Topic #5
Ancient Greeks practiced their religion very seriously and ultimately being accepted by a Greek god or goddess was crucial to a Greek mortals life. In Homer’s The Odyssey, the different relationships between Poseidon and Odysseus, Odysseus and Athena and Telemachus and Athena affect whether or not Odysseus’ will fulfill his nostos – his homecoming. When in trouble or doubt, one prays to a higher being. In Ancient Greece, when mortals were in need of answers, clarification or guidance they would pray to the appropriate Greek god or goddess. Mortals, aware of the god’s power feared them and so they often held competitions, festivals and scarification ceremonies in honour of a particular god or goddess. If a god allowed their emotions
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The men decided that the only way to escape was to blind the one-eyed monster. When they fled for their ship Odysseus could no longer withhold his identity and yelled his name to the blinded kyklops. The topic of a father and son relationship is present in Book nine. Polyphemos prayed to his father, Poseidon, that Odysseus never reaches home and if Poseidon could not grant this, he then wishes for Odysseus to “lose all companions, and return under strange sail to bitter days at home” (Fitzgerald 161). Odysseus made an impulsive and foolish decision when revealing his identity. The rest of his journey home would now be extremely difficult as Poseidon is god of the sea and he was travelling by ship. Poseidon was aware that it is forbidden for him to kill Odysseus but he would make sure that Odysseus’ trip home would not be …show more content…
Although he was mortal, Odysseus was as close to being a god as possible. Like Athena, Odysseus was intelligent, courageous, victorious and most importantly of all wise. They were also both warriors, remarkable leaders and great storytellers. Athena was determined to protect and guide Odysseus on his journey. All of her actions helped bring Odysseus closer to his nostos. One may describe Odysseus using the word mêtis, he was a very skillful, cunning man and knew exactly what to say to please his audience and ensure his safety. From the beginning of the epic, Athena had been looking out for Odysseus. In Book one, she begged her father Zeus to make Calypso set Odysseus from her island so he could return home. If it were not for Athena, Odysseus would still be captured on Calypso’s island. In Book five, Poseidon caused Odysseus to be shipwrecked but Athena came to his aid calming the storm so Odysseus could swim to shore. Whenever Odysseus was in a threatening situation Athena came to his rescue. He was extremely fortunate to have such a strong relationship with this powerful
Odysseus is a very intelligent and cunning person; these are some of the main reasons why Odysseus is not only a great person but also an outstanding king. Odysseus is also constantly compared to a god because only a god is supposed to be as cunning as he is. In Book 13: Ithaca at Last; shows an instance of what I am talking about:
When Odysseus reveals himself to his son, Telemachus in book sixteen, the reaction of both characters is extremely humane. This monumental acquaintance is a time of sentiment and emotion for both characters; the foundation a relationship of a father and a son. Both characters really get down on their knees for each other and despite his hubris with the rest of the community, Odysseus breaks down at the sight of his son, “throwing/his arms around this marvel of a father/Telemachus began to weep./ salt tears/rose from the wells of longing in both men,/and cries burst from both” (16, 253-257). Until this monumental point, the reader never sees this side of Odyssues, this emotional and truly down-to-earth side, which is compelled by the bonding of his son, the immediate depth one feels for the other. Being only acquainted to his father by distance, and, quite merely, hearsay, Telemachus feels connected to his dad, but now through his own eyes, he ...
Odysseus arrives on the shore of Phaecia, in Book VI of the Odyssey. His most helpful and favorable goddess has sent Nausicaa a dream compelling her to wash clothes in preparation for an upcoming marriage. Athena makes Nausicaa brave and Odysseus handsome bringing them together in order to assist Odysseus to the house of the king. Athena said ? How so remiss, and yet thy mothers daughter? Leaving thy clothes uncared for, Nausikaa, when thou must have store a marriage linen, and put thy minstresly in wedding dress? (Book 6). In this book is an example of the gods assisting Odysseus, which compels me to question how great Odysseus really was? A god can make even a coward a hero (not saying Odysseus was a coward). Almost everything is done to help Odysseus and so he is fortunate to have the support of the gods especially in this book.
The great epic, Homer's Odyssey, is a tale of an adventure; a journey through the mind body and soul. Odysseus was strong throughout his voyage and was able to conquer his obstacles thanks to the help from the Goddess Athena. Athena provided physical and emotional support for this man, to get him on his way home to Ithaka. She also provided this same support for Odysseus' son, Telemakhos. Without her involvement, "The Odyssey" would not have turned out the way it did; because she plays such a crucial role in the story. It is understood that Odysseus is the primary character in this epic; concerning his fears and eventually returning to his home, Ithaka. The only reason this was possible is because he had the help of the clever and intelligent Goddess, Athena.
Odysseus’s clever and cunning skills allow him to make it back to Ithaka after a demanding expedition. He creates well thought-out plans to destroy obstacles in his path. When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the dwelling of Polyphemos, the Kyklops, he devises a plan to escape, knowing full well that utilizing his brains over the giant’s brawn will be the only way to make it out alive. Here Odysseus not only shows he is clever but also displays selflessness by put his men before himself. After returning home, Odysseus still have one more challenge to conquer: the suitors. With his son, Telemakhos, Odysseus is able to kill the suitors despite the uneven numbers. This is due to his carefully strategy that required sharp wits and enormous patience. Odysseus also proves he is not easily fooled by not immediately revealing his true identity to strangers. He knows that it is wise to keep his identity a secret. The beggar Odysseus is a great example of this deception. Odysseus returns to Ithaka a beggar so that the...
