The Odyssey

Cultural  

1. An ancient Greek epic by Homer that recounts the adventures of Odysseus during his return from the war in Troy to his home in the Greek island of Ithaca. (See Odysseus and Troy under “Mythology and Folklore”; see also Penelope, Circe, and Cyclops.)

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Figuratively, an “odyssey” is any difficult, prolonged journey.

Example Sentences

Greek mythology provides guidance, specifically Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Holland is currently filming The Odyssey, the latest film from Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, but is expected to move on to Spider-Man when shooting concludes.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2025

The Odyssey schools will welcome students back Monday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2025

Prior to the 20th century, the oceans were central to human popular culture, as evident from Homer's "The Odyssey" to Shakespeare's "The Tempest" to Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick."

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2023

I’d sit in the chair and read to him from various paperbacks I’d bring in, stuff like The Odyssey or One Thousand and One Nights.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro