Selected (6) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair with the epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer. Odysseus, an ancient Greek war hero and leader of Ithaca, embarks on a twenty-year long return to his homeland after the fall of Troy. It is...

"The Odyssey" is an epic poem about a Greek hero named Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in Roman myths, and his 10-year journey home after the fall of Troy. In this excerpt, Ulysses encounters the Sirens while at sea. A specific purpose...

A scanned copy of the 1898 publication of Odysseus by Mary Elizabeth Burt, a fiction book for children.

The Odyssey by Homer tells the story of the hero Odysseus' journey from Troy to Ithaca. The trip should have taken a few weeks but instead lasted more than ten years. Follow the famed journey on this map of locations in Homer's Odyssey.

Examples of honors student questions about themes and characters in "The Odyssey." The way you might respond to them can be used in creating your lesson plan.

Fun, illustrated trip through the story of the Odyssey well suited for younger audiences. Each book of the Odyssey is summarized on a page along with a very eye-catching illustration.

Gives a brief history of the ancient games held every four years in Olympia. There are also short articles with pictures on some of the items used during the games.

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture's site on the controversy surrounding Lord Elgin's removal of the Parthenon sculptures from 1801-1811. The Sculptures are now located in the British Museum.

Detailed encyclopedia article for Odysseus, known for his guile and resourcefulness, the hero of Homer's Odyssey, and a major character in the Iliad. He is most famous for the ten years it took him to return home from the Trojan War.

This encyclopedia entry for the main character in Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus, includes hypertext links to additional encyclopedia entries on related topics.

Matt Kaplan explains why there might be more reality behind Homer's "Odyssey" than many realize. [4:31]

This PBS site features a note on the popularity of Robert Fagles's translation of Homer's Odyssey.

Featuring the heroes, heroines, and mythical creatures from Greek legend, this site offers information on hundreds of characters, as well as etymology, pronunciation, pictures, and more.

Image of the Group of the Kekropides from the Parthenon pediment. Includes the piece's dimensions, materials, and inventory number. Accompanied by a list of suggested resources for further study.

Illustrated dictionary entry for Greek hero Odysseus, the heroin of Homer's Odyssey. Recounts the adventures Odysseus encounters on his travel home. Identifies key people and places involved in his journey.

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture offers basic background information about the Palace of Knossos and the frescoes inside. A bit of information about the excavations by Arthur Evans is included.

This very early translation by George Chapman is offered from its 1857 edition at this site.

Written in the 8th century B.C. this is one of the earliest writings of European literature. This informative site looks at the characters and important themes and quotations in this early work.

This overview of the earliest sections of the Iliad, followed by study questions, guides the reader through the most important themes of the epic. Provides links to information regarding all the books.

Illustrated dictionary entry for Greek hero Odysseus, the heroin of Homer's Odyssey. Recounts the adventures Odysseus encounters on his travel home. Identifies key people and places involved in his journey.

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art contains a summary of Bearden's life, some of his art, key ideas, discussion questions, and links to additional resources.

Read the heroic tales of Jason, Hercules, Bellerophon, Theseus, and Odysseus. Each story is an illustrated slide show. (Some are even animated!)

Contains a number of lesson plans for Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey."

An image of "The Return of Odysseus", created by Pinturicchio in 1509 (Fresco, transferred to canvas, 124 x 146 cm).