Most Famous Sequel of All Time?
If you were asked to name the most famous epic/hero sequel of all time, would your mind conjure up images of a Disney, Pixar, DC or Marvel universe production? When do you think it would have been produced? In the 90s, the 00s, or in the last few years? Surely it must be an Iron Man, a Batman, a Superman or Star Wars installment, or something involving lasers, flying machines, and major explosions, right?
Not made in Hollywood!
While all the above films and stories are hugely successful, entertaining, and keep their fans longing for more and more sequels, the best-known sequel was not written in Hollywood, it was written in the ancient world around 2,700 years ago. Of course, we’re referring to Homer’s Odyssey, the epic sequel to the Iliad; the story of King Odysseus trying to make his way home to his beloved wife and son in Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War as described in the Iliad.
The Odyssey is the second oldest work of literature produced by Western civilization, the Iliad being the oldest. From the ancient Greeks to the Romans, and from Renaissance Italy to Victorian England and the modern world, the word “Odyssey” has become synonymous of an epic journey.
The Odyssey’s Cultural Impact
Thousands of books and essays have been written on the cultural impact and importance of the Odyssey. Certain psychologists would argue that Homer’s epic story is a parable for the personal journey each human needs to take in life. Historians and archaeologists, on the other hand, are intrigued in finding clues to identifying the places Homer describes in the Odyssey; for instance, was the land of the Phaecians, Odysseus’s last stop, the island of Corfu, Minoan Crete, or the lost continent of Atlantis? Few epics have captivated the imagination of endless generations and permeated western and ultimately, world civilization, as much as the Odyssey through its timeless themes of perseverance, courage, ingenuity, team-work, leadership, wandering, guest-friendship, and home-coming.
Children love it!
In contrast to other epic stories from the ancient world, the Odyssey is also a very entertaining story involving gods, mythical creatures, beasts, nymphs, fortune tellers, kings, and warriors. Let’s not forget that Homer was an entertainer himself, singing the story to entertain ancient nobility.
If they’re fortunate enough, children the world over, learn about and study the Odyssey, either in junior or senior high school. In film terms, the Odyssey would probably be rated PG-13 as some material is inappropriate for pre-teens, and teenagers would need their parents and teachers’ guidance to fully appreciate the Odyssey.
So how can we introduce younger children to this treasure of Greek and world heritage, while assisting them on their own journey to learn Greek, and allow them to be entertained at the same time?
Entertaining Adaptation for Young Children
Our new series, “Mission Odyssey” is an adapted and modified version of Homer’s Odyssey aiming at entertaining young children while also introducing them to Odysseus and his epic journey. “Mission Odyssey” covers the most important parts of Homer’s Odyssey in a children-friendly manner with the added educational and entertainment benefit of introducing other Greek legends into the series.
Children will be very excited to watch Odysseus and his mythical crew consisting of Titan, Zephyr, Nisa, Dates, Philo, Diomedes and a clever owl, as they find themselves in the midst of a bet placed by the god of the sea, Poseidon, and the goddess of wisdom, Athena. As with the original Odyssey, Poseidon makes Odysseus’s journey almost impossible, and Athena reminds him not to interfere while Odysseus and his team go on their epic adventure to reach Ithaca.
Find out more about “Mission Odyssey”.
