Reject Modernity, Embrace Antiquity 🏺🏛️🧿

Farewell💔

Hector and Andromache based on "The Black Brunswicker"- John Everett Millais.

Nolan: I am going to create the most faithful adaptation of the Odyssey of all time!

Me: Oh my that's fantastic! Are you telling me that we are going to finally see the amazing bronze age or early iron age armors, the intricate clothing and the colors and the plumes and...

Nolan: Ppfft! Don't be ridiculous! Actually we did consider that Greek guy that made historical armors but it doesn't matter. We'll just have the same generic designs of armor from Hollywood the past 20 or so years no problem.

Me: But...you said...okay at least we will have Greek actors? You know actually represent the people of the epic poem? Give visibility to them and all?

Nolan: Of course not! Why would I do that? I casted the usual crew that is trending on social media. They are good actors of course!

Me: Oh gosh...will they at least...you know...look like they belong there?

Nolan: Nope. My goal is my film to look like the average day in NY city square! I MIGHT consider some Greek actors...I guess! Maybe...

Me: But?

Nolan: But most likely some random background character that no one will ever see I guess! I mean we still need extras that no one will ever see right?

Me: *wince* But...w-why...I thought... Okay you know what never-mind. Will they at least represent accurately the Mediterranean sea?

Nolan: Meh...I guess...some of it. I mean I despise CGI so if it doesn't look exactly like that well...we will have to cope

Me: But...the Mediterranean is a real region...you can just... Alright please tell me that you will at least follow the plot you know...monsters and gods etc..

Nolan: Of course! Can you have the Odyssey without monsters?

Me: Okay...phew...

Nolan: Buuuuut no gods.

Me: ... excuse me...no gods?

Nolan: But...gods are not real right? I want my film to be realistic!

Me: I thought you said "faithful"...

Nolan: Nope I sure didn't.

Me: So...cyclops is fine...but gods are not...? And that is both "realistic" AND "faithful"...?

Nolan: Oh I ain't removing them completely! They will be like dreams and games of the consciousness of Odysseus! Especially Athena. To teach him a lesson to have faith to the gods.

Me: Odysseus...HAVE FAITH...? Nolan...Odysseus was arguably one of the most religious heroes of all what are you-... Dialogs at least...following the book somehow?

Nolan: Modern dialogs what are you talking about? Totally showing the true length of their characters!

Me: Oh my...like what...!?

Nolan: Odysseus for example; He says that not even gods can stop him in my film! Very IC indeed...

Me: ... Please at least tell me you follow the plot SOMEHOW...come on my man!

Nolan: Sure I mean we start at Ithaca like the Odyssey

Me: Okay...that goes good that's fine..

Nolan: But obviously Penelope will have to be speaking about taking the throne or how unfair life is because we have to be more woman-centric given that Homer clearly didn't care enough to let us know how she feels...

Me: ...

Nolan: I mean we have Mentor and all but do not get too attached... And yeah we do have Ismarus things because of course we need to be realistic and show the evil world of ancient times is but...no Lotus Eaters

Me: Why...?

Nolan: We don't need them! Odysseus will be drugging himself with them at the isle of Calypso...

Me: You know in the Odyssey, Odysseus is not the one using drugs, Nolan...

Nolan: Ah you mean that evil violent husband Menelaus? Well we do want to be more realistic so Menelaus just wants to take his wife back so he scars her...

Me: Menelaus?!...H-Helen...? What on earth...?!

Nolan: Well or make fun of her disfigurment anyways

Me: What the actual fuck...?!

Nolan: Anyway as I was saying...We have the cyclops obviously. You can't have the Odyssey without him...

Me: True...and that ingenious plan of the "Nobody" introduction...

Nolan: Hahaha no we are not doing that!

Me: ...

Me: Excuse me...what?!

Nolan: But of course! It doesn't fit as a pun for English speakers! See how much respect I show to the Greeks?

Me: But...how can you have an Odyssey without...like what's next?! That we will have Odysseus actually spare some of the suitors, Circe not being a seductress and like...what? No bed recognition scene!? Hahahahaha

Nolan: I mean...exactly.

Me: Wait...WHAT?!

Nolan: And maybe I am going to kill off one or two people during the Siren passage...

Me: ...

Nolan: Now that I think about it maybe just maybe the Greek language will be used as a "foreign language" you know...because no one understands it and all

Me: The original language...of the poem...? The one the heroes are supposed to speak too...will be symbolizing a....

Nolan: And Odysseus and Penelope will sail together for symbolism in the end maybe! I told you it is a realistic adaptation! The most faithful Odyssey so far!

Me: okay no offense, Chris...but...have you...in fact read any of the book with your own two eyes?

Nolan: But of course! I even have a favorite translator...

Me: Well I'll be damned...

Nolan: I told you! The most FAITHFUL adaptation. Hardly any difference from the book! Picturing the culture it represents perfectly!

Me: Right....

Nolan: And of course you know cinematography and music are gonna be simply...epic.

Apollo and Daphne! 🍃

Step-by-step tutorials, speedpaints, etc. are available for this piece on my Patreon.

