“Ulysses,” “Trojan Horse”… Enjoying the ‘Odyssey’ through music

The recent success of the film "Odyssey" has significantly boosted public interest in its source material: Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" and the broader tapestry of Greek mythology. This surge in curiosity has led to a need for clarification on various terms and stories associated with the epic, distinguishing between the hero, the poem, and the concept of a long journey.

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Odysseus is the name of the hero appearing in the Iliad, and the title of Homer's epic poem is Odysseia, meaning the story of Odysseus.

Central to this clarification is the distinction between Odysseus, the legendary Greek hero who fought in the Trojan War and embarked on a ten-year voyage home, and "The Odyssey," the epic poem attributed to Homer that chronicles his adventures. The English word "Odyssey" itself has evolved to signify any long, eventful journey or quest. Furthermore, the article addresses the name "Ulysses," explaining it as the Latin equivalent of Odysseus, famously adopted by James Joyce for his complex novel "Ulysses," which draws heavily on Homer's structure and symbolism.

The popular "Trojan Horse" narrative, often mistakenly associated with Homer's epics, is clarified as originating in Virgil's "Aeneid." While the "Iliad" focuses on a specific period of the Trojan War, and "The Odyssey" recounts Odysseus's return, neither fully details the Trojan Horse strategy. The article also touches upon the historical debate surrounding the epics, suggesting they are a blend of myth and oral tradition from Greece's early Iron Age, with the existence of Troy itself being historically confirmed, though the scale of the war remains debated.

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Ulysses is the Latin name for Odysseus, which became more famous when the genius Irish writer James Joyce used it as the title of his masterpiece novel.

Beyond the literary and historical context, the article briefly touches on musical interpretations, mentioning songs titled "Trojan Horse" by the Dutch group LUV and Franz Ferdinand's "Ulysses." It also references the iconic opening of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," highlighting how the concept of an odyssey has permeated various art forms. Ultimately, the piece encourages viewers to familiarize themselves with this background information to enhance their appreciation of Christopher Nolan's "Odyssey."

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The Trojan Horse story appears not in the Iliad or the Odyssey, but in the epic poem 'Aeneid' written hundreds of years after Homer's death.