Is Odysseus the ideal Greek hero?
hero. makes him an ideal Greek hero. Firstly, Odysseus is an ideal hero in both the physical and the spiritual sense. In the physical sense he is a great hero, because he overcomes all these extreme dangers; he comes out alive after wondering for ten years and facing the most extremely dangerous creatures and people. Click to see full answer.
What are five reasons why Odysseus is not a hero?
Why is Odysseus not a good hero? Even if Odysseus fought in the Trojan War, he is not a hero because he is self-centered and ignorant to other people’s values and needs. Odysseus also lacks the part of the hero profile which includes having a good heart. Odysseus definitely does not have this because he kills people without giving them a chance. Is Odysseus a hero and why? – Related Questions
What makes Odysseus an epic hero?
- is the King of Ithaca , He bravely fought in the Trojan War and is credited for
- giving the gift of the Trojan Horse which made Rome win the War. ...
- But with all those qualities comes with one flaw and that his is pride
- Odysseus when he blinds the Cyclops he can’t resist but to tell the Cyclops
- help praying for Odysseus to be killed. ...
Was Odysseus a Greek or a Trojan?
Odysseus is a Greek hero who fought in the Trojan War. The Trojan War was a war between the Greeks and Trojans. The war started because of the queen of Sparta being abducted. Thus the Greeks set out to retrieve the queen of Sparta. Odysseus was one of the prominent leaders in this war. His story was told throughout the Odyssey.
What is Odysseus the god of?
In Greek mythology, Odysseus is the great-grandson of Hermes, one of the twelve Olympian Gods. He is the son of Laertes, the king of Ithaca, and Anticlea and the husband of Penelope and father of a child named Telemachus....Final Years.Odysseus - The Trickster HeroRoman nameUlysses6 more rows•Feb 10, 2017
Was Odysseus a Greek god?
Odysseus :: The Trickster Hero Odysseus was a legendary hero in Greek mythology, king of the island of Ithaca and the main protagonist of Homer's epic, the “Odyssey.” The son of Laertes and Anticlea, Odysseus was well known among the Greeks as a most eloquent speaker, an ingenious and cunning trickster.
What is Odysseus most famous for?
Odysseus is probably best known as the eponymous hero of the Odyssey. This epic describes his travails, which lasted for 10 years, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War and reassert his place as rightful king of Ithaca.
Is Odysseus a god or king?
According to Homer, Odysseus was king of Ithaca, son of Laertes and Anticleia (the daughter of Autolycus of Parnassus), and father, by his wife, Penelope, of Telemachus.
What are 3 facts about Odysseus?
Odysseus was the son of Anticlea and Laertes. He was the father of Telemachus, and the husband of Penelope. He was also the great grandson of Hermes, the Olympian god. Odysseus' character was known for his cunning, versatility, and brilliant mind, along with his pride.
How was Odysseus killed?
For in a tragic final twist, an aged Odysseus was killed by Telegonos, his son by Circe, when he landed on Ithaca and in battle, unknowingly killed his own father.
Why was Zeus mad at Odysseus?
The Wrath of Zeus in The Odyssey Zeus was made to be the punisher, as Odysseus' men faced retribution for their sins. Despite Zeus' almighty power to command various gods, he took it upon himself to personally send out a thunderbolt to Odysseus' men, ensuring their deaths and Odysseus' safety.
What are Odysseus powers?
Odysseus (Trojan War, King of Ithaca) Powers/Abilities: Odysseus possessed the normal human strength of a man of his size, height and build who engaged in extensive regular exercise, but he was also an exceptionally crafty and wily ruler; he could use his wits to escape or survive virtually any obstacle.
Is The Odyssey a true story?
Homer's "Odyssey" recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his journey home from the Trojan War. Though some parts may be based on real events, the encounters with monsters, giants and magicians are considered to be complete fiction.
What does the name Odysseus mean?
son of painIn the Odyssey, Book XIX (405-411) we learn that Odysseus' name means 'son of pain' and his father named him that because his grandfather suggested it.
Was Odysseus a real person?
Did Odysseus exist in real life? No evidence exists to prove that he did (or did not) exist, but most of the tales told about him by Homer are clearly fiction. Still, Odysseus's mighty deeds and all-too-human weaknesses have made him a favorite with scholars and storytellers down through the years.
What was Odysseus weakness?
His final weakness was ambition and even though he had ambition as a strength he also has it as a weakness because he will do anything to succeed, even though it means that he has to sacrifice some of his men and a ship. In one of the conflicts in the odyssey was Helio's and his cattle.
Why did Odysseus swerve?
When Odysseus swerved to avoid hitting his son, it became clear he was faking. Odysseus was then drawn into the Trojan War. Odysseus fought in the Trojan War with Achilles. While Odysseus admired Achilles’ skills as a gallant warrior, the two men did now like each other.
What is Odysseus known for?
Known for his leadership skills, wit, and intelligence, Odysseus is most famous for his ten-year journey had after the Trojan War. It’s during this time he was involved in a series of adventures and faced many obstacles as he struggled to return home to his wife and son. Odysseus’ journey is told in the story “The Odyssey,” a classic story written ...
What was Odysseus's intelligence?
It was his intelligence that attracted the attention of Athena, a goddess who would become Odysseus’ protector during the Trojan War and later during his attempts to return home.
Why does Odysseus visit the palace?
Once disguised as a beggar, Odysseus visits the palace to see what has been going on since he’s been gone and to determine how to best rid his wife of those unwanted suitors. However, Odysseus’ former childhood nurse, Eurycleia, recognizes him by the scar on his thigh from where he was attacked by a boar was a child.
Why did Odysseus take the wooden horse into the city?
However, it was a trick. The large wooden horse was taken into the city as a victory trophy for having “defeated” the Greeks. Once the gates to the city were opened to allow the grand gift inside, Odysseus and the other warriors came out from the inside of the wooden horse.
What is the last year of Odysseus' life?
Final Years. There are two different accounts of the final years of Odysseus’ remaining years of life. According to one account of the rest of the Greek hero’s life, Odysseus lived quietly and happily with his wife for many years after returning home, surviving until a ripe old age and died peacefully.
What happened to Odysseus' ship?
However, his men were hungry and ate some of the animals. An angry Helios caused Odysseus’ ship to capsize. All of Odysseus’ men perished, leaving him as the only survivor. After drifting at sea for several days, Odysseus washed up on the shores of an island called Ogygia. It was here that he met the nymph Calypso.
How does Odysseus prove his identity?
Recognized at first only by his faithful dog and a nurse, Odysseus proves his identity—with the aid of Athena —by accomplishing Penelope’s test of stringing and shooting with his old bow. He then, with the help of Telemachus and two slaves, slays Penelope’s suitors.
What did Aristotle write about?
Aristotle wrote about linguistic, …. Greek literature: Epic narrative. Odysseus too represents a Greek ideal. Though by no means inadequate in battle, he works mainly by craft and guile; and it is by mental superiority that he survives and prevails.….
What is Odysseus's talent?
In the Odyssey Odysseus has many opportunities to display his talent for ruses and deceptions, but at the same time his courage, loyalty, and magnanimity are constantly attested. Classical Greek writers presented him sometimes as an unscrupulous politician, sometimes as a wise and honourable statesman.
What is classical scholarship?
…highly the Iliad and the Odyssey, which from his time were regarded (together with the mock-epic Margites) as the genuine works of an individual Homer. He took a similar view of tragedy, which he believed effected a purification ( katharsis) of the emotions upon which it played.
How many books are there in the Odyssey?
Odysseus’s wanderings and the recovery of his house and kingdom are the central theme of the Odyssey, an epic in 24 books that also relates how he accomplished the capture of Troy by means of the wooden horse. Books VI–XIII describe his wanderings between Troy and Ithaca: he first comes to the land of the Lotus-Eaters and only with difficulty ...
