The renewed interest in the ancient Greek epic surrounding King Odysseus’ protracted journey home from the Trojan War has extended beyond the release of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of “The Odyssey” this summer. The tale’s enduring appeal lies in part in its protagonist, who stands out as a mortal hero relying on intelligence rather than divine powers, according to scholars.

Joel Christensen, a classics professor at the City University of New York, emphasized Odysseus’ human qualities, noting that unlike many mythological figures, he is not born of gods but distinguished by his cleverness. Kenneth Lapatin, curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, highlighted the wide range of artistic media inspired by the story, from vases and silverware to sculptures and wall paintings. These artifacts reflect the diverse cultural contexts in which the epic has been revisited over centuries.

Several U.S. museums currently exhibit works that evoke key moments from Odysseus’ mythic narrative. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, two fifth-century B.C. Greek terra-cotta plaques portray poignant scenes from the concluding chapters of the hero’s ordeal. One plaque depicts the nursemaid Eurycleia recognizing Odysseus upon washing his feet, while the other shows the disguised Odysseus approaching his wife, Penelope, who awaits his return with steadfast resolve. Seán Hemingway, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Met, noted how the detailed expressions enhance the emotional weight of these moments.

In Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts features ancient Greek wine jars, or pelikai, that illustrate episodes such as Odysseus’ encounter with his deceased crew member Elpenor in the underworld and the hero’s escape from the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Phoebe Segal, senior curator of Greek and Roman art, explained that these vessels, used during social drinking events, served as narrative prompts for recitations and discussions in antiquity. Complementing these ancient objects is an 1896 painting by Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin depicting Polyphemus preparing to hurl a boulder at Odysseus’ fleeing ship, blending elements of fear, humor, fantasy, and reality.

At the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, visitors can view a Roman silver cup illustrating a scene from Odysseus’ descent into the underworld, likely a luxury object for a wealthy owner, along with a lamp portraying the episode in which Odysseus offers wine to the Cyclops to intoxicate him. Lapatin noted that such items reveal the broad popularity of Homeric tales in Roman society. The Getty Center also displays a 17th-century Flemish-German collaboration visualizing Odysseus’ encounter with the sorceress Circe, capturing a lush and dramatic interpretation that contemporary writer Madeline Miller references in connection with her own retelling of the myth.

The Art Institute of Chicago presents a Renaissance cassone panel by Apollonio di Giovanni depicting episodes including Odysseus’ resistance to the Sirens, his meeting with Nausicaa, and his homecoming. Rebecca Long, curator of European painting and sculpture, observed that the inclusion of Penelope weaving at the center of the panel underscores themes of domestic fidelity and marital endurance—central to the chest’s traditional association with marriage.

Finally, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston features a Roman statue of Odysseus discovered on the grounds of an ancient pleasure garden. Nathaniel Silver, associate director and chief curator, explained that the crouching figure, armed with a sword, likely represents a covert moment from the Trojan War, predating the events of the epic itself. The statue’s positioning within the museum subtly reflects the collector’s noted sense of humor, as the figure’s back faces an elevator, providing an unexpected view for visitors.

Together, these works across different periods and artistic forms testify to the lasting cultural significance and adaptability of Odysseus’ story, resonating through millennia as an emblem of human ingenuity, resilience, and the quest for home.