Archaeologists uncover ancient Odysseus sanctuary on Greek Ithaca

Excavations on the Greek island traditionally identified as the home of Odysseus have revealed the remains of a large sanctuary, dubbed the Odysseion, dating to the early Hellenistic period (around the 3rd‑century BC). The site includes black‑glazed cups, jewelry, votive vessels and more than 100 bronze and silver coins, as well as roof tiles inscribed with “of Odysseus” and “to Odysseus”. Researchers say the findings show a continuous cult to the Homeric hero that lasted for nearly a millennium, from the 9th century BC through the Roman era.

The discovery has been highlighted alongside the release of Christopher Nolan’s film “Odissea”, which has revived public interest in the epic. The film’s publicity has spurred related cultural output, such as a new self‑help book that frames the Odyssey as a guide to personal resilience. Scholars continue to treat the Iliad and Odyssey as literary myth, but note that hero worship like that devoted to Odysseus was common in ancient Greece.