Home
Membership
The Odyssey’s forgotten epilogue

The Odyssey’s forgotten epilogue

Name: The Odyssey’s forgotten epilogue
Uploaded: 2026-08-13T14:31:18.618Z
Duration: 42 min 51 s
Description: Why did Alexander the Great sleep with a copy of the Odyssey under his pillow? In this final episode of our four-part series, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore the astonishing cultural legacy of a poem that has been shaping how we think about home, heroism and hospitality for nearly 3,000 years. Plus, they consider what its portrayal of women reveals about power in the ancient world.

How did the Odyssey shape the lives of the ancient Greeks who read it? Daisy Dunn considers the poem’s cultural afterlife – and its chaotic sequel

Kev Lochun

Published: September 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Save

Why did Alexander the Great sleep with a copy of the Odyssey under his pillow? In this final episode of our four-part series, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore the astonishing cultural legacy of a poem that has been shaping how we think about home, heroism and hospitality for nearly 3,000 years. Plus, they consider what its portrayal of women reveals about power in the ancient world.

Watch now, or listen ad-free below:

Go beyond the podcast

Want to know more about ancient Greece? Kev Lochun has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help you explore life in ancient Greece.

Authors

Kev LochunDigital editor (audience and video)

Kev Lochun is digital editor (audience and video) at HistoryExtra

Visit us on Twitter