RIMM 2026: Ulysses, a Mediterranean eco-Ambassador of Poetry and Anthropology.

Since its establishment in 2001, an event of great cultural, social and economic significance is held every two years at the Conference Room of the Oceanographic Museum, under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.

This prestigious rendezvous gathers in Monaco leading figures from the intellectual and scientific world to exchange and share their knowledge and expertise on the cultural and natural heritage of the Mediterranean region, crossroads of some of the greatest civilizations in history. Roundtables and debates provide quality reflections between past, present and future.

The thirteenth edition of the Rencontres Internationales Monaco et la Méditerranée (International Meetings Monaco and the Mediterranean) took place on the 5th and the 6th March 2026 to develop the theme "Avec Ulysses par tous les Temps" (With Ulysses in every age), with the aim to pay tribute to one of the greatest poetic and anthropological influencer of the Mediterranean culture.

But Homer's Odyssey  (composed in Ancient Greece between late 8th or early 7th century BC), already contains many elements related to Mediterranean ecosystems and biodiversity. Between real and fantastic places, Ulysses' epic journey must face the forces of Nature often driven by the wrath or benevolence of Greek Gods.

Detailed references to weather, geology, plants, birds, and animal have been considered by some researchers as vanguards of a holistic and ecocentric view that sees human beings closely connected to other living beings, as reaffirmed by William Cronon (North American environmental historian), who pointed out, regarding the Homeric poem: “relationships, processes, and systems are as ecological as they are cultural”.

Photo >> The Sovereign Prince welcomed by Elisabeth Bréaud, President and Director of the RIMM (Oceanographic Museum, 5th March 2026) © Manuel Vitali, Direction de la Communication

The RIMM-2026 storytelling highlighted the many facets of Ulysses, in his roles of traveler, sailor, strategist, and survivor, focused on a single goal: return home, Ithaca, metaphor of roots, heritage and legacy.

The adventure of travel, the courage to face dangers, the encounter of different cultures, the reliance on sea routes resulting from the clever knowledge developed by the ancestors, goes beyond myth and imagination to bring us back to the social, climate and political instability that afflicts the contemporary age.

Not surprisingly, the figure of Ulysses has survived over the centuries, influencing literature, poetry, painting, philosophy, art, history, cinema, photography, maritime archaeology and contemporary thought.

This year's edition of the International Meetings Monaco and the Mediterranean developed through three main round tables: 1. the first stage focused on the great influence that Ulysses had in Antiquity, delving into the multifaceted nature of this epic hero; 2. the second stage highlighted how the myth of Ulysses was passed down through the centuries without ever betraying his real nature, between human and divine elements; 3. the third stage pointed out the progressive transition, through cinema and photography, from the archetypal hero to a modern man facing the uncertainty of the contemporary era.

Elisabeth Bréaud, President and Director of the RIMM, expressed her great satisfaction with the event which were particularly inspiring both for the speakers and the audience which has shown great interest in the different points of view showcased by various experts. She also highlighted the strong bond between the world of Ulysses, fighting against Nature, Humans and mythical Giants, and the contemporary time characterised by a particularly complex geopolitical situation. He proved ready to resist, that is, one could talk about resilience in modern terms. ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.