The new Odyssey movie was just released, with a star-studded cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattison. If you’re a fan of fantastical myths and legends, heroes behaving badly, ancient Greek culture and want to know more about Homer’s epic poems that have inspired countless writers, artists and filmmakers for centuries, look no further than this episode of You’re Dead To Me from the BBC - the comedy podcast that takes history seriously.

Host Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Greece by historian Dr Emily Hauser and comedian and actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe to learn about the Iliad and Odyssey. Traditionally attributed to the poet Homer, these works tell parts of a legend that has fascinated us for centuries: the story of the Trojan War. Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters – Achilles, Odysseus, Paris, Helen, Hector and Agamemnon – the war between ancient Greece and Troy has inspired writers, artists and filmmakers for over a millenium. But the Iliad and Odyssey only recount episodes of this much bigger story.

In this episode, Greg and his guests trace the origins of the poems in the 8th century BCE, looking at whether Homer really wrote them and how these originally oral tales came to be written down, before exploring the fantastical tales they tell. Along the way, we also look at whether or not the Trojan war really happened, how the ancient Greeks defined heroism, and examine the role of gods and monsters in the poems and the lives of their heroes.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. They have just launched a new season, so find more episodes of You’re Dead To Me wherever you get your podcasts.

The new Odyssey movie was just released, with a star-studded cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattison. If you&rsquo;re a fan of fantastical myths and legends, heroes behaving badly, ancient Greek culture and want to know more about Homer&rsquo;s epic poems that have inspired countless writers, artists and filmmakers for centuries, look no further than this episode of You&rsquo;re Dead To Me from the BBC - the comedy podcast that takes history seriously.
Host Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Greece by historian Dr Emily Hauser and comedian and actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe to learn about the Iliad and Odyssey. Traditionally attributed to the poet Homer, these works tell parts of a legend that has fascinated us for centuries: the story of the Trojan War. Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters &ndash; Achilles, Odysseus, Paris, Helen, Hector and Agamemnon &ndash; the war between ancient Greece and Troy has inspired writers, artists and filmmakers for over a millenium. But the Iliad and Odyssey only recount episodes of this much bigger story.
In this episode, Greg and his guests trace the origins of the poems in the 8th century BCE, looking at whether Homer really wrote them and how these originally oral tales came to be written down, before exploring the fantastical tales they tell. Along the way, we also look at whether or not the Trojan war really happened, how the ancient Greeks defined heroism, and examine the role of gods and monsters in the poems and the lives of their heroes.
You&rsquo;re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. They have just launched a new season, so find more episodes of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-dead-to-me/id1479973402">You&rsquo;re Dead To Me</a> wherever you get your podcasts.

Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture.

Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure — from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda — and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. 

After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart.

The Guardian: "A smart and chatty show"

The Telegraph: "Presenters sift wittily through the BBC archive"

Listen ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Big Lives show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Subscribe to BBC on Apple Podcasts and on BBC.com.

Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture.
Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure &mdash; from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda &mdash; and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape.&nbsp; After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart.
The Guardian: "A smart and chatty show"
The Telegraph: "Presenters sift wittily through the BBC archive"
Listen ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Big Lives show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Subscribe to BBC on Apple Podcasts and on BBC.com.

Big Lives

Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture.
Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure — from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda — and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. 

After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart. 

From Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios, Big Lives drops new episodes on Mondays.

Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture. Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure &mdash; from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda &mdash; and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape.&nbsp; After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart.&nbsp; From Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios, Big Lives drops new episodes on Mondays.

From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey

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