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Where does Odysseus leave Calypso?
See all videos for this article. After almost nine years, Odysseus finally leaves Calypso and at last arrives in Ithaca, where his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, have been struggling to maintain their authority during his prolonged absence.
What happened to Odysseus after he married Penelope?
After marrying Penelope, Odysseus took her to Ithaca where the couple lived a happy life , made even happier after the birth of their only son, Telemachus. However, while the boy was still a baby, Helen was abducted by Prince Paris of Troy. Calling upon the oath sworn by Helen ’s suitors, Menelaus summoned all of them to help him in his quest to bring her back. Ironically – since he had been the one to propose the oath in the first place – Odysseus did not want to join the expedition; and he had a good reason for it: the seer Halitherses had informed him that if he participated, it would take him a long time to return home. So, he decided to feign madness by harnessing a donkey and an ox to a plow and sowing salt on a field. Palamedes – who was the man sent to recruit Odysseus from Ithaca – did not believe the hero one bit; in order to test his sanity, he put Telemachus in front of the plow. Odysseus immediately changed course, thus exposing his plan. Odysseus never forgave Palamedes for this and spend many an hour planning his revenge.
How did Palamedes feign madness?
So, he decided to feign madness by harnessing a donkey and an ox to a plow and sowing salt on a field. Palamedes – who was the man sent to recruit Odysseus from Ithaca – did not believe the hero one bit; in order to test his sanity, he put Telemachus in front of the plow.
How long did Odysseus stay in Ithaca?
After numerous memorable adventures – Circe, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, the Laestrygonians, Calypso – Odysseus finally managed to reach Ithaca, ten years after leaving Troy and twenty after joining the Trojan expedition. There, he reunited with Telemachus and Penelope and, after killing all of his wife’s Suitors, reclaimed his throne.
What is Odysseus's name?
Odysseus seems to have spent some of the most defining moments of his childhood with Autolycus, who, in addition to passing on to him his craft, may have even given Odysseus his famous name. “Inasmuch as I am come hither as one that has been angered with many” – supposedly said Autolycus upon being asked to be the godfather, “therefore let the name by which the child is named be Odysseus .” By this etymology, Odysseus comes from odussesthai, “to be wrought against, to be at odds with someone, to hate.”
Why was Odysseus so cruel?
Odysseus was sometimes unreasonably cruel towards his enemies, which is why, as much as he was adored by the Greeks, he was reviled by the Romans (who knew him as Ulysses and considered themselves Trojan descendants). Certainly, Odysseus ’ most vicious act happened just after Troy had fallen: fearing some kind of future retribution, he urged for the death of Astyanax, Hector ’s little boy. Some even say that it was Odysseus himself who killed Astyanax, possibly throwing the infant from Troy ’s walls.
How many men did Odysseus eat?
Enticed by some resources, Odysseus and twelve of his men end up entrapped in the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus, who, after blocking the entrance of the cave with a giant boulder, starts eating them, two by two. The monster manages to devour six of Odysseus ’ men before the hero devises a life-saving trick.
Why did Odysseus leave the battlefield?
Odysseus was also the leader of the three-man expedition sent to appease Achilles who, enraged at what he had perceived as unfair treatment from Agamemnon, decided to leave the battlefield. However, this doesn’t mean that Odysseus didn’t prove his worth as a warrior as well.
Why did Odysseus fight for 10 years?
Odysseus fought for ten years in the Trojan War before coming up with the idea of the wooden horse —just one example of why "wily" or "crafty" is attached to his name. He incurred the wrath of Poseidon for blinding Poseidon's Cyclops son Polyphemus.
Why did Odysseus fight?
Fast Facts: Odysseus. Odysseus fought for ten years in the Trojan War before coming up with the idea of the wooden horse —just one example of why "wily" or "crafty" is attached to his name. He incurred the wrath of Poseidon for blinding Poseidon's Cyclops son Polyphemus.
