Τhe Readers of Homer

Be part of a magic participatory

cultural experience.

No matter where

you are from

No matter what

your mother tongue is

No matter if you

are a child or an adult

Be part of hundreds of voices celebrating the world’s greatest epics

…become a Reader of Homer!

The Readers of Homer is a US-based non-profit 501(c)3 international literary organization which

produces marathon all-day or all-night readings/singings of Homer’s epics around the world, in

locations humble and sublime. During approximately 12 hours, 200-400 participants of all ages

and backgrounds offer, one after the other, each in their own way and in their preferred

language, their pre-assigned passages of the Iliad or the Odyssey, while thousands of audience

members enjoy the on-screen projection of related images and the corresponding text in the

language of the host country. Our events constitute a participatory approach to the seminal

intellectual and artistic contribution of Homer to global culture, and include a significant

educational and social dimension.

Who we are

• the promotion of reading poetry aloud

• the recognition of the eternal immediacy of Homer

• the honoring of the international translators of his epics

• the offering of a multilayered audiovisual experience to the public, as well as learning and socialization opportunities to hundreds of participants

Our objectives

In this multicultural magical atmosphere thousands of citizens, from members ofgovernment to immigrant children, war veterans, distinguished academics, diplomats,students and adults of several nations and in dozens of languages participate in themarathon readings/singings of the Odyssey and the Iliad.

Our events constitute a cultural initiative which has proven to successfully serve the Homericheritage and attract large audiences in major educational and cultural centres around the world.

Getty Villa, Los Angeles Hellenic Centre, London Olympics 2012 William Land Park, Sacramento Halles de Shaerbeek, Brussels

Gibson Ranch, Sacramento Medieval Castle of Kos, Greece92nd Street Y, New York Daskalopetra of Chios, Greece

Orensanz Foundation, New York Odeum of Troy, TurkeyDahesh Museum, New York ` Library of Alexandria, Egypt

University of Montevideo, Uruguay

Global reach

Parallel events

The Homeric readings may be enhanced with a range of parallel events related to the poet andhis epics. These may range from lectures, seminars and round tables, to exhibitions, screenings,theatre, music and dance performances, as well as Homeric feasts.

Relevance

The tremendous success of the Homeric celebrations produced by The Readers of Homer has

led to an increased interest for future production of such events around the world, aiming at

a more systematic expression of appreciation towards the work of the great poet, a humble

yet grand celebration of his art and his diachronic messages. At a time when cultural

diversity and participatory approaches to the arts become more pertinent than ever, The

Readers of Homer’ suggest an innovative interactive experience that can appeal to and bring

together a diverse number of audiences.

Les Halles de Schaerbeek - BrusselsMay 16th 201210am – 2am

Hellenic Centre – LondonJuly 21st 201210am – 8pm

Recent events

A marathon reading of the ODYSSEY by 400 European Citizens, in the context of the initiative 12 Hours for Greece, aiming to send a message of solidarity and raise funds for children affected bythe Greek crisis.

A marathon reading of the ILIADby 200 participants , enhanced bymelodies from Daemonia Nympheon reconstructed AncientGreek instruments, in the context of the London 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

International reviews

The address may be Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street, but the setting was ancient Greece… The New York Times, USA

The success of Jornadas Homericasin the midst of our troubled city proved that civilization and its values can effectively counteract any kind of negativism that undermines human society. El País, Uruguay

The brightest night of our lives. Pankoaki, Greece

Magical atmosphere. A night that will not be forgotten any time soon. Kathimerini, Greece

The Homeric night, as part of the Hippocratia festival, proved to thousands of spectators that collective effort, excellent organization, appreciation and promotion of our cultural heritage within a multicultural environment, constitute fundamental ingredients for the intellectual, psychological and financial health not only of the local society of Kos, but also of the international community of man.

Eleftheros Typos, Greece

And from among all these many voices, no one like the other, the story unfolded. It was as if the poem were stitched together – a metaphor that Greeks used to describe poetic composition –slowly, word by word, over nine hours of readingThe Getty Iris, USA

As the sun was going down, we tasted black bread, honey, olives, strong wine and grapes, and entered the space. 12 hours with the narrative wealth of the Odyssey, letting it take us into thoughts and stories and relationships of the present, as if it was just written, describing our own lives, our own wars, our own return. Thus the night unfolded, with one segment flowing into the next, from the child’s voice, into one’s singing, into another’s mother tongue, from the ancient to the contemporary....Lucia Rikaki - Film director, Greece

Press Snapshots

Technical RequirementsThe Homeric Readings, along with their parallel events, are simpleand flexible enough to adapt to all possible spaces, and have beenheld with equal success in diverse venues, from university auditoriaand theatres to public spaces and archaeological sites. The listbelow is indicative; technical aspects are finalized during generalrehearsal, on the eve of each event.

• A facility with basic theatrical lighting

• A sound and lights technician

• A reliable sound system

• A podium with light and microphone

• 4 wooden chairs or armchairs of same style and hue

• 2-4 additional chairs and microphones for musicians, if live

• For projections: two large screens (min. 3m width x 2m height) on theback of the stage, ideally starting at 2m (above readers) upwards. Areliable projector connected to our laptops in tech booth and a volunteerto achieve perfect coordination of text and action on stage platform.

Optional: seminar rooms, lecture halls, theatres, exhibition spaces,concert halls, screening rooms, dinning areas for parallel events

Andres Mata Foundation | Mr. Ray Dowd | Ms. Marilena InglessiMrs. and Mrs. Dino and Litsa Tsitsera | Ms. Roberta Nevers

Our esteemed sponsors

Contact us

info@thereadersofhomer.org www.thereadersofhomer.org

KATHRYN HOHLWEIN YANNIS SIMONIDES Prof. WILLIAM MULLENFounder & President Vice President and Managing Director Literary & Academic Advisorkhohlwein@gmail.com yannis.simonides@ellinikotheatro.org mullen@bard.edu(916) 769 6446 (914) 325 8871 (845) 661 0799

LAURA HOHLWEIN STEPHANIA XYDIA Art Director Press and Public Relationshohlwein@mindspring.com stephania.xydia@ellinikotheatro.org(916) 769 6441 011 30 6934 43 87 48