Epic Heroes Odysseus’s tale has been told several times, and most depict him as an epic hero. In fact, he shows several qualities one finds in classic Greek heroes, such as Achilles, Hercules, and Theseus. Like most epic heroes, Odysseus has been mostly harmed by the gods. From Poseidon avenging his blinded son and wiping his men with a wave, to Zeus striking down his ship, Odysseus did not have the gods on his side during his journey home. Athena, however, aided him when he arrived to his homeland. Although she did not help during his travels, Athena assisted Odysseus in his battle against the suitors in his kingdom. She was one of the only goddesses on his side. Odysseus also possesses the personal qualities of an epic hero. He is confident
