KyiMayKaung

Burma, America, The World, Art, Literature, Political Economy through the eyes of a Permanent Exile. "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed. Sometimes we must interfere. . . There is so much injustice and suffering crying out for our attention . . . writers and poets, prisoners in so many lands governed by the left and by the right." Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Speech, 1986, Oslo. This entire site copyright Kyi May Kaung unless indicated otherwise.

Friday, July 24, 2026

Marco Polo wiki--

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo

Marco Polo’s journeys have inspired both historical fiction novels and his own travel writings, offering readers vivid accounts of 13th-century Asia. Historical Fiction Inspired by Marco Polo Several authors have fictionalized Marco Polo’s adventures, blending historical events with imaginative storytelling: Marco Polo by Laurence Bergreen – A richly detailed novel capturing Polo’s travels through Asia, his interactions with Kublai Khan, and the grandeur of the Mongol Empire, combining historical research with engaging prose bookstoreadonline.combookstoreadonline.com. The Travels of Marco Polo (Historical Fiction Adaptation) by Ruskin Bond – A modern retelling emphasizing Polo’s personal growth and the diverse cultures he encounters, making the story accessible and heartfelt bookstoreadonline.combookstoreadonline.com. Marco Polo and the Ruby Princess by Michelle Moran – A tale of love, intrigue, and political alliances set against Polo’s travels, dramatizing his role in historical diplomacy bookstoreadonline.combookstoreadonline.com. Other notable historical fiction works explore Polo’s adventures, the Silk Road, and the cultural exchanges of his era, offering readers immersive experiences of medieval Asia bookstoreadonline.combookstoreadonline.com+1. Marco Polo’s Own Writings The most famous primary source is The Travels of Marco Polo, also known as Il Milione or The Book of the Marvels of the World. Written in the 13th century by Rustichello da Pisa from Polo’s accounts, it chronicles his travels from 1271 to 1295, including his time at Kublai Khan’s court and journeys across China, Mongolia, India, and other regions WikipediaWikipedia+1. The book is divided into four sections: Middle East and Central Asia on the way to China China and Kublai Khan’s court Coastal regions of the East, including Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and East Africa Mongol wars and northern regions like Russia Polo’s vivid descriptions of customs, traditions, and exotic landscapes made the book a popular success and influenced European cartography, including maps used by explorers like Columbus WikipediaWikipedia+1. Recommended Reading Lists For readers interested in exploring Marco Polo through novels and historical accounts, curated lists highlight the best books: 17 Best Marco Polo Historical Fiction Books – Includes Bergreen, Bond, Moran, and others that bring Polo’s journeys to life bookstoreadonline.combookstoreadonline.com. 20 Best Books on Marco Polo – Offers a mix of historical fiction and nonfiction, providing insights into his travels and the medieval world paulfinchauthor.compaulfinchauthor.com. Goodreads Collection – Marco Polo has over 345 books listed, with The Travels being the most popular GoodreadsGoodreads. These resources provide a wide range of options for both historical enthusiasts and readers seeking adventure narratives inspired by Marco Polo’s legendary journeys. bookstoreadonline.com bookstoreadonline.com 17 Best Marco Polo Historical Fiction Books paulfinchauthor.com paulfinchauthor.com 20 best books on marco polo - 2023 reading list & recommendations bookstoreadonline.com paulfinchauthor.com Wikipedia Show All Global web icon bookstoreadonline.com https://www.bookstoreadonline.com 17 Best Marco Polo Historical Fiction Books Aug 12, 2025 · Historical fiction based on his life brings the past to life, offering readers a vivid glimpse of distant lands, cultures, and … Images of Novels based on Marco Polo Marco Polo Travel Book Traveling Family Original Cover Marco Polo China.Book Marco Polo Kids Writing The Travels of Marco Polo: Marco Polo, Ronald Latham: 9780140440577 ... The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo | Goodreads The Travels of Marco Polo: Polo, Marco: 9789363114166: Amazon.com: Books Marco Polo Books at Preston Lamb blog Marco Polo (Great Explorers): Ladybird Books: 9780721405568: Amazon.com ... 17 Best Marco Polo Historical Fiction Books - bookstoreadonline.com Marco Polo – Delphi Classics Marco Polo: The historic adventure based on the television spectacular ... The Travels of Marco Polo: The Venetian by Marco Polo, William Marsden ... Buy a Marco Polo Online in Australia from Sydney Based Boatbooks-aust ... Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu: Bergreen, Laurence: 9781400078806 ... Marco Polo Books at Preston Lamb blog Marco Polo Books at Preston Lamb blog Travels Of Marco Polo by Marco Polo, Paperback, 9780451529510 | Buy ... Amazon.com: Marco Polo: The Journey That Changed the World ... Marco Polo: History's Great Adventurer (Historical Notebooks): Twist ... Scrolled 0% See all images Global web icon paulfinchauthor.com https://paulfinchauthor.com 20 best books on marco polo - 2023 reading list & recommendations Nov 18, 2023 · Are you fascinated by the adventures of Marco Polo? Do you want to delve deeper into the fascinating life of this … Global web icon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki The Travels of Marco Polo - Wikipedia OverviewHistoryContentsLegacySubsequent versionsAuthenticity and veracityOther travelersFurther reading

