Viewers of Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" may be surprised by how many mythological creatures are packed into Homer's ancient epic.Filled with A-list stars, the major box-office hit takes audiences from one mythical encounter to the next as Odysseus fights to make it home."The movie is visually stunning.It needs to be seen in the theater," said Joel P.
Christensen, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the CUNY Graduate Center and a professor of classics.EXPERTS STUNNED AFTER UNCOVERING HOMER'S 'ILIAD' ON EGYPTIAN MUMMY IN UNPRECEDENTED FINDChristensen, a Homer scholar, told Fox News Digital that audiences don't need to read "The Odyssey" beforehand because Nolan provides enough context to follow the story.Unlike many modern blockbusters with a single central villain, nearly every stop on this journey brings a new monster or supernatural threat.Christopher Nolan's blockbuster new film introduces audiences to the mythological creatures that shape Odysseus' journey across the ancient world.Some of the cast, including Matt Damon, center, are shown above. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)As Christopher Nolan's adaptation introduces new audiences to the ancient epic, here's a look at the legendary creatures that define Odysseus' journey in the book, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.Spoiler alert: Plot details from "The Odyssey" are noted below.The most famous of the Cyclops, Polyphemus traps Odysseus and his crew in his cave before devouring several of the men.The name Polyphemus roughly translates to "rich in songs and legends" or "widely talked about," per Britannica.ANCIENT PALACE DISCOVERY CHALLENGES THE MYTH BEHIND SPARTA'S RISE TO POWEROdysseus eventually blinds Polyphemus with a sharpened wooden stake — allowing him and his remaining crew to escape the Cyclops' cave.Polyphemus is one of the sons of Poseidon — prompting the sea god to curse Odysseus' journey home.In the film, Polyphemus is played by actor Bill Ir...