Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Discussion about how fulfilling—or complete—the end of story of the Odyssey might be for readers. The prophecy of Teiresias and the scene of the future was put forward as one possible example of a certain sense of completeness. Professor Nagy, however, pointed out that it may be more imperative to think about the Odyssey in terms of two adjectives: Homeric and Odyssean. The Homeric is the star of an epic that symmetric with the narrative of the Iliad whereas the Odyssean is far more wide ranging and broad. The prophecy of Teiresias then, is a scene which can be said to broaden the horizon or spectrum. Other themes discussed in this Hour included the death of Achilles, the funerals of the major protagonists, and controversies in Classical scholarship.
Referred to in this discussion:
Film: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
imdb.com/title/tt0096764
Nagy, Gregory. A sampling of comments on the Iliad and Odyssey https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/a-sampling-of-comments-on-the-homeric-iliad-and-odyssey-restarted-2022/
A Homeric Commentary in Progress https://ahcip.chs.harvard.edu/
Frame, Douglas. 2009 Hippota Nestor. Hellenic Studies Series 37. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.
https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_Frame.Hippota_Nestor.2009
Recorded in Fall 2020 during v14 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hour 11, and responses to the Discussion Question.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
Discussion about how fulfilling—or complete—the end of story of the Odyssey might be for readers. The prophecy of Teiresias and the scene of the future was put forward as one possible example of a certain sense of completeness. Professor Nagy, however, pointed out that it may be more imperative to think about the Odyssey in terms of two adjectives: Homeric and Odyssean. The Homeric is the star of an epic that symmetric with the narrative of the Iliad whereas the Odyssean is far more wide ranging and broad. The prophecy of Teiresias then, is a scene which can be said to broaden the horizon or spectrum. Other themes discussed in this Hour included the death of Achilles, the funerals of the major protagonists, and controversies in Classical scholarship.
Referred to in this discussion:
Film: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
imdb.com/title/tt0096764
Nagy, Gregory. A sampling of comments on the Iliad and Odyssey https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/a-sampling-of-comments-on-the-homeric-iliad-and-odyssey-restarted-2022/
A Homeric Commentary in Progress https://ahcip.chs.harvard.edu/
Frame, Douglas. 2009 Hippota Nestor. Hellenic Studies Series 37. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.
https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_Frame.Hippota_Nestor.2009
Recorded in Fall 2020 during v14 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hour 11, and responses to the Discussion Question.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