The Travels of Marco Polo, also known as The Book of the Marvels of the World (French: Livres des Merveilles du Monde) and by its Italian name Il Milione ("The Million"), is a 13th-century travelogue written down by Rustichello da Pisa from stories told by the Venetian explorer Marco Polo. It describes Polo's travels through Asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of Kublai Khan. Wikipedia · Text under CC-BY-SA license Global web icon Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com › shelf › show Marco Polo Books - Goodreads “The map of the world is drawn by travelers and nomads. Built into it are steps, nights and days, stations and encounters.” Amazon https://www.amazon.com › shop › the travels of marco polo by marco polo About our ads The Travels Of Marco Polo By Marco Polo | Adventurous Fiction Novels Sponsored Get Deals and Low Prices On The Travels Of Marco Polo By Marco Polo At Amazon. Choose From a Variety Of Specialty Travel Books Related To Business, Budget and More. Best Books of 2026 So Far Amazon Deals Editors’ Picks Children's Books Best Books So Far Audible https://www.audible.com About our ads Marco Polo Audiobook - By John Man Sponsored Gain Access To The Largest Audiobook Catalog For Endless Entertainment This Spring. In Addition, Members Receive An Extra 30% Off All Audiobooks. Get Hooked On Audible Today! Fan Favorite Titles · Members Save 30% · Always Fresh Selection · Over 760k Audio Titles Everand https://www.everand.com About our ads Marco Polo Books - Read for 30 days Sponsored Get Access To Millions Of Ebooks, Audiobooks, Podcasts, And More. Read Free For 30 Days. All The Titles You Love In One Monthly Subscription. Try Free For 30 Days. Join Millions of Readers · Exclusive Original Titles · Celebrity Narrators More searches about this subject Marco Polo book original Marco Polo travel guide books best books about Marco Polo Marco Polo books in order book written by Marco Polo who wrote marco polo's book adventures of Marco Polo book Marco Polo first book 1 2 3

Battle of Ngasaungyan--1277

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ngasaunggyan

Hsinbyushin vs The Chinese "pauk hpaw"

Copilot Search Branding

Hsinbyushin vs. China in 1767

In 1767, King Hsinbyushin of the Konbaung dynasty in Burma (Myanmar) was engaged in a major war with the Qing dynasty of China, part of a series of four invasions launched between 1765 and 1769 HistoryMaps.

Context

By 1767, Hsinbyushin had already: Defeated two earlier Qing invasions (1765–1766 and 1766–1767) at the border HistoryMaps.

Defeated the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767), capturing Ayutthaya in April 1767 and deporting thousands of prisoners Wikipedia+1.

Expanded into Laos and Manipur, and was preparing for further campaigns Wikipedia+1.

