The Role of Greek Gods in The Odyssey Essay

Zeus explains to Athena that Poseidon despises Odysseus because of the role Odysseus played in the plot to exterminate the eye of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The reason Poseidon is so infuriated by this is because Polyphemus is Poseidon’s son. Therefore, Poseidon maintains a hatred of Odysseus and “will not let him end his exile”(200) Homer indicates that although Odysseus encounters a great deal of misfortune in his journey, the major misfortune was the disapproval of Poseidon and Zeus. The…

were either demigods or mortals who served gods and goddesses and performed great deeds for humanity (LaBarge). Today’s heroes are characters who “display courage and self-sacrifice in face of adversity and act for the greater good” (Gerald). The ancient epics are long narrative poems that represent the adventures of great heroes, whereas we refer to movies and novels today that share the characteristics of the epic. A great example of an ancient Greek epic hero is Odysseus, whereas…

hand in hand for the Greeks. The relationship often, but not always, involved deception used to conceal a powerful truth in both gods and humans. Truth, in itself, was power. The gods and humans told lies that showcased their craftiness while the truth demonstrated something else entirely. Meanwhile, gods and humans could also deceive in attempts to gain power while hiding their own powerful truths. Thus, deception was a necessary evil and part of the culture of the Greeks. The role of deception…

hellish beasts that populate Roman, Greek, Latin, and other classical mythologies to illustrate the guardians of the afterlife that he is attempting to portray to the audience. Charon, the navigator of the River Styx, is called back to do an encore of the job he had done for Inais and bring yet another living soul into the world of the dead, though in this case it is the hellish Inferno of Dante’s Christianity dominated creation and not the Underworld of Greek and Roman lore. Further, each…

sent by gods to plague the town of Thebes as punishment for an ancient crime, eating the youths and devouring all who failed to solve her riddle. The regent of Thebes, King Creon, offered the throne to the one who would destroy her. Oedipus took the challenge, and when he solved the Sphinx 's riddle, she cast herself off the mountainside in despair. Oedipus was the person who made the Sphinx famous in Greek mythology by taking her challenge and solving the riddle. The Chimera is a Greek…

The story begins after Troy has been defeated and the Greeks have returned home. One of the most well known epic poems, The Odyssey, a mythological Grecian epic poem that has been verbally passed down for centuries, it was finally written down between 900 and 700 BC by the influential scholar Homer. It is literally the journey home from the Trojan War for Odysseus, ruler of Ithaca. Having left Troy with ships full of supplies and men, Odysseus mostly survives on his own, confronting various…

One of the key concepts in Homer's The Odyssey is the link between the Ancient Greek gods and mortal men. Furthermore, Ancient Greek gods are highly unique in The Odyssey because they serve as guides for the characters in the story. For example, Athena served as Odysseus and Telemakhos's helper throughout their journeys. In essence, Odysseus overcomes his knack for falling into temptations and Telemakhos learns to fight for his rights and maintain proper oykos in the household while Odysseus was…

Ancient Greeks believed in many gods, who lived at the top of Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. They believed that their gods, who were immortal, had the power to control everything, and that means their lives too. In general, the relations between people and gods were friendly most of the times, but the gods delivered some punishment to people who showed offensive behavior. All the Greek myths defined these gods’ lives and actions, and most of the stories are about how they interacted…

civilizations. The Greek and the Roman civilizations had some of the biggest impact on the development of the ancient world. What was different about these societies from other cultures within the ancient civilizations was their political and religious systems. As Rome conquered various Hellenistic cities, they captured the essence of Greek culture and melded it within theirs. Through influence of literature, architecture, and mindset, as well as expansion by principal leaders, the Greeks and…

The Odyssey by Homer is an intriguing and timeless piece of literature designed to connect with a wide range of audiences. Although at first glance it seems to be a male dominated epic, it’s filled with important women that play a vital role in how the story unfolds. The different kinds of female characters help us to understand where women fit in the progressive Greek culture of Homer. These representations of female power in The Odyssey can be shown by the women known as the wise strategists,…