What is the story of Odysseus' return home?
The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' return home at the end of the Trojan War. Other works in the epic cycle provide further details, including his death at the hands of his and Circe's son Telegonus.
Who is Odysseus in the Odyssey?
Updated October 31, 2018. Odysseus, a Greek hero, is the leading figure in the epic poem the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. He is the king of Ithaca, normally said to be the son of Laertes and Anticlea, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' return home at the end of the Trojan War.
Why did Athena disguise Odysseus as a beggar?
It was late and Athena disguised him as a beggar so he could find out what happened while he was gone. Penelope had told all of Ithaca that she would marry anyone able to string her husband’s bow. She knew that Odysseus was the only one able to do this. Suitors tried but they were unsuccessful.
How did Odysseus defeat Cyclops?
But Odysseus was smart and found a way to defeat the Cyclops by blinding him. The ships eventually reached the island of Aeolus, the god of the winds. Aelos gave Odysseus all of the winds except for the west wind in a bag. This allowed the west wind to blow exclusively, steering the ships to Ithaca.
What was Odysseus' contribution to the Trojan War?
But the most famous contribution Odysseus made to the Trojan War was the Trojan Horse. The Greeks tricked the Trojans into thinking they were retreating. They presented them with a large wooden horse as a gift. The Trojans accepted and celebrated their victory.
How long did it take Odysseus to get home?
Odysseus’ Journey. After the war, Odysseus was eager to return home. But his journey would take him ten years and through many obstacles. In one story, storms caused Odysseus’ ships to go off course, landing on the island of the Cyclops. The Cyclops began eating the crew members.
Why did Odysseus not want to partake in the quest to rescue Helen?
All the men who had drawn straws to win Helen were called back to help in the quest to rescue her. Odysseus did not want to partake because of a premonition he had been told, telling him that it would take him on a long journey, keeping him from his family. To avoid helping rescue Helen, he decided to feign madness.
Why can't Odysseus move his bed?
But this was a trick as well. Odysseus answered correctly, telling her that he couldn’t move the bed because one leg was a living olive tree.
Why was Odysseus important to Achilles?
He served as an advisor and solved several predicaments. He prevented Agamemnon from retreating. He helped Achilles ’ manage the death of Patroclus. But when it came to Palamedes, he might have played a role in his death because of the grudge he held against him.
Before the Trojan War
When Helen was abducted, Menelaus called upon the other suitors to honor their oaths and help him to retrieve her, thus forging the Trojan War. Odysseus tried to avoid it by feigning lunacy, as an oracle had prophesied a long-delayed return home for him if he went.
During the Trojan War
Odysseus was one of the main Akhaean leaders in the Trojan War. The others were "godlike" Achilles, Agamemnon "lord of men", Menelaus, Idomeneus, Nestor, Telamonian Ajax and Ajax the Lesser, Diomedes and Teucer the master archer.
The Iliad
Odysseus was one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. Along with Nestor and Idomeneus he was one of the most trusted counsellors and advisers. He always championed the Achaean cause, especially when the king was in question, as in one instance when Thersites spoke against him.
Other stories
When the Achaean ships reached the beach of Troy, no one would jump ashore, since there was an oracle that the first Achaean to jump on Trojan soil would die. Odysseus tossed his shield on the shore and jumped on his shield. He was followed by Protesilaus, who jumped on Trojan soil and later became the first to die.
The Odyssey
After Odysseus left Troy he came first to Ismarus, the land of the Cicones. His crew sacked the town, and divided up the booty fairly. Odysseus then (according to his account given to Alcinous) gave orders to leave, but his men were anxious to stay and feast.
Why did Odysseus offer his services to the King?
But Odysseus offered his services to the king as an advisor and gave the king perfect solution. On the hero's advice, the king made all the suitors swore an oath to respect and protect the union of whoever the princess would choose.
Why did Odysseus go to Sparta?
