Welcome to History Hit's Substack!

Great to have you here! To kick things off, here is a special welcome note from Dan Snow, Founder and Creative Director of History Hit.

Welcome to the Stack! I’m tapping away at my laptop which is indeed balanced atop my lap which in turn is balanced on a squeaking, groaning wooden bench that runs along the starboard side of a little dive boat. We are almost mid-Channel. Great ships are passing us in both directions going east and west. 60 metres beneath the laptop, me and the boat, a team of divers are exploring a hugely significant wreck. The video they are capturing, I hope, at this very moment, will be winging its way to your History Hit app as soon as we can get it edited. As I sit here we have team members working on other productions. One unfortunate group of heroes is running around a field in Yorkshire wearing medieval armour, and giving it a thorough testing out. Another is in Wales exploring the domestic life of women in the 14th century. Just before we left sight of land, I got a message saying that our YouTube team have just confirmed an exciting D-day shoot in Portsmouth next week; and the audio teams- they never ever stop.

We have a mega season of Odyssey shows going out. lots of podcasts, a few YouTubes and a two part series shot on location in Troy, the Greek Islands and elsewhere. That all lands this week. The trip to Greece was amazing. I terrified a goat, almost crashed a fancy yacht, fell into a cave and the team lashed me to the mast. They said it was to withstand the Sirens, but I did worry that my snoring in my bunk was partial inspiration.

It’s been a great week. Most of them are at History Hit. I hope you’ll enjoy this and the Stacks that follow to see how much we love history, and our job - bringing it to you all.

Welcome to the very first edition of our new Substack!

I’m Amy from History Hit, and every week I’ll be bringing you right onto the frontline of history with us. Consider this your ultimate backstage pass to History Hit Towers - packed with behind-the-scenes footage, presenter interviews, historical gold that didn’t make it to air, production bloopers, and a look at what the team is currently reading and watching.

We are kicking off our inaugural issue with a massive special on The Odyssey.

Our brand-new documentary series, The Odyssey: Exploring the Greatest Story Ever Told, has officially launched. Sailing in the wake of Odysseus’s legendary journey, Dan Snow hits the open sea to uncover the historical truths and archaeological secrets hidden within Homer’s timeless epic.

But before we set sail, we need to map out the voyage. To get us started, I asked Dan to explain - as succinctly as possible(!) - the ultimate story of survival.

Take it away, Dan...

(Ok that was more than 60 seconds, but a great effort! A longer version is available here)

Has Hollywood made you curious about the Odyssey? Or have you had a lifelong obsession with this great foundation myth of Greece and Rome, an enduring epic that has shaped Western imagination for millennia?

Embark on an extraordinary maritime journey that blurs the lines between ancient legend and archaeological reality. Join historian Dan Snow in this special 2-part series as he retraces the route of the greatest adventure ever told, sailing the beautiful Ionian Sea in the wake of Odysseus’s immense journey home from the Trojan War.

More than a simple retelling, this gripping two-part series serves as an investigative deep dive into the bedrock of Ancient Greek culture. As Dan navigates from the ruins of Troy to the rugged, imposing walls of Mycenae - the “city rich in gold” - he uncovers the historical echoes behind Homer’s verses. This is not merely a travelogue; it is a meticulously researched exploration of the rituals, societal norms, and spiritual beliefs that defined the classical world.

Throughout the voyage, Dan is joined by a chorus of world-leading classicists and archaeologists who bring antiquity to life. Experience the nuance of the epic with celebrated translator Emily Wilson; witness the power of ancient oratory as Steve Kershaw recites Homeric Greek in a modern town square; explore the sacred, complex duties of Xenia with Emily Hauser; decode the tense interplay of gods and mortals with Tulsi Parikh; and delve into the might of Mycenaean civilization with Tristan Hughes.

As the narrative unfolds upon the water, the series captures the haunting beauty of the Ionian Sea, visiting locations that inspired myths of Cyclopean caves, siren songs, and enchanted isles. The journey culminates in Ithaca, where Dan probes the ancient ruins - rumoured to be the very palace where Odysseus orchestrated his final, bloody reclamation of his home.

Join us for a fascinating synthesis of history, mythology, and exploration. Discover the true story of the “complicated” and “much turned about” hero whose voyage shaped Western literature and continues to captivate the modern imagination.

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We travel from Troy to the Ionian Sea as Dan takes to the water to explore the tortuous beginnings of the journey home, from far off Illium, via Circe’s enchanted island to the Underworld itself…

Dan sails all the way home to Ithaca! Along the way he encounters storms, whirlpools, sirens and the wrath of the gods…

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History Hit is full of Odyssey and Trojan War content. You can watch our special bonus film where Dan discusses the Odyssey with celebrated classicist, Prof. Mary Beard. On Dan Snow’s History Hit podcast he goes deep into the story, and on the Ancients podcast Tristan Hughes speaks to key Greece experts about the history around the myths.

“Oarsmen to your benches!” Climb aboard with Odysseus and History Hit to enjoy a cornucopia of fascinating insights into this epic story.

Ever wondered how you compress a 10-year mythological voyage into just four days of television filming?

In an exclusive production blog on our website, History Hit’s Head of Programming and Executive Producer, Bill Locke (up there in the blue cap), takes us behind the camera of our brand-new documentary series tracking the route of Greece’s most famous trickster king.

