Modern Words and Idioms That Came From the ‘Odyssey’
Written almost 3,000 years ago, the “Odyssey,” attributed to Greek poet Homer, tells the story of Odysseus, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, on his 10-year adventure returning home to his wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus. The epic tale has inspired countless adaptations in literature, art, film, and
television — including a 2026 movie by Christopher Nolan — and has also firmly stamped its influence on many words and idioms we use today. Here are a few examples. Derived from the name of the hero Odysseus, “odyssey” refers to a long, adventurous journey marked by changes in fortune....