The Qing, under the Qianlong Emperor, saw Hsinbyushin’s expansion into the Shan states, Laos, and Lan Na as a threat and launched a third invasion in late 1767 HistoryMaps. The 1767–1768 Campaign

The Qing forces, led by elite Manchu Bannermen, advanced deep into central Burma, reaching within a few days’ march of the capital Ava HistoryMaps.

Hsinbyushin redeployed his armies from Siam to meet the Chinese threat HistoryMaps.

The Qing forces struggled with tropical terrain, endemic diseases, and unfamiliar conditions, suffering heavy losses HistoryMaps.

Burmese troops, though outnumbered, managed to push the Qing back, though the invasion came close to a major Burmese defeat HistoryMaps.

Outcome

The third invasion failed to secure a Qing victory; the Qing withdrew after heavy casualties HistoryMaps.

A truce was reached in December 1769, with both sides maintaining heavy border garrisons for about a decade HistoryMaps.

The war preserved Burmese independence but kept the kingdom heavily militarized, contributing to later rebellions Wikipedia+1.

In summary: In 1767, Hsinbyushin successfully defended against the Qing third invasion, preventing a major loss of territory, but the campaign was a close-run thing. The near-disaster forced him to shift resources from Siam, and the war set the stage for continued border tensions for years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pagan

1287--Chinese invasion of Bagan--

Chinese (Yuan) Invasion of Burma in 1287

The Battle of Pagan in 1287 was the final major clash in the Yuan dynasty’s series of invasions of the Pagan Kingdom of Burma (modern Myanmar), which had begun in 1277 and continued through 1283–1287 Wikipedia+1. It marked a turning point in the collapse of the 250-year-old Pagan Empire. Background

After the Yuan’s 1283 victory at the Battle of Bhamo, they had penetrated the Irrawaddy River valley and established garrisons. This political instability emboldened Esen-Temür, Kublai Khan’s grandson stationed in Yunnan, to launch another campaign Wikipedia. King Narathihapate fled Pagan to Lower Burma, leaving the capital’s defenses to his three brother commanders — Athinkhaya, Yazathingyan, and Thihathu — who became central figures in the 1287 defense Wikipedia+1. The 1287 Campaign

Esen-Temür led a large Mongol force down the Irrawaddy, aiming to capture Pagan. Traditional colonial-era accounts claimed the Mongols ignored orders to retreat, advanced to the city, occupied it, and sent detachments south toward Prome Wikipedia. However, modern scholarship suggests the Mongols likely never reached Pagan itself, being held at bay by the Burmese forces and possibly never getting closer than about 160 km north of the capital Wikipedia+1. Even if they did reach Pagan, the damage was probably minimal, and the Mongols suffered heavy casualties before retreating north to Tagaung Wikipedia.

Aftermath

Political collapse: Narathihapate was assassinated in Lower Burma by his son Thihathu of Prome Wikipedia.

Fragmentation: The Pagan Empire disintegrated into smaller kingdoms, including Ava, Hanthawaddy, and various Shan states History Atlas+1.

Yuan position: The Yuan did not fully occupy the Irrawaddy valley; their forces remained in northern Burma at Tagaung Wikipedia+1.

Legacy: In Burmese history, Narathihapate is remembered as Tayokpyemin (“the king who ran away from the Chinese”) Wikipedia.

Significance

The 1287 campaign, whether or not it directly captured Pagan, accelerated the empire’s collapse. The Yuan’s inability to consolidate control in the central and lower Irrawaddy region allowed local powers to rise, reshaping the political map of mainland Southeast Asia for centuries History Atlas+1.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Ideas for when you don't want to move--from your city.

But you need Money.

This is more like it--645 sq feet in Tokyo--books, plants--but no platforms for me

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/video/watch/global-small-spaces-how-an-architect-built-7-levels-into-a-2-floor-tokyo-home

need railings, safety features, lift, and safe stairs in case lift stalls.

My friend has a 5? story house in Philly with a lift.

She told me home owners are digging basements bc no space to expand sideways.

Small spaces--400 sq feet in NY--not for me--no space for books,

no paintings on walls, no storage--too large TV--don't want overnight ordaytime guests except med personell.