During Odysseus’ encounter with the cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus exhibits arête through cleverness and true leadership as he and his men escape from the one-eyed monster. Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, finds Odysseus, who claims his name is “Noman,” and his men in his cave dining on the monster’s cheese and milk. This angers Polyphemus, and he soon devours two of Odysseus’ crew members. Then, rather than using brute force and killing the cyclops on the spot, he acts with cleverness and leadership. Odysseus offers him wine and intoxicates him, to the point where he falls asleep. Then, they sharpen and sear Polyphemus’ staff, and Odysseus describes to King Alcinous of Phaeacia, “...my men gathered round me, for heaven had filled their hearts with courage. We drove the sharp end of ...
She knows that it will make him stronger. There is an old saying, which goes along with this situation, ‘what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger’” (Lower). Athena is widely alluded to as a guardian angel in this epic, because she is constantly watching over Odysseus and Telemachus. At the climax of the epic, Athena assists Odysseus one last time.
Athena aided Ody in his journey home by providing guidance and advice on difficult obstacles. She gives Odysseus a lot of advice on how to handle perilous obstacles. For example, Athena tells Odysseus to go home in a disguise. This is the reason that she transforms Odysseus back into a poor, shriveled beggar from a godlike man. The new disguise allows Odysseus to get home
The relationship between Odysseus and Telemakhos is a blind love. That is because they never really got to know each other because Odysseus has been gone for most of Telemakhos’ life. One example of this blind love is when Odysseus hears about how the suitors are mistreating and stealing from Telemakhos. Odysseus gets so irate that he was then even more determined than ever, to return to his family. Telemakhos also exhibits the same kind of blind love towards his father. Even though people have told him that his father was dead, he never believed it. He felt that his father was alive and was willing to sacrifice his life to prove it. Telemakhos was inexperienced at directing a boat, but he was willing to try because he felt something inside of him that gave him the strength to go on. Thus, this relationship between Odysseus and Telemakhos gave both of them the courage to overcome the hardships ahead of them.
And as he was struggling to get out of the water “She stayed the paths of the other winds, and bade them all cease and be lulled to rest” there Odysseus was able to survive because of Athena’s powers. This shows he is not prone to human weakness. This also clearly shows he is not to short to be a modern hero, because he requires the help of a goddess daughter of Zeus “she roused the swift North Wind, and broke the waves before him, to the end that Zeus-born” showing his weakness as he gets help from one of the most powerful one time after another. This in seen all throughout the story even at the beginning of the story thanks to Athena’s power over her dad she was able to make a plan and for
In every journey the hero also has a mentor. In this story Athena, the gray-eyed goddess of wisdom, has taken on this role for both Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena was by Odysseus’ side as a guide for much of the beginning of his Journey. Athena also is a guide to Odysseus when he’s not even aware o...
...o all guests saved Odysseus and helped him return home to his wife, son, and kingdom. Even though people from many different kingdoms and islands took Odysseus in their home and showed him great kindness on his return home, the individual who helped him most was the goddess Athena. In many occasions Athena assisted Odysseus. One such example is when Odysseus was fighting of the suitors and they threw spears at him. "Re-forming, the suitors threw again with all their strength, but Athena turned their shots, or all but two (p 566)." Another instance which Athena aided Odysseus was when she disguised him as a beggar on his arrival to his homeland. "Would even you have guessed that I am Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, I that am always with you in times of trial, a shield to you in battle (p 444)." "Your goddess-guardian to the end in all your trials (p 539)."
Early on in both of their stories, Odysseus and Telemachus learn to practice strong will in initiating their own journeys. Even though Telemachus reaches the cusp of his childhood, the individuals around him plague him into believing he remains a boy. In the Odyssey, gods are considered to control vast things such as fate or choose to intrude in the lives of mortals. One of these goddesses, Athena, desires to aid both Odysseus and Telemachus in their journeys. In disguise, she gives Telemachus inspiration to initiate the steps to adulthood by saying, “you’ll never be fainthearted or a fool, /Telemachus, if you have your father’s spirit; /he finished what he cared to say,” (Homer 27). With this he commences the hardship of finding his father by immediately calling an assembly and defying the men around him who thought him incapable. Meanwhile, Odysseus has already faced trials testing his determination. He evades the many temptations of immortals su...
In Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, gods play a very important role to the plot of the story. They are the one deciding if someone can survive or not according to the sacrifice that the person made for them. In the book 1, Athena said to Zeus her father, “Didn’t Odysseus please you with sacrifices beside the Greek ships at Troy?” (Homer 65, book1). In this part Athena was trying to plead with her father Zeus in favor of Odysseus because she wants to help him to go home, while others are trying to provoke his death. This love that Athena has for Odysseus and his family is revealed throughout Homer’s epic. Although Athena supported Odysseus throughout his voyage, other gods including Poseidon, Calypso, and Circe made it difficult for Odysseus to return home, such in our real life, some people will make your life hard, but you have a good faith as Odysseus, you should always find your way out. Our God is omnipr...
Religion was deeply intertwined with the culture of the ancient Greeks. In their stories, they prayed to the gods to satisfy their needs and offer assistance in their endeavors, and the gods would occasionally appear to select Greeks to give counsel, gifts, or other forms of aid. Alternatively, if the desires or endeavors of a mortal or mortals displeased one or more of the gods, they would also interfere with the fulfillment of their goals. In Homer’s Odyssey, the gods appear to or interfere with both Telemachus and Odysseus, either to help or hinder them in their journeys. Although the gods are responsible for the difficulty Odysseus faces returning from Troy, they are equally responsible for motivating and assisting Odysseus and Telemachus in their respective travels.