Ten years after the fall of Troy, a king is still missing. His name is Odysseus: trickster, war hero, liar, survivor – and the man at the heart of one of the most influential stories ever told.
This July, History Hit’s The Ancients podcast is launching a spectacular three-part special series dedicated entirely to The Odyssey.
Guiding us through these treacherous waters is our host Tristan Hughes, alongside acclaimed classicist and storyteller Emily Hauser. Together, their expert insight brings Odysseus’s epic journey to life – unpacking the myth, its hidden meanings, and its lasting cultural influence.
Whether you are a lifelong classics fan or looking for the ideal companion guide to give you richer context before watching the new cinematic adaptation, this series is essential listening.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Episode 1. Surviving Cyclops, Circe and Calypso (Out Now!)
We go right back to the beginning: to the poet himself, the world that produced this epic, and the opening stages of Odysseus’ long journey home.
We’ll meet the cunning king of Ithaca as both legend and literary creation, explore how Homer shapes him on the page, and follow the early twists of the narrative – from the ruins of Troy to the perilous seas and fateful encounters that set the tone for everything that follows.
Episode 2. Sea of Monsters & Slaughter of the Suitors (18th July)
The voyage continues as Tristan and Emily follow Odysseus through the terrifying Sea of Monsters. Can he navigate the supernatural dangers of the deep and reach home before his wife’s ruthless suitors take over his kingdom?
Episode 3. Hollywood’s Odyssey: The Historians’ Verdict (25th July)
In the final installment, Tristan and Emily review the highly anticipated new blockbuster movie. They’ll reveal what Hollywood got right, what they got wrong, and deliver the ultimate historians’ verdict on whether it does true justice to Homer’s epic masterpiece.