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/video/watch/global-small-spaces-robert-garneau

World's largest pop up book + walk in cake--

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/07/daniel-gonzalez-matthew-reinhart-popup-book-los-anglees-library-world-record/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

IMPT--Rape support hotlines from the guardian--keep on your phone:

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

Amish Shah wins in AZ.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arizona-1st-district-democratic-primary-amish-shah/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Conn Iggulden--Genghis Series--Highly recommended--

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=conn+iggulden+genghis+series&i=stripbooks&adgrpid=1344704078176845&gb=2&hvadid=84044199248233&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=91335&hvnetw=o&hvocijid=11251544875805401119--&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84044924107376%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=10028_13485522&mcid=b8737d9be81635539f94e8f0fc2125c2&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_8foihsndmj_e

Baidu or Baydu--

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baydu

from Kokochin wiki--

Accounts

There are three sources for the account of the mission to Persia – a passage in the Chinese work Yongle Encyclopedia (which however does not mention the princess), the Persian Jami' al-tawarikh written by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, with the most detailed description given by Marco Polo:

Arghun Khan of Persia, Kublai's great-nephew, had in 1286 lost his favourite wife the Khatun Bulughan; and, mourning her sorely, took steps to fulfil her dying injunction that her place should be filled only by a lady of her own kin, the Mongol Tribe of Bayaut. Ambassadors were despatched to the Court of Khan-baligh to seek such a bride. The message was courteously received, and the choice fell on the lady Kokachin, a maiden of 17, "moult bele dame et avenant (very beautiful lady and comely)." The overland road from Peking to Tabriz was not only of portentous length for such a tender charge, but was imperiled by war, so the envoys desired to return by sea. Tartars in general were strangers to all navigation; and the envoys, much taken with the Venetians, and eager to profit by their experience, especially as Marco had just then returned from his Indian mission, begged the Khan as a favour to send the three Firinghis in their company. He consented with reluctance, but, having done so, fitted the party out nobly for the voyage, charging the Polos with friendly messages for the potentates of Europe, including the King of England. They appear to have sailed from the port of Zayton (as the Westerns called T'swan-chau or Chin-cheu in Fo-kien) in the beginning of 1292. It was an ill-starred voyage, involving long detentions on the coast of Sumatra, and in the South of India, to which, however, we are indebted for some of the best chapters in the book; and two years or upwards passed before they arrived at their destination in Persia. The three hardy Venetians survived all perils, and so did the lady, who had come to look on them with filial regard; but two of the three envoys, and a vast proportion of the suite, had perished by the way. Arghun Khan too had been dead even before they quitted China; his brother Kaikhatu reigned in his stead; and his son Ghazan succeeded to the lady's hand. We are told by one who knew both the princes well that Arghun was one of the handsomest men of his time, whilst Ghazan was, among all his host, one of the most insignificant in appearance. But in other respects the lady's change was for the better. Ghazan had some of the highest qualities of a soldier, a legislator and a king, adorned by many and varied accomplishments; though his reign was too short for the full development of his fame. —

The Travels of Marco Polo[6]

The account of the marriage was confirmed by the Persian historian Rashid-al-Din Hamadani in his Jami' al-tawarikh where she was named Kūkājīn.[3]

Rusticello who wrote down Marco Polo's travels--

Rustichello appears to have been a native of Pisa. His first known work, the French text known as the Roman de Roi Artus or, simply, the Compilation, appears to derive from books in the possession of Edward I of England when he passed through Italy on his way to fighting in the Eighth Crusade in 1270 to 1274. While written in French, it is the first known romance by an Italian author to address the Arthurian legend.[1] The Compilation contains an interpolation of the Palamedes, a now-fragmentary prose account of Arthur's Saracen knight Palamedes, and a history of the Round Table.[2] It was later divided into two sections, named after their principal protagonists, Meliadus (Tristan's father) and Guiron le Courtois. Both remained popular for hundreds of years, and influenced many later works written in French as well as in Spanish, Italian, and even Greek.[1]
Rustichello may have been captured by the Genoese at the Battle of Meloria in 1284, amid a conflict between the Republic of Genoa and the Republic of Pisa. When Polo was imprisoned around 1298, possibly after a clash between Genoa and Venice (according to tradition the Battle of Curzola[3]), he told his tales of travel to Rustichello. Together they created the book known as The Travels of Marco Polo.[1]

The Mongols are coming--

First Mongol invasion of Burma

Mongol-Pagan war (1277–1287)

Overview

History

Battles

Legacy

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The Mongol invasions of Burma led by Kublai Khan between 1277 and 1287 toppled the Pagan Empire and reshaped the political landscape of Southeast Asia.

