36. Homer’s Odyssey, Overview of Books 9–24 (Season 3, Episode 5)

Colton hosts Andrew Kern from the CiRCE Institute to explore the significance of Homer’s Odyssey as readers witness Odysseus suffer immense trials that nearly kept him from returning to his kingdom, his wife, and his father on the island of Ithaca. They find themselves discussing Homer from the perspectives of marriage, faithfulness, and the task of weaving tapestries throughout this epic poem. The poem is a poem of weaving, which represents wisdom and the creation of society. Colton and Andrew draw parallels between the Odyssey and other works, such as Dante's Divine Comedy and the Bible, in terms of the hidden layers and deeper meanings. The conversation highlights the enjoyment of uncovering new insights and the satisfaction of a story that continues to offer more with each reading; reality is endlessly beautiful, and there is always more to discover and appreciate.  You can find Andrew Kern’s new book Unless the Lord Builds the House: Shared Foundations for Christian Education, along with numerous other of his written works at the CiRCE Institute’s website: https://circeinstitute.org/product/unless-the-lord-builds-the-house/.