends off a crowd of suitors who believe Odysseus is dead.

The original adventure story — a tale of cunning, endurance, and the longing for home — The Odyssey has been translated into every major language and continues to inspire writers, filmmakers, and artists to this day.