Visit to Experience the Odyssey

With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey quickly becoming one of this year’s biggest films, there’s never been a better time to dig deeper into the timeless epic that has captivated audiences for nearly 3,000 years—and artistic depictions often give us our best information on these ancient tales.

Our gallery dedicated to the Homeric epics features works that chart the Trojan War and illustrate scenes from the Iliad and Odyssey. Make your way through this gallery on our new Odyssey audio tour to hear actors read selections from the poems. Our other galleries of ancient Greek and Roman art bring gods, heroes, and ancient life into view.

And don’t miss Arnold Böcklin’s Odysseus and Polyphemus in our Art of Europe galleries. The dramatic painting depicts a pivotal scene in which the hero taunts the cyclops after escaping from his cave.