Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Do you want to read The Odyssey but don't know where to start? Today Erica and I will explain EVERYTHING you need to know before reading, in an Odyssey Iceberg of sorts, answering all the big questions like "Who's Homer?" and "Which translation of The Odyssey is best?!"
▶️ Check out all the other episodes of Milo's Book Club reading of The Odyssey on my second channel ( @milo-two ) right here: youtube.com/watch?v=0rRxV5T8DKg&list=PLL0RliKYQ3GQ&index=2
💁♀️ Our guest today is the wonderful Erica Stevenson, who runs the Modern Ancients Inc YouTube channel, which you can find here: youtube.com/@MoAnInc
📖 You can learn more about Erica's new book, and order a copy for yourself, right here: moaninc.co.uk/the-odyssey-effect
❓ Want to decide which translation of The Odyssey you like the most? @BenjaminMcEvoy has a fantastic video on the subject which you can find here: youtu.be/vLn_wmedmT0?is=OQpkRs4MFrfOHqxd
0:00:00 Introduction to Erica Stevenson
0:03:20 Who was Homer? The Homeric Question explained
0:05:36 Oral Poetry Tradition & Meter of the Odyssey
0:11:37 What's the best Translation of the Odyssey?
0:16:51 When was the Odyssey set?
0:19:39 How did the Odyssey's Text survive?
0:27:41 What's the Plot of the Odyssey? Is it unusual for its time?
0:30:20 Which Characters are important in the Odyssey?
0:34:00 Who are Agamemnon & Orestes? The Epic Cycle explained
0:43:58 What is an Epithet? Epithets explained
0:46:56 The Ancient Custom of Xenia (hospitality)
0:55:40 Masculinity in the Odyssey
1:01:47 What is the concept of Kleos? Kleos explained
1:04:42 The theme of Nostos (homecoming)
1:09:04 How often does Odysseus lie? Is Odysseus a reliable narrator?
1:16:49 Advice for starting the Odyssey
Do you want to read The Odyssey but don't know where to start? Today Erica and I will explain EVERYTHING you need to know before reading, in an Odyssey Iceberg of sorts, answering all the big questions like "Who's Homer?" and "Which translation of The Odyssey is best?!"
▶️ Check out all the other episodes of Milo's Book Club reading of The Odyssey on my second channel ( @milo-two ) right here: youtube.com/watch?v=0rRxV5T8DKg&list=PLL0RliKYQ3GQ&index=2
💁♀️ Our guest today is the wonderful Erica Stevenson, who runs the Modern Ancients Inc YouTube channel, which you can find here: youtube.com/@MoAnInc
📖 You can learn more about Erica's new book, and order a copy for yourself, right here: moaninc.co.uk/the-odyssey-effect
❓ Want to decide which translation of The Odyssey you like the most? @BenjaminMcEvoy has a fantastic video on the subject which you can find here: youtu.be/vLn_wmedmT0?is=OQpkRs4MFrfOHqxd
0:00:00 Introduction to Erica Stevenson
0:03:20 Who was Homer? The Homeric Question explained
0:05:36 Oral Poetry Tradition & Meter of the Odyssey
0:11:37 What's the best Translation of the Odyssey?
0:16:51 When was the Odyssey set?
0:19:39 How did the Odyssey's Text survive?
0:27:41 What's the Plot of the Odyssey? Is it unusual for its time?
0:30:20 Which Characters are important in the Odyssey?
0:34:00 Who are Agamemnon & Orestes? The Epic Cycle explained
0:43:58 What is an Epithet? Epithets explained
0:46:56 The Ancient Custom of Xenia (hospitality)
0:55:40 Masculinity in the Odyssey
1:01:47 What is the concept of Kleos? Kleos explained
1:04:42 The theme of Nostos (homecoming)
1:09:04 How often does Odysseus lie? Is Odysseus a reliable narrator?
1:16:49 Advice for starting the Odyssey