Background

The Pagan Kingdom, ruling central Burma for over 250 years, faced internal instability under King Narathihapate, who ascended the throne in 1256. Early in his reign, rebellions erupted in Arakan and Martaban, and the kingdom struggled with declining royal authority and growing tax-free religious landholdings, weakening its capacity to resist external threats Facts and DetailsFacts and Details+1. Meanwhile, Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, sought to expand Mongol influence into Southeast Asia as part of his broader strategy to encircle the Song dynasty of China WikipediaWikipedia.

Initial Contact and Tribute Demands

The Mongols first demanded tribute from Pagan in 1271–1272, which Narathihapate refused. Kublai Khan sent envoys again in 1273, but the Burmese king executed the second mission, prompting military action WikipediaWikipedia+1. In 1275, Kublai authorized the Yunnan government to secure the borderlands and engage Pagan forces if necessary, leading to the first military clashes in 1277–1278.

Major Campaigns and Battles

The first significant battle occurred at Ngasaunggyan in 1277, where the Mongols defeated the Burmese army using superior cavalry tactics and strategic coordination Facts.netFacts.net+1. Subsequent campaigns in 1283–1285 saw Mongol forces advance southward, occupying key northern cities such as Bhamo and Tagaung, forcing Narathihapate to flee to Lower Burma WikipediaWikipedia+1. The Mongols organized northern Burma as the province of Zhengmian, consolidating their control over the region WikipediaWikipedia.

Outcome and Consequences

By 1287, the Mongols had sacked Pagan, effectively ending the Pagan Kingdom's dominance in central Burma Facts and DetailsFacts and Details+1. Narathihapate submitted to Mongol authority in 1286, but the kingdom never recovered its former power. The invasions triggered a period of political fragmentation lasting approximately 250 years, during which smaller ethnic Tai-Shan states emerged throughout mainland Southeast Asia WikipediaWikipedia+1. The Mongol campaigns, while militarily successful, were costly and stretched their forces, reflecting the challenges of projecting power into tropical, jungle-covered regions far from the Mongol heartland Facts and

DetailsFacts and Details.

Legacy

The Mongol invasions demonstrated the empire's military reach and strategic ambition, but also highlighted the limitations of sustaining long-term control over distant territories. In Burma, the collapse of the Pagan Kingdom reshaped the region’s political and cultural landscape, leading to decentralization and the rise of new polities that influenced Southeast Asian history for centuries Facts.netFacts.net+1. Narathihapate became infamously remembered as "Tayokpyay Min," or the King who fled from the Mongols, symbolizing the dramatic impact of the invasions on Burmese leadership and society FandomFandom. Facts and Details Facts and Details YUAN-MONGOL INVASIONS OF BURMA AND JAVA Fandom Fandom Mongol invasions of Burma | Military Wiki | Fandom Facts and Details Fandom Wikipedia Show All Global web icon Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › First_Mongol_invasion_of_Burma First Mongol invasion of Burma - Wikipedia

Gordon H. Luce--

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81k%C4%81p%C5%8D

Kakapo parrot--

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81k%C4%81p%C5%8D

Canada cancels bridge celebration--

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/canada/canada-cancels-joint-bridge-celebration-us-citing-trump-trade-threats-rcna588665?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Clips from The Thorn Birds--based on novel by Colleen McCullough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXPJKlc9wO4&list=PLpVNvJZ9XQMeSL_bfoOb-SOiOukWBB1am&index=36

Vermont police photo cam--alteraction between Vermont police and ICE.

