University of Chicago lectures address Trojan War and nationalist debates

Auron Tare reflects on academic experiences at the University of Chicago to provide context for recent nationalist debates surrounding the film ‘Odyssey’ and ancient history.

During a visit to the university, Tare was hosted by linguist and Albanologist Professor Viktor Freedman to present the history and protection efforts of Butrint. While at the institution, Tare attended a lecture on the Trojan War delivered by an expert who had conducted archaeological excavations in Troy. The lecture, which focused on the Late Bronze Age, is presented as a scholarly counterpoint to the heated nationalist arguments currently emerging in the Balkans following the release of the film ‘Odyssey’.