'The Odyssey' Has a Surprising 'Dune' Connection

With the arrival of The Odyssey and the return of Dune to theaters with Dune: Part 3, an interesting bit of trivia ends up linking the two franchises, thanks to the books by Frank Herbert, which reference one of the characters from the epic adapted by Christopher Nolan. 

What is the connection between Dune and The Odyssey? (Warning: Dune spoilers ahead)

We don’t know whether the third film will address this connection, since the story is expected to end with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and likely won’t cover his children or his successor, Leto II. However, there is a moment in Children of Dune when this connection is mentioned. 

At one point, while struggling against the ancestral voices in her mind, Alia Atreides (Anya Tyalor-Joy) hears the voice of Agamemnon, marking the first mention of the character played by Benny Safdie in The Odyssey. Later in the same book, Ghanima Atreides, daughter of Paul Atreides, mentions Agamemnon as one of her ancestors. 

In God Emperor of Dune, the character is mentioned once again, when Leto II himself confirms the lineage, revealing that he has spoken with memories of his ancestors, including Agamemnon. 

Leto II also states that House Atreides descends directly from the House of Atreus, of which Agamemnon is the most famous son. Another point confirming the connection is that Atreides, in translation, means "Son of Atreus," a direct reference to the Greek hero Atreus, father of Agamemnon and Menelaus (Jon Bernthal). 

Another point worth highlighting is that, despite taking place in the distant future, the universe of Dune exists in a reality where Earth once existed, and in the books Paul Atreides even studies the planet’s history at some point. 

Unfortunately, as we’ve already mentioned, it’s unlikely that Dune: Part 3 will end up referencing the connection. Still, it would be very interesting to see that historical mention — and an indirect link to Nolan’s film — on the big screen.