The recent release of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey has sparked an enthusiastic response across Minnesota, inspiring the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) to curate a special walking tour that highlights connections between the ancient epic and the world of art. This timely initiative positions The Odyssey at the heart of a renewed public fascination with Greek mythology and its visual legacy.

Art Encounters with Homer’s Epic

Mia’s walking tour draws visitors to key artworks in its renowned collection, each offering a window into the world depicted in Homer’s epic. Among the highlights is the striking 1824 painting Telemachus and Eucharis, which brings to life the journey and emotional depth of The Odyssey’s central characters. Equally notable is a 6th-century BCE hydria featuring an intricate representation of Athena, the goddess often seen guiding Odysseus throughout the saga.

Myth and Monument: Ancient Sculptures on Display

The museum’s selection of ancient Greek art extends well beyond painting. Visitors can explore a 1750 terracotta depiction of Polyphemus, the formidable Cyclops who tests Odysseus’s cunning, anchoring the experience in the most dramatic chapters of the poem. Radiating the enduring power of classical mythology, Mia is also home to the celebrated Roman copy of Polykleitos’s Doryphoros, which embodies the idealized forms so central to both myth and ancient sculpture techniques.

Classical Motifs Across the Mia Collection

Mia’s holdings illuminate other threads of Greek mythology and ancient cultures. The museum features the life-size Bust of the Greek Slave, a powerful work inspired by the Greek War of Independence and emphasizing the intersection of personal struggle and myth. Nearby, visitors encounter mythological artworks such as sculptures of Ganymede and Venus, each revealing different facets of classical mythology’s influence over centuries of artistic creation.

Print Study Picks: The Odyssey in Print

This August, Mia introduces the Print Study Picks program, placing a spotlight on prints inspired by The Odyssey. These prints depict gripping scenes from Homer’s epic, such as Odysseus’s daring escape from the Cyclops, surreal transformations by the sorceress Circe, and the dramatic Fall of Troy. Through such works, visitors can trace the varied ways artists have interpreted and reimagined these narratives using printmaking techniques across eras.

Ovid and the Enduring Allure of Myth

Looking ahead, Mia announced a major exhibition centered on Ovid’s Metamorphoses slated for December 2026. This event promises to further explore how classical mythology continues to shape art and culture, offering Minnesota’s audiences rare opportunities to engage with ancient and mythological stories reinterpreted through diverse artistic forms. The connection between Ovid’s tales and Homer’s epic underscores the sustained relevance of these narratives well beyond antiquity.

Minnesota’s Role in Preserving Classical Heritage

The resurgence of interest in The Odyssey highlights Minnesota’s commitment to promoting ancient Greek art and enriching public understanding of myth and history. Local institutions like the Olympia Museum of Art and Mia play pivotal roles in preserving and interpreting ancient sculptures, cultivating a deeper appreciation for the cross-cultural exchanges embedded in mythological artworks. By linking these cultural treasures to popular movements in film and literature—including the recent Christopher Nolan release—Minnesota continues to foster vibrant dialogues between the ancient world and today’s audiences.