Explore Homer’s Odyssey Beyond the Movie Houses - at Mia!
Monday, July 27, 2026 at 8:40AMTake a Walking Tour at Mia for objects that connect to The Odyssey and the broader world of Greek mythology
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been a tremendous hit at the movies since opening in early July. Homer’s 3000-year-old story has inspired artists for thousands of years. After (or before) you see the movie, make a visit to Mia to see the many objects related directly to The Odyssey or to the expansive realm of Greek mythology. And remember, Mia is always free to visit!
Direct connections to The Odyssey:
Telemachus and Eucharis, 1824. Raymond Auguste Quinsac Monvoisin, Oil on canvas. On View in Gallery 310.
Hydria, c. 530 BCE. Attributed to the Antimenes Painter, Slip-glazed earthenware. On View in Gallery 241.
The Antimenes Painter was active in Athens in the late 6th century BCE and specialized in decorating large pots, like this hydria, or water jar. In the main scene the goddess Athena, painted white to indicate her gender, helps harness her four-horse chariot, assisted by several grooms and the bearded charioteer.
Polyphemus, c. 1750. Edme Dumont, Terracotta. On View in Gallery 314
Other artworks from Ancient Greece and mythology
Crouching Lion – An ancient Greek sculpture. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/293/crouching-lion-greece
The Doryphoros – Mia is home to the finest unrestored Roman copy of Polykleitos's celebrated Doryphoros ("Spear Bearer"), one of the most influential sculptures of the ancient world. Although it was created centuries after Homer, it embodies the Classical Greek ideals that grew out of the culture shaped by epic traditions like The Odyssey. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/3520/the-doryphoros-copy-of-work-attributed-to-polykleitos
Bust of the Greek Slave - A life-size rendition of a nude woman in chains, the sculpture was inspired by the Greek War of Independence. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1935/bust-of-the-greek-slave-hiram-powers
Ganymede and the Eagle - Ganymede was cupbearer to the gods, serving them with nectar and ambrosia. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1629/ganymede-and-the-eagle-bertel-thorvaldsen
Venus and Adonis - In Greek myth, Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, adored the handsome mortal Adonis. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/3589/venus-and-adonis-nicolas-mignard
Six Tuscan Poets - Six distinguished Tuscan poets and writers celebrate the golden age of Italian literature of the 14th and 15th centuries. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1850/six-tuscan-poets-giorgio-vasari
But wait, there’s much more! Mia’s August Print Study Picks (on the Mia website and in the Print Study Room) will feature prints inspired by The Odyssey, including:
· Avanture du Cyclope
· Circe Changing Ulysses' Men into Beasts
· The Fall of Troy
Looking ahead, Mia will open an exhibition focused on Ovid's Metamorphoses in December 2026, exploring another foundational work of classical mythology.
