Odysseus: War Hero and Women's Role Influencer

In Greek mythology, most heroes were only known for their bravery and the majority were men. Although Odysseus was a great warrior and conducted many great acts of heroism, he also influenced women's role in society.

Odysseus is a natural born leader. He is the son of the successor of Ithaca, King Laertes and of Anticleia, daughter of Autolycus. Odysseus would eventually be the leader of the Greek forces during the Trojan War, which lasted ten years. Although Odysseus is best known for being "the central figure of the Odyssey, which tells of his adventures after the fall of Troy, he is also known for his stunning strategy and wise counsel" ("Odysseus"). During the Trojan War, Odysseus is the man who had the idea of making the Trojan horse,

Previous to the Trojan War, he and his wife Penelope lived in Ithaca, happy and free of worries. But when Odysseus found out that Paris had taken Helen captive in Troy, he decided to lead the Greek forces during the Trojan War. While he fought at Troy and struggled to fred his way home, an absence of twenty years, Penelope stayed home raising their son, Telemachus, weaving a shroud for her father-in-law and maintaining her chastity, even in the most trying circumstances. Penelope chose to maintain modesty despite having so many candidates for her pleasure on hand (Amendola). After Odysseus had been gone for so long, Penelope decides to make arrangements for a bow contest to determine which suitor will marry her, then she goes to bed and weeps for Odysseus (Reece). However Penelope knows that no one will be able to bend Odysseus' bow unless it is Odysseus himself, so Penelope remains hopeful that her husband will return. Penelope's decision to stay faithful to her husband was looked upon as unusual considering that Ithaca had no king and was in need of one. Penelope told the suitors that when she finished weaving the shroud for her father-in-law that she would marry one of them. However, every night Penelope would unweave what she had weaved during the day. Penelope was profoundly in love with Odysseus and through all the time she spent alone raising her son, she had loved no one else but Odysseus. Odysseus influenced Penelope in a positive way because while he was gone, she was able to develop an ample amount of mental strength and she was also able to maintain her faithfulness to him. In addition to Penelope, Odysseus also influenced Circe's and Calypso's role in society. In Greek mythology, the noble women has three gestures of hospitality. The first gesture is arranging a bed for the guest when he arrives. Before a grand feast she supervises a bath for him