Ancient Greece | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/ancient-greece/RSS feed for Ancient GreeceenFri, 17 Jul 2026 18:40:24 +0000Was There Ever an Original Version of 'The Odyssey,' and Do We Need to Worry About What Homer Would Think?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/was-there-ever-an-original-version-of-the-odyssey-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-what-homer-would-think-180989143/The earliest surviving fragments of the epic poem—the subject of Christopher Nolan's latest Hollywood blockbuster—date back more than 2,000 years. But oral storytelling about a hero named Odysseus is much olderFri, 17 Jul 2026 18:40:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/was-there-ever-an-original-version-of-the-odyssey-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-what-homer-would-think-180989143/This Viking Longship Crossed the Atlantic Before Starring in Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' as Odysseus' Greek Galleyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thisviking-longship-crossed-the-atlantic-before-starring-in-christopher-nolans-odyssey-as-odysseus-greek-galley-180989137/Hollywood stars including Matt Damon went to rowing camp to learn how to operate the vessel for the new filmThu, 16 Jul 2026 20:27:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thisviking-longship-crossed-the-atlantic-before-starring-in-christopher-nolans-odyssey-as-odysseus-greek-galley-180989137/See These Ancient Etruscan Frescoes That Italy Bought for Millions and Put on Public Display in Romehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-these-ancient-etruscan-frescoes-that-italy-bought-for-millions-and-put-on-public-display-in-rome-180989046/Found in a burial chamber, the artworks depict battles between ancient heroes in the Mediterranean worldTue, 30 Jun 2026 20:52:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-these-ancient-etruscan-frescoes-that-italy-bought-for-millions-and-put-on-public-display-in-rome-180989046/The ‘Odyssey,’ One of the World’s Oldest Stories, Gets a Modern Spin With A.I.-Generated Audiobook Narration by the Voice Clone of an Oscar Winnerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-odyssey-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-stories-gets-a-modern-spin-with-ai-generated-audiobook-narration-by-the-voice-clone-of-an-oscar-winner-actor-michael-caine-180989006/Meanwhile, other actors are pushing back against the use of artificial intelligence in creative projects, including through a new “human consent” registry toolWed, 24 Jun 2026 18:56:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-odyssey-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-stories-gets-a-modern-spin-with-ai-generated-audiobook-narration-by-the-voice-clone-of-an-oscar-winner-actor-michael-caine-180989006/Greece Restored Part of the Parthenon's Western Facade, Revealing Its Original Shape Not Seen in Centurieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/revealing-its-original-shape-not-seen-in-centuries-greece-restored-part-of-the-parthenons-western-facade-180988996/The project in Athens started in 2017 and involved quarrying, transporting, hand-carving and placing new marble blocks in one of the landmark’s triangular pedimentsWed, 24 Jun 2026 13:12:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/revealing-its-original-shape-not-seen-in-centuries-greece-restored-part-of-the-parthenons-western-facade-180988996/This Magical Curse Written in Greek on a Small Lead Tablet Was Meant to Punish Enemies Nearly 2,000 Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-magical-curse-written-in-greek-on-a-small-lead-tablet-was-meant-to-punish-enemies-nearly-2000-years-ago-180989001/The lead curse tablet was discovered in a city square in the Netherlands and recently deciphered by researchers in GermanyTue, 23 Jun 2026 20:21:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-magical-curse-written-in-greek-on-a-small-lead-tablet-was-meant-to-punish-enemies-nearly-2000-years-ago-180989001/Two Well-Preserved Roman Busts Were Discovered Inside a Wine Vat in Israel Near the Capital City of a Roman Provincehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-well-preserved-roman-busts-were-discovered-inside-a-wine-vat-in-israel-near-the-capital-city-of-a-roman-province-180988975/One is inscribed with the name "Lycurgus," suggesting the bust may depict the legendary founder of ancient SpartaMon, 22 Jun 2026 13:51:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-well-preserved-roman-busts-were-discovered-inside-a-wine-vat-in-israel-near-the-capital-city-of-a-roman-province-180988975/Archaeologists Unearth a Marble Aphrodite, a Pharaoh's Cartouche and a Roman Basilica, All in One Ancient Egyptian Cityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-an-marble-aphrodite-a-pharoahs-cartouche-and-a-roman-basilica-all-in-one-ancient-egyptian-city-180988930/The collection of artifacts represents the layered history of Ehnasiya, an ancient Egyptian capital that became the Roman city of Heracleópolis MagnaThu, 11 Jun 2026 14:40:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-an-marble-aphrodite-a-pharoahs-cartouche-and-a-roman-basilica-all-in-one-ancient-egyptian-city-180988930/