Anyway, as a young prince, Odysseus travelled to Sparta as one of the suitors for the most beautiful princess Helen. There were so many suitors that Tyndareu s, princess' stepfather and a king of Sparta, feared that war might erupt over the hand of Helen.
How did Odysseus trick the Cyclops?
However, they were already out as they tricked the Cyclops by tying themselves to the undersides of the sheep. While boarding back to their ship, Odysseus started yelling at the cave and provoked Polyphemus to come outside. He revealed his true identity to the Cyclops, in order to remember the man who outsmarted him.
Why did Odysseus avoid participation in the war?
However, Odysseus tried to avoid participation because he was prophesied that he would not return home for twenty years, if he was to join the war. Therefore, he pretended to had gone insane by sowing his fields with salt instead of seeds, using goats and oxen for plough.
What happened to Odysseus and his men?
During the night, when most of the Trojans were wasted, Odysseus and his men sneaked out of the horse, killed the guards and gave a signal to the rest of the Greek army.
How many ships did Odysseus take?
After the fall of Troy, Odysseus set sail back to Ithaca, not expecting it would take another ten years to reach his destination. He took in total of twelve ships on his journey in which he lost all of them and all his men along with it.
What is the epic about Odysseus?
As you guessed right, this epic is called the Odyssey and it tells about the hero's ten year journey back to his kingdom Ithaca, where his wife Penelope hadn't seen her husband for ten years because of the war and was about to live in agony for another ten years. Odysseus was a son of Laertes, a king of Ithaca, and Anticlea.
Why did Odysseus stay away from home?
A prophecy stated Odysseus would stay away from home for a very long time if he joined the Greek army and attacked Troy. Odysseus loved his wife and newborn son. He did not want to leave, so he pretended to be crazy when the Greek army came to call. He yoked a donkey and an ox together and plowed the seashore. One of the Greeks placed Telemachus in the path of Odysseus, who swerved to miss the baby, revealing the farce. Odysseus left Ithaca and his family to fight at Troy.
Why did Odysseus build the Trojan Horse?
Odysseus had the Greek army build what came to be known as the Trojan Horse, a giant hollow wooden horse to give the Trojans as an offering of peace. Inside the body of the horse, some of the best Greek warriors hid. Trojan Horse.
Why did Hermes give Odysseus a herb?
Odysseus set out to save his companions and was met on the way by the god Hermes. Hermes gave Odysseus an herb to counteract the effects of Circe's drug. Odysseus overpowered Circe, and she agreed to restore his men to human form. Odysseus and his crew remained with Circe for a year before resuming their journey.
Why did Odysseus leave Ithaca?
Odysseus left Ithaca and his family to fight at Troy. The war with Troy lasted for ten years. Following the death of the Greek champion Achilles, Odysseus devised a plan to enter the city and end the conflict. Here is where the cunning of Odysseus shone through.
What is Cailin's MA?
Cailin received her MA in English specializing in Cultural Studies from Kansas State University. She has two years of teaching and tutoring experience at the university level. Odysseus is most famous for his wandering adventures after the events of the Trojan War.
What is the story of Odysseus?
The story of Odysseus begins in Homer's epic poem The Iliad, but his second poem, The Odys sey, relates the tale of Odysseus wandering the seas for ten years as he struggled to return from the Trojan War. Odysseus ruled Ithaca, an island kingdom. Penelope, Odysseus's wife, had borne him a son, Telemachus, just before the events ...
Where did Odysseus land?
Odysseus and his one remaining ship landed on the island inhabited by the Circe, a witch. Most of Odysseus's crew explored the island and came across the palace of Circe. She invited them in for food and drink. The crew noticed many wild animals roaming peacefully around the palace grounds. The food served by Circe was drugged, and she turned the crew into swine. One of the crew members had remained outside of the palace and, seeing the fate of his companions, ran to tell Odysseus.
