Since January, an open reading group at Kiel University has been exploring Homer’s Odyssey. On 16 July, the latest adaptation of the ancient epic, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, premieres in cinemas.

Why has this ancient epic remained so captivating for thousands of years? Does Nolan tell the entire story?

On Sunday, 19 July 2026, following the 3:00 p.m. screening of The Odyssey at Studio Filmtheater, classical philologist Dr. Samantha Philips (ROOTS Cluster of Excellence / Institute of Classical Studies) will answer questions about Homer’s original epic, its adaptation for the screen, and its relevance today.

Can’t make it to the cinema that day, but still have a question about Homer’s Odyssey?

Simply send your question by email to dialog@roots.uni-kiel.de.

Questions will be answered during the live discussion and will also be published afterwards on the reading group’s project page, “It’s About to Get Epic”:
https://www.uni-kiel.de/de/cluster-roots/forschung/schwerpunktthemen/knowledge-roots/jetzt-wirds-episch