Teaming up with Sunsail, a crew of directors, producers, and our own Dan Snow set sail from Lefkas on a mission to sort the fact from the fiction of Homer’s masterpiece. Here are the highlights from their whirlwind voyage through the Ionian islands:

• The Ithaca Confusion: The trip was a lifelong dream for Dan Snow, an avid sailor. However, he uncharacteristically overpacked heavy winter gear after mistakenly checking the weather forecast for the town of Ithaca... in upstate New York.

• Chasing Ghosts and Cyclopes: The team journeyed south to the modern island of Ithaca to film at the Late Bronze Age “Palace of Odysseus” (sparking plenty of debate on whether it ever truly existed) before venturing into a fabulous sea cave standing in for the home of the Cyclops.

• Swimming for the Camera: To show how ancient heroes moored their ships 3,000 years ago, Dan Snow dove straight into the sea to take a line ashore on the tiny island of Ligia - with Bill Locke volunteering to jump in right behind him with a waterproof GoPro.

• The Miracle of the Wild Pigs: Sailing to the island of Atokos to film the famous story of the sorceress Circe turning Odysseus’s crew into swine, the team was warned about aggressive wild pigs. At first, the beach was empty. But right on cue, a family of piglets scampered down into the surf, giving Dan the perfect, unscripted shot.

• Lashed to the Mast: For the final leg, the team tackled the legends of the Sirens and the monster Scylla. To recreate the myth, skipper Tom stuffed cotton wool in his ears to block out the fatal calls, while Dan Snow was quite literally lashed to the yacht’s mast.

From eating beef stew at sunset to illustrate the crew angering the Sun God, to exploring the massive Papanikolis cave as Calypso’s home, it was an exhilarating shoot in the wake of history’s greatest voyage.

Read Bill’s full blog about Filming The Odyssey in the Ionian Sea on History Hit’s website

🎬 Where to Watch: You can see this incredible journey for yourself! Our in-depth, two-part Odyssey series exclusively for History Hit subscribers is now live.

UK viewers can also catch a special version on My5 catch-up.

This July, History Hit’s The Ancients podcast is launching a spectacular three-part special series dedicated entirely to Homer’s The Odyssey - the ultimate story of a trickster, war hero, and survivor trying to find his way home.

Hosted by Tristan Hughes alongside acclaimed classicist Emily Hauser, this mini-series serves as the perfect companion guide to unpack the deep myths, hidden meanings, and historical context before you watch the highly anticipated new Hollywood cinematic adaptation.

The Voyage Schedule:

Tracing the origins of the poem, the Bronze Age world that created it, and Odysseus’s first perilous steps away from the ruins of Troy.

Following our hero through supernatural deep-sea dangers as he races to save his kingdom from his wife’s ruthless suitors.

Tristan and Emily review the new blockbuster movie to reveal exactly what Hollywood got right, what they got wrong, and whether it does justice to the masterpiece.

In an exclusive chat for Substack, I sat down (sadly not on a Greek island, but in the office) with The Ancients host Tristan Hughes to unpack the secrets of The Odyssey. Here is the first half of our interview - make sure to catch the rest in our next edition.

The Odyssey is packed with iconic monsters and gods, but if you could have joined Odysseus for just one leg of his journey - and survived it - which encounter would you want to witness firsthand?

‘Hmmmm, I think the episode with the Sirens would have been pretty extraordinary. Tie me to the mast with Odysseus and let me hear the Sirens’ song. Also to see the appearance of the Sirens not as beautiful maidens, but knowledgeable birdwomen!’

Unpacking an epic as massive as Homer’s poem in just three episodes is no easy feat. Was there a particular story, character, or historical theory that you and Emily Hauser had to leave on ‘the cutting room floor’ for time?

‘I think the big story and character we did miss out was Aeolus. He’s the god of the winds that Odysseus and his crew encounter not long after the Cyclops. Aeolus ‘bags up’ all of the harsh winds, so that his ship can be guided safely back to Ithaca. But his crew think that the closed bag contains hidden treasures from Troy. Just as they’re about to reach Ithaca, they open the bag. The harsh winds erupt from it and blow Odysseus’ ships far off course again (Aeolus doesn’t help them a second time when they return to his island).’

‘This particular story is the closest Odysseus’ crewmen get to returning to Ithaca, only to ‘miss their chance’ because of their own curiosity. They will all perish over the following months during Odysseus’ wanderings.’

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…I'll reveal the rest of Tristan's answers in our next edition - including what Tristan thinks is the single biggest historical liberty Hollywood directors take when adapting Homer for the big screen. Don't miss it!

• Exclusive with Mary Beard: A short video feature with Dame Mary Beard sharing her unique take on the enduring power of The Odyssey.

• More Behind-the-Scenes Gold: Fresh, unfiltered photos and production mishaps straight from our latest film sets.

• Part 2 of Our Tristan Hughes Q&A: We wrap up our chat on The Odyssey and find out his ultimate verdict on Hollywood’s historical blunders.

• The Trojan War on Video: Take a deep dive into the legendary conflict that started it all with The Ancients video podcast.

• More!

📺 Never Miss a Moment on History Hit Can’t wait two weeks for your next history fix? Dive into our massive library of ad-free documentaries, including the final episode of our Odyssey podcast series and our latest SVOD releases.

👉 Subscribe to History Hit & Start Streaming

And finally, as it’s our first edition, I’ll throw in an extra behind the scenes treat.

Here’s Dan after they forgot to bring any drinking water on the boat while filming. In Greece. Where it’s hot. (If you want more unfiltered production gems like this landing straight in your inbox, make sure you hit that subscribe button!)

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