History Buffs Outraged by Matt Damon’s Costume in ‘The Odyssey’!

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At long last, we’ve gotten our first glimpse at ““, the historical epic centered around swords and sandals, directed by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker ““. While fans are thrilled about Matt Damon portraying the main character Odysseus, historians have been vocal on social media, criticizing Nolan’s creative decisions in the movie.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my excitement as the brilliant filmmaker Christopher Nolan ventures into uncharted territories with his cinematic interpretation of Homer’s timeless epic, “The Odyssey.” Stepping away from his signature twisted action thrillers like Inception, Tenet, and the iconic Batman trilogy, as well as the critically acclaimed biopic Oppenheimer, this new project promises a fresh perspective. However, his upcoming adaptation has sparked some controversy due to the depiction of Damon’s character wearing a helmet in the first glimpse, which, according to history enthusiasts, appears to be quite far from historically accurate and borders on a comical exaggeration.

@witte_sergei stated on Twitter that The Iliad literally depicts Odysseus wearing a helmet made from kino leather adorned with boar tusks, but Hollywood often favors the plain ancient ‘broom’ helmet instead. They jokingly remarked that such helmets are like cocaine to costume designers. The passage they referred to as relevant reads, “He placed upon his head a helmet made of hide, with many tight-stretched thongs making it rigid within, and outside were set the sharp white tusks of a boar on either side.” Whoops.

Some Have Even Taken Issue With the Casting of Matt Damon as Odysseus

User @WeeboJones comments, “I hope this isn’t accurate,” expressing frustration as a history enthusiast. “The Odyssey is set in the Mycenaean era, around 1200 BC, and helmets during that time would be of the boar tusk style, not the Corinthian style. The Corinthian helmet was introduced later, during the Archaic period, approximately 700 BC.” User @handsoforlac reacts more angrily, “The Odyssey helmet has infuriated me so much that I refuse to watch the movie. Please show some respect for the Bronze Age!

In a discussion about the accuracy of costumes in “The Odyssey” movie adaptation, user @LoTQD points out that while the story is set during the Bronze Age, certain elements such as the helmet with a Roman crest and anachronistic details like a metal wristband and leather armor are historically incorrect and could be improved. On the other hand, user @george124567 doesn’t seem to mind the type of helmet Matt Damon is wearing in the film.

Regarding the costume matters aside, some people have raised concerns about Matt Damon as the main character. “@idertod” states, “I believe Matt Damon’s Boston accent doesn’t blend well with the enigmatic atmosphere of ‘The Odyssey’,” while “@itsthatharry” notes, “I can’t help but feel that the historical accuracy purists will be up in arms when the trailer for ‘The Odyssey’ arrives and Matt Damon still sounds like he’s from Boston.” Nevertheless, the part seems suitable for Damon’s usual acting style. “@hrivaths17656” comments, “After all, if there’s one thing Matt Damon is recognized for, it’s portraying characters who struggle to find their way home, be it in space, on Earth, or ancient Greece.

It’s debatable that Nolan opted for a helmet resembling the Spartan type, complete with a red feather, which has sparked some controversy. Despite its inaccuracy to the historical context, this design choice was likely made for aesthetic reasons, as the helmet shape and the plume form a profile reminiscent of ancient sword-and-sandal epics. It’s worth noting that Odysseus might have multiple helmets in the film. Frequently, discussions about authenticity arise when adapting historical events or texts, but is it truly important if a tale featuring a Cyclops deviates from reality?

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2025-02-19 16:32