Background Knowledge Before Watching The Odyssey | Trojan War, Greek and Roman Mythology Character Map, and Reading Order of the Original
To understand the movie The Odyssey, it helps to first know that its source work, the Odyssey, deals with Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War ends. The Trojan War itself is covered by the Iliad, another epic by the same Homer, so the two works are stories covering different ranges of the same world. With this, plus Helen, who sparked the war, and the relationship between Athena, who aids the return, and Poseidon, who hinders it, your pre-viewing background knowledge is sufficient.
The Origin of the Trojan War, Centered on Helen
The cause of the war is connected to Helen. Helen was the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, and her relationship with Paris of Troy became the trigger for the war.
So the Greek side, centered on Menelaus, attacks Troy, and Odysseus, king of Ithaca, is one of the Greek kings who joined the war. The first axis of the background knowledge is the cause of the war running from 'Helen–Menelaus–Paris,' and the second axis is the Odyssey, which deals with the return after the war.
Key Character Relationships at a Glance
Book 1 of the original Odyssey introduces all the characters needed for the story at once. While Odysseus does not return, suitors have settled in at Ithaca and court his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus sets out to find news of his father.
| Odysseus | King of Ithaca, protagonist of the return journey after fighting in the Trojan War |
|---|---|
| Penelope | Odysseus's wife, who faces the suitors in Ithaca |
| Telemachus | Odysseus's son, who sets out to find news of his father |
| Helen | Menelaus's wife, a figure connected to the cause of the Trojan War |
| Menelaus | King of Sparta, whom Telemachus visits |
| Nestor | King of Pylos, whom Telemachus visits |
| Athena | The goddess who aids Odysseus's return |
| Poseidon | The god who hinders Odysseus's return |
Telemachus's journey is essentially a navigation of the character map. He first meets Nestor in Pylos (Book 3), and then meets Menelaus in Sparta (Book 4). Since Menelaus's wife is Helen herself, these visits naturally connect the war-side figures to the stage of the Odyssey.
The direction of the gods' intervention is also clear. Athena takes Odysseus's side and aids his return, while Poseidon hinders him. This contrast is the mythological axis running through the entire Odyssey, and if you'd like to survey the relationships among the gods more broadly, it's worth continuing on to a guide to the gods in Greek and Roman mythology.
Reading Order of the Original: Starting with the Iliad?
The order that smoothly establishes the background is to read the Iliad (the war) first and then move on to the Odyssey (the return). This matches the chronological order of events, making it easier to understand when war figures appear in the Odyssey.
However, this order is a reading suggestion for readers, not a mandatory rule handed down from antiquity. The Odyssey is an independent epic, so the story itself holds up even if you read it directly.
| Recommended order | 1) Iliad → 2) Odyssey |
|---|---|
| Nature | A reading suggestion; starting with the Odyssey is also possible |
| Iliad | Deals with the Trojan War |
| Odyssey | Deals with Odysseus's return after the war |
If you're approaching classical epic for the first time, it's easier to decide on your entry approach first. How to read the Odyssey for the first time lays out starting criteria, and if you're curious about the war-side original, a guide to the Iliad book and original follows.
Where This Story Is Headed
The Odyssey concludes as Odysseus returns to his homeland of Ithaca, reunites with Penelope and Telemachus, and confronts the suitors who have taken over his house. Because the return journey and the family reunion flow in a single line, knowing the character relationships outlined above makes the ending much clearer. If you're curious about the specific final developments, you can check a summary of the Odyssey's ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does Odysseus do after the Trojan War?
A. After the war ends, he continues the journey back to his homeland of Ithaca. The Odyssey deals precisely with this return process.
Q. In what order should you read the Iliad and the Odyssey?
A. For understanding the background, it's advantageous to read the Iliad (the war) first and then move on to the Odyssey (the return). However, this is only a reading suggestion, not a requirement, so the story itself holds up even if you start with the Odyssey.
Q. How do Athena and Poseidon intervene?
A. Athena aids Odysseus's return, while Poseidon hinders it. The contrast between these two gods is the key axis running through the entire Odyssey.