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On the Shores of Homer
*Verse from “Axion Esti” by the Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis. The Odyssey meets the musical tradition of the islands. In the universal history of the written word, the Homeric epic has always been a constant point of reference. There is no author or poet of major or even minor importance who has not been inspired or influenced by the rhapsode's work. Many other stories have fallen into oblivion, many adventures sunk. But the Homeric epic has not ceased to be sung in antiquity, in Byzantine times, right up to recent times. These sung verses express the gradual path to virtue, the thread that connects each man with his soul and then with the divine.
All dates
On the Shores of Homer
*Verse from “Axion Esti” by the Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis. The Odyssey meets the musical tradition of the islands. In the universal history of the written word, the Homeric epic has always been a constant point of reference. There is no author or poet of major or even minor importance who has not been inspired or influenced by the rhapsode's work. Many other stories have fallen into oblivion, many adventures sunk. But the Homeric epic has not ceased to be sung in antiquity, in Byzantine times, right up to recent times. These sung verses express the gradual path to virtue, the thread that connects each man with his soul and then with the divine.
The map of the Odyssey shows the wanderings of Ulysses and his companions in known countries, such as the coast of Asia Minor, the islands of the Aegean Sea, but also to countries that, although they appear to be imaginary, are probably identified with the shores of present-day Tunisia (Lotophages), southeastern Sicily (Lestrygons), the Strait of Messina (Sirens) or Corfu (the island of the Phaeacians).
The Odyssey is an epic poem sung in ancient times by aedists. Musical instruments of the time accompanied the singing. The aede tells the story of Odysseus' adventures as he embarks on his journey back to his homeland of Ithaca after the Trojan War. The epic describes the adventures and character of the main hero.
Although the Odyssey takes place on the geographical confines of the Mediterranean, it is a work whose plot concerns the whole of humanity. In the universal history of the written word, the Homeric epic has always been a constant point of reference. There is no author or poet of major or even minor importance who has not been inspired or influenced by the rhapsode's work.
Many other stories have fallen into oblivion, many adventures sunk. But the Homeric epic has not ceased to be sung in antiquity, in Byzantine times, right up to recent times. These sung verses express the gradual path to virtue, the thread that connects each man with his soul and then with the divine.
Homer is a poet par excellence, not a geographer. His verses are a hymn to universal values, using metaphors and comparisons that have never been equaled. For the poet, geographical location is not defined by coordinates on a map but by the coordinates of the mind and heart.
The text was adapted by the award-winning writer Vassiliki Nevrokopli into decasyllabic verse, the most popular poetic form in Greece. The result is a charming work in which Homer's archetypal text meets recent musical tradition, taking us on a journey to the beautiful shores of Greece and the Mediterranean.
Courtesy of the artist
Courtesy of the artist
Aedus: an artist who sings their own works accompanied by a musical instrument.
Rhapsody: an instrumental piece of epic poetry.
Rhapsode: an artist who recites or sings, often an epic poem written by someone else.
Epic: describing an epic poem, an impressive heroic adventure.
Decapentasyllabic: fifteen syllables.
Line Up:
Irini Derebei: voice, Cretan flutes
Kyriakos Kalaitzidis: oud, vocals
Karolos Kouklakis: laouto, boulgari
Vassiliki Nevrokopli: narrations
Practical information
Address
Port of Piraeus, Gate E8
Accessibility
Dates and times
Saturday, October 11, 9:30 - 10:30 pm
Safety
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EXPERIENCES On board
Immersive exhibition "Présentes
Created with the exceptional collaboration of the Musée du Louvre, this exhibition highlights female figures in Mediterranean civilization, thanks to the digitization and modeling of part of the Louvre's collections. A two-stage experience: an introductory film to provide context, followed by an immersive experience in a 16-meter-long tunnel covered by 120 m2 of LED screens.
A sound journey through the Mediterranean
An immersive sound experience designed by Ircam, inviting the public to explore the richness and diversity of the Mediterranean through headphones equipped with spatialized sound.
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© Elisa Von Brockdorff
The artists
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the boat is freely accessible on site. However, you can pre-book your time online on our website.
For reasons of safety and preservation of the boat, high heels and stilettos may not be worn on the boat.
The museum boat is open to all free of charge. To find out on which quay it will be moored, or to pre-book your slot, consult the page dedicated to your town.
Appropriate facilities have been set up on the Festival site for the reception and access of people with reduced mobility. The boat is equipped with a 1m-wide ramp, accessible to people with reduced mobility, but may require the accompaniment of a third party due to its gradient of over 6%. Access to the aft deck and immersive exhibition is possible. However, the upper deck is not accessible. Please inform us in advance of any special accessibility requirements, so that we can make the necessary arrangements.