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-07-15/ice-raid-south-burlington-vermont-bodycam-video?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

Muslim and Hindu--from 1958--Frederic Bennett.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1958/02/muslim-and-hindu/305462/

Very excited today--while looking for Alaungsithu's Prayer translated by Gordon H. Luce, I found a whole special edition of The Atlantic from Feb 1958, a year after my father died.

I wonder what he would have written if he had not died.

I'll isolate the articles and post them one by one.

All the leading intellectuals of the day are represented.

For today--here is the link to the whole edition.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/1958/02/

Whao--Special Burma Issue Feb 1958 --The Atlantic.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/1958/02/

Special post--Alaungsithu Su Taung--translated by Gordon H. Luce.

What driving energy could have produced this vast, richly adorned city? And why did the ancient kings build pagodas and monasteries rather than stone palaces? As Professor Kyaw Thet suggests, the economic basis of this high civilization was an extensive irrigation system. But its deeper stimulus, as we learn from the temple inscriptions, was the Buddhist faith. Not content with worldly success and victories in battle, each of the kings tried to outdo his forebears in raising shrines which would glorify the Lord Buddha and in so doing insure his own spiritual progress in later rebirths. Thus, in an inscription in the Shwegu Temple, we find this beautiful prayer, written in Pali verse, by King Alaungsithu (1112-1167):
By this my gift, whatever boon I seek,
It is the best of boons to profit all;
By this abundant merit I desire
Here or hereafter no angelic pomp
Of Brahmas, Suras, Maras; nor the state
And splendors of a monarch; nay, not even
To be the pupil of a conqueror.
But I would build a causeway sheer athwart
The river of Samsara, and all folk
Would speed across thereby until they reach
The Blessed City. I myself would cross,
And drag the drowning over. Aye, myself
Tamed, I would tame the willful; comforted,
Comfort the timid; wakened, wake the asleep;
Cool, cool the burning; freed, set free the bound.
And Alaungsithu’s predecessor, the conqueror and builder Kyanzittha (1084-1112), inscribed his edicts on massive pillars in this vein:
O King of Devas, hear thou! . . . The sage Bisnu shall become the king Kyanzittha, and he shall uphold the religion of the Lord Buddha . . . . All vice, which is as a stench, shall the king utterly blot out with true morality, which is as a perfume. . . . The tears of those who have lost their friends shall the king wipe away with the hand of loving-kindness. . . With his right hand shall the king give boiled rice and bread to all the people, and with his left hand ornaments and wearing apparel to all men. . . .He shall soften the hearts of those who intend evil, and exhort those who speak evil to speak good. . . .
The spirit, of these utterances is all the more remarkable when we consider that only a hundred years before the religion of Pagan had been in the hands of the debased Ari priests who had corrupted the Buddhism brought from Tibet with magical tricks, snake worship, and lewd Tantric rites. Two men accomplished this striking reformation: Kyanzittha’s father, Anawrahta, and the evangelical monk Shin Arahan, who attracted the king by his holiness and became his chief adviser.
Thawka—The Atlantic,1958.
End quote.

Monday, July 20, 2026

Bookstores in Old Town Krakov, Poland. I will always remember my time there--1968-9.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/love-books-go-to-krakow-poland-literature-history?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

Guttenberg Project--Homer's Odyssey--translated by Alexander Pope.

h ttps://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/6130/pg6130-images.html

Alexander Pope preface to his translation of Homers' Odyssey.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Iliad_of_Homer_(Pope)/Preface

The Odyssey

https://variety.com/lists/odyssey-cast-characters-christopher-nolan/tiresias-james-remar/

Nat Geo--Wakhan Corridor--On the Roof of the World--16,000 square feet.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/wakhan-corridor-afghanistan-exposure

Cicada articles--

https://www.purepest.com/cicada-sound-when-why-and-how-long-they-sing

Of Cicadas--

https://xerces.org/blog/loud-bug-summer-all-your-cicada-questions-answered

Sir Christopher Nolan--

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nolan

I watched the new The Odyssey--

It's EXCELLENT--Maybe simplified a bit--but it's beautiful and at last--a clearer story line.

