As The Odyssey takes audiences by storm
around the world, the History Channel Africa gives
viewers another take on the King Odysseus of Ithaca. A fascinating two-part
documentary, uncovers claims by a historian that he found the bones of
Odysseus. Below is the synopsis for more information.
August 9
Sunday at 11h15 (ep
1) and 12h05 (ep 2)
Is King Odysseus, the Trojan-horse-building genius in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, merely a figure of ancient fiction? Or was he flesh-and-blood man?
In 1991, Makis Metaxas, a local politician on the Greek island of Kefalonia, discovers a 3000-year-old Mycenaean tomb. Soon, Greece’s leading archaeologist begins two years of excavation. The dig culminates with the unearthing of an object that bears an uncanny resemblance to one described by Homer as a prized possession of King Odysseus.
But these incredible findings only trigger a storm of controversy. The people of Ithaca, who passionately believe their island to be Odysseus’s homeland, become angry at the prospect of losing their ancient claim … and their major draw for tourism. Political rivalries between Ithaca and its neighbour Kefalonia lead to the discovery being swept aside, languishing in the dusty museum storeroom, and remaining unpublished.
Now, after three decades of suppression, the story is at last ready to be shared with the world. Makis Metaxas, and his wife Hettie Metaxas-Putman Cramer reveal how they uncovered ancient clues that lead them to search the area where the tomb, and archaeologist Lazaros Kolonas finally returns to the site to go on the record about what he found.
It will repeat on Monday August 10 at 21h05 and 21h55
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