Homerathon Chicago 2024 - National Hellenic Museum

Join us for

Homerathon 2024

A reading of Homer’s Odyssey at the National Hellenic Museum

Participate as a Reader or Audience Member

Friday, October 25, 2024
10 AM – 5:30 PM
&
Saturday, October 26, 2024
10 AM – 4 PM

We are honored to co-host this event with the University of Illinois Chicago Department of Classics and Mediterranean Studies.

Join us for

Homerathon

A reading of Homer’s Odyssey at the National Hellenic Museum

Participate as a Reader or Audience Member

Friday, October 25, 2024
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
&
Saturday, October 26, 2024
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Homerathon was featured on WGN TV. Thank you to Spotlight Chicago hosts Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi for inviting NHM Executive Director, Marianne Kountoures and UIC’s Senior Lecturer in Latin Dr. Krishni Burns to discuss this 3,000-year-old epic tale.

Please join us as we read the Greek poet Homer’s Odyssey—arguably the greatest adventure story ever told!

Filled with twists and turns, fateful discoveries and shocking defeats, this ancient tale of Odysseus’ journey home from war has inspired many contemporary literary adaptations and films about epic heroes.

Students and lifelong learners of all ages with an interest in Greek storytelling and mythology are encouraged to sign up in advance to read a short three-minute passage from the Odyssey. 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.

Interested in reading a short passage from the Odyssey during this event? Registration for Homerathon readers will open in early October on this webpage.

If being a reader isn’t for you, join us as an audience member. Bring your friends and stay for as long as you’d like at this engaging live event!

Descriptions of all the Odyssey passages available to readers during Homerathon are available HERE for reference.

The 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. Reading the poem aloud honors the oral storytelling tradition of ancient epics.

The original text of Homer’s Odyssey was written in ancient Greek. During Homerathon, readings will primarily be from Professor Stanley Lombardo’s English-language translation. Modern Greek and Spanish translations are also be available upon request. If you are interested in reading from another language, please let us know!

For questions contact us at [email protected]