Not explained how there were no men on the first island. Special effects, voices, script, casting wonderful.

One only noticed the "dad" at the beginning sounding America.

I don't understand all the hemming and hawing below--after all all the goddesses are female--and Hermes is not a scarf--maybe played by a ballet dancer--

It's a lot better than all the modernized rewrites I have read.

kmk

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Harish P I from Conscientious Reflections To:

Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 at 02:52:35 AM EDT

Subject: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey: Breaking the Code

There is only one word to describe the cinematic experience that The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, provides—exhilarating. It is a visual spectacle that also resonates emotionally with the audience, with elements of horror, thrills, and action smoothly blending with the larger narrative.

When we look at the movie as a modern-day adaptation of the Greek epic, there are many elements that vary from the original. Some variations are significant while many are too minor to notice. For example, the omission of Penelope testing Odysseus in the climax didn’t make much difference to the narrative. But the inclusion of Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter, which isn’t Homeric but based on later myths, significantly alters the moral compass of the narrative.

Before the movie released, the casting and many narrative and stylistic choices had caused controversies among the public. But none of them have any significance in the larger narrative. The concerned characters appear only for minutes in the movie and end up ultimately as minor cosmetic alterations from the original.

An actor’s statement about the lack of female perspective in Homer’s Odyssey sparked quite a controversy. But the ‘screen time’ that Nolan gives for female perspectives is rather less than that of Homer and not as diverse. The anti-war narrative about the perils of war on everyone involved is also dealt with in a rather cliched manner.

I’ve seen many color-blind or age-blind adaptations of classics, like the Hamlet adaptation in which an elderly Ian McKellen plays the young titular prince, or the one starring Riz Ahmed in which the plot is placed in an Indian business family. In these adaptations, such choices become essential in providing a different context and an alternate perspective to an already known story. The Odyssey displays several such choices with its casting, language and costumes, but never attempts to place them in any interpretative framework.

Though it contains several regular features of Nolan movies like an overtly complex protagonist, non-linear narrative, and themes about grief, guilt, and obsession, the movie never manages to challenge the intellect of the audience like how Inception, Interstellar, or even Oppenheimer did. The plot is narrated vividly with little ambiguity or intricacy.

One aspect of the film, however, made me probe beyond the spectacle to find what the larger purpose of Christopher Nolan in adapting The Odyssey may be. Every adaptation updates the sensibilities of the original to its contemporary period. The Odyssey updates the original while also being self-aware of it. So you observe the characters speaking about an upcoming invasion by the ‘sea people,’ the destruction of their civilization, and the end of the Bronze Age with apocalyptic foresight. The characters behave as if Christopher Nolan transferred his benefit of hindsight to them.

The movie places xenia, the code of hospitality, christened Zeus’s Law, as the cornerstone of Greek civilization. The inviolable host-guest relationship ensured the world stayed together. Odysseus realizes that it was his plan of the Trojan Horse that breaks the code, beginning the unraveling of civilization. What Odysseus’s crew believes to be the wrath of the gods causing innumerable delays and dangers they encounter on different islands is a reflection of the breaking of this code. Odysseus realizes this and tries to re-establish the code once he reaches Ithaca.

When Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter, he is breaking another Greek code of oikos that governs the household. Although he wins the war, the effects of his actions catch up to him after his homecoming. When Agamemnon advises Odysseus in Hades not to enter his home without assessing the situation, he speaks from the belated awareness of the consequences of his actions, which he doesn’t want Odysseus to suffer.

Odysseus in the film is the same person as in the epic—resourceful strategist, clever, proud, and always homesick for his wife and son. Additionally, Nolan makes him regretful of his actions in Troy after seeing how the same attributes affected the violent and destructive outcome of the war. This aspect gives him a spiritual connection to Nolan’s Oppenheimer, who also realizes that he has broken a code that altered human civilization permanently.

More than just a visual spectacle, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a cautionary tale about how pride makes people blind to the moral codes that bind a civilization together—and how breaking them carries far-reaching consequences beyond the temporary victories.

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