Poseidon, Athena, And Hermes In Homer's Odyssey

896 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Roles of the gods in the Odyssey

The Roles of Poseidon, Athena, and Hermes in The Odyssey In ancient Greece, gods and goddesses were thought to be the cause of everything that took place. From causing storms out of anger to making mortals fall in love with each other, the gods always seemed to be the source of power for every little event that impacted a mortal’s life. In the The Odyssey, almost every action that takes place is because of inspiration from a god given to a mortal or the elements. Odysseus’ journey and other people’s lives and struggles are impacted a great deal by the gods. The actions of a god are either very harmful or very helpful. The roles of Poseