Museum Hosts Homerathon Reading of Odyssey
The National Hellenic Museum's two-day reading of Homer's Odyssey was paired with a new contemporary art exhibit.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Fine Art
The National Hellenic Museum hosted its annual Homerathon, a two-day public reading of Homer's Odyssey, on October 30. The event coincided with the opening of The Odyssey Reimagined, an exhibit of contemporary art inspired by the epic poem.
Why it matters
The reading is held to preserve the ancient tale and share Greek history, art and culture across generations. Pairing the reading with a companion exhibit connects the classic text to modern artistic interpretations for local audiences.
The combined reading ran 11 hours and 30 minutes across two days, and The Odyssey Reimagined features 16 contemporary art pieces. Attendance and audience size for the event were not disclosed.
The players
National Hellenic Museum
The National Hellenic Museum is a Chicago institution in the Greektown neighborhood dedicated to preserving and presenting Greek history, art and culture.
Marianne Kountoures
Marianne Kountoures is the executive director of the National Hellenic Museum, who said the Odyssey was meant to be experienced aloud and in community.
Jyl Bonaguro
Jyl Bonaguro is a sculptor whose marble statue of the head of Zeus is included in The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit.
The details
Readers took turns reading the text aloud to an audience in a museum gallery, with participants including undergraduates from University of Illinois Chicago and local middle school, high school and homeschooled students. The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit includes a marble statue of the head of Zeus by sculptor Jyl Bonaguro, Serene JV Eleston's Caryatid sculptures made of Reishi mushrooms, and Allison Svoboda's 360-degree sculpture Universe in a Teardrop.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: Homerathon two-day reading of the Odyssey held
October 2026: The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit opened
January 2028: The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit scheduled to close
Season Trajectory
The Homerathon continues an oral performance tradition in which Homeric epics were originally recited aloud before they were written down. Its pairing with a contemporary art exhibit places the ancient poem in conversation with modern visual interpretations.
Visitors can view The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit through January 2028 at the National Hellenic Museum. Odyssey-themed coloring pages and crafts are offered as part of the event for attendees.
The takeaway
The Homerathon shows how a classic text can be kept alive through shared reading and new artistic responses. Attending a public reading or exhibit is a direct way to experience the Odyssey outside the classroom.
What happens next
The Odyssey Reimagined exhibit is scheduled to remain open until January 2028.
Further reading
Explore more Fine Art coverage from Chicago.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Loyola Phoenix.