This animated wonder being called "The Fall of Troy and The Adventures of Odysseus"

forgive me the movie being published is in Greek but it was originally a Lithuanian production which was released as a four part mini-series but then re-arranged to a full on one and a half hour movie.

It is extremely compound and no it doesn't follow the Odyssey order but rather goes in chronological order. But still it managed to give us almost everything the Odyssey stood for! For example it starts with the amazing shot of the text of Homer and also Homer himself appears to tell the story!

And colors! Man I love these colors! You have amazing depictions of Ithaca

and Troy

The Ithaca family!

Menelaus and Helen!!!!!!

Vailed women!!!!

And the ships man!!!!!!

And yes it took many liberties in some parts for instance he made Athena always present at the trip of Odysseus which is of course inaccurate and for instance kept the bed recognition scene after the recognition with Laertes and the riots at Ithaca but man did it include almost everything minus the Telemacheia!

Ismarus

Lotus Eaters

Polyphemus

Aeolus Isle

Laestrygonians

Circe

Nekya

Sirens

Scylla and Charybdis

Cattle of Helios Hyperion

Calypso (and her nymphs!)

No I seriously love how they made Calypso's cave to be honest!

Leucothea

And finally the Phaeakes

So yeah obviously it was kept generally kid friendly so we do not have the bedding or rape implications and all and the cattle scene could be done better and all but it actually shows how some liberties or changes can pass without making something atrocious! No seriously I love this movie and it is one of my favorite adaptations ever!

Of course I miss the mycenaean aesthetic and all but still it was done so well! Also the idea of making Odysseus change his appearance to beggar with a dionysian mask was such a great detail!

The way Homer is depicted like living in Elysium though hahaha or Olympus even! Because yes! He deserves the hall of heroes and legends!

Also is so interesting that each God has a color palette hehe Athena has that golden color of course and finally someone did justice to her gorgoneion as well as her luscious dresses! I mean...look at that beauty!

She also pulled the card to Zeus like "help him and I promise I will be the best and obedient daughter" haha I can't believe the Greek dub brought up such a greatly realistic argument hahaha

And Odysseus at Ogygia 😭😭😭

Beautiful Olympus!

But also the way Calypso takes care of him...ngl it looks sweet! If only it hadn't ended the way it did!

I did enjoy the dialog between them even if it was well to put it simply sanitized because well it is a cartoon that is also addressed to kids. Essentially it summarizes imo the whole homeric text of "he no longer liked the nymph".

Essentially in that clip goes like this

"Odysseus why do you wish to abandon me? Don't you know how much I love you?"

"I know, Calypso. I can't thank you enough for saving my life. You feed me and take care of me and you love me. I know that"

"I can offer you eternal youth. I can make you immortal if you stay with me and love me"

"Calypso you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. You treated me better than any other woman. But I must tell you that I miss my wife and my son I must go back to them"

What I find interesting is that he is aware of her feelings and he recognizes them and at that stage he trusts her enough to be open about his feelings and all and how grateful he is to her. But I find the hint at Calypso's words that says "if you love me" so essentially she knows he doesn't love her. And the next piece of dialog she says is also proof of that

"I am a goddess, you know. Which means that I can free you. But I won't do it! I can't live without you"

"And then...what are you thinking of doing?"

"I will keep you here in our island. I will be taking care of you. You will have anything you want, anything but I won't let you go"

Poor man!

Michael Cacoyannis: Hold my beer!

More proof and reference!

Christos Tsagas my beloved ♥️ ❤️ 💖 💓 💕 💗

Christos Tsagas my beloved!!!! ♥️ You truly were the one!!!!

Hiding in the shade to hear everything

Walking alone in the shadows, constantly thinking:

Being among the soldiers, watching:

Staying close to the events and to the central priest:

Being in deep thought or having second thoughts:

And man that stance man! That stance!

you gotta tell when a dude KNOWS how to bring Odysseus to life! Even that "I support one leg on a higher rock because looks cool" hahaha the dude KNEW Odysseus you cannot tell me otherwise! I love you Christos! I miss you man! ♥️

First off he removes his hat in respect of the space he is in but above all at the presence of Calchas (a priest);

And then comes the prophecy;

He has stopped himself from reading the text. He looks at Agamemnon in terror and then he is looking towards Calchas with a

"You can't be serious!"

look on his face. He is horrified, confused, shocked. He probably never in his life would have expected a human sacrifice to be demanded by the gods that he knew usually do not demand such a thing! His attitude shifts later not only because of how he sees social energy shift around him but also because yeah

"Fine...gods demanded it, gods will have it! What we think is irrelevant!"

He is a people-person in one way. He is a great estimate of public opinion and yes he WILL use it so the gods will get the redemptory sacrifice and yes he WILL enjoy the love of the crowd too but above all he will get his duty done and give gods what they want! And you STILL can see his own understanding to those who suffer!

One day ppl will understand that Greek heroes weren’t supervillains but complex human beings who are representations of the best and worst of humanity and that they aren’t remembered bc they were ‘heroic’ in a modern sense and that the Ancient Greeks rarely actually whitewashed their heroes actions but instead used them to tell fables and tragedies.

That time Neo threw the infant down the tower.

That time Neo used the same infant's body to beat the shit out of his Grandpa.

Also