Childhood and Early Life
Early Adult Years
- Before he married Penelope, Odysseus tried to attract the attention of Helen of Troy, making him one of her many suitors. It was when he was trying to attract the attention of Helen of Troy, who wasn’t interested enough to choose him, that he met her cousin, a woman named Penelope. She would prove to be just as clever and intelligent as he was known to be, a fact that made the two …
During The Trojan War
- Helen’s husband, Menelaus, invoked the Oath of Tyndareus when his wife was abducted by Paris, who had been one of the suitors who lost out to him. Not wanting to leave his wife and young son, Odysseus pretended to be insane and unfit to help Menelaus. However, when Palamedes of Euboia came to get Odysseus, he was suspicious and doubted that Odysseus was truly insane. …
Journey Back Home
- The Gods were reportedly angry over the fact that the Greeks used trickery and deceit to win the war rather than win in a “fair” fight. Because of this, they vowed to make it difficult for Odysseus and his men to return home. It was the goddess Athena who intervened to help Odysseus get back home. During his journey home, Odysseus faced many obstacles. While on the island of Ki…
Return Home
- After being away from home for a decade, Odysseus was little more than a distant memory for many people there, especially since he was involved with the Battle of. Yet his wife had remained faithful. Many on Ithaca assumed Odysseus had died either during the war or at sea when attempted to return home. Penelope used her wit to keep the potential suitors away. The suitors …
Final Years
- There are two different accounts of the final years of Odysseus’ remaining years of life. According to one account of the rest of the Greek hero’s life, Odysseus lived quietly and happily with his wife for many years after returning home, surviving until a ripe old age and died peacefully. There is another story of Odysseus’ final years that has a tragic twist. In a battle that took place on the isl…
Link/Cite This Page
- If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. Link will appear as Odysseus: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net- Greek Gods & Goddesses, February 10, 2017
Odysseus Before The Trojan War
- Odysseus’ Family
Odysseus was – almost certainly – the only son of Laertes of Ithaca, a former Argonaut, and Anticlea, the only daughter of Autolycus. Now, this Autolycus, Odysseus’ grandfather, was a son of Hermes and was widely renowned as so skillful a thief that he could not be caught, being “able t… - Odysseus’ Name
Odysseus seems to have spent some of the most defining moments of his childhood with Autolycus, who, in addition to passing on to him his craft, may have even given Odysseus his famous name. “Inasmuch as I am come hither as one that has been angered with many” – supp…
Odysseus During The Trojan War
- It would be an understatement to say that the successful recruitment of Odysseus was a crucial event, one that would eventually decide the outcome of the Trojan Warperhaps more than any other: without Odysseus, the Greeks may have never sacked Troy.
The Odyssey: Returning Home to Ithaca
- After the Trojan War, Odysseus embarked on a ten-year journey to reach his home, Ithaca; his adventures are recounted – mostly in flashbacks – in Homer’s monumental epic “Odyssey.” Chronologically, this is the order in which they happen.
Odysseus Back in Ithaca
- Odysseus reaches Ithaca late at night, sound asleep. Not wanting to bother his sleep, the Phaeacian sailors lay him down on the shore and leave. Odysseus wakes up confused, but Athenaappears to him and, after revealing to him what had happened, disguises him as an elderly beggar – both for his safety and so that he can learn better what had happened during his absen…
The Death of Odysseus
- Not many things are known about Odysseus’ later years; or, to be more precise, too many contradictory stories are told by different authors. The more romantic state that he and Penelope lived happily ever after; the more skeptic that, after finding a proof of her infidelity, Odysseus either left or even killed Penelope and went on another journey to the kingdom of Thesprotia, wh…
Odysseus Sources
- Though he appears as an important character in quite a few tragedies (such as, Euripides’ “Hecuba” and “The Trojan Women” or Sophocles’ “Ajax” and “Philoctetes”), the main sources on Odysseus’ life and deeds are, unsurprisingly, Homer’s two epics: the “Iliad,” which covers his partaking in the Trojan War, and, especially, the “Odyssey,” which focuses on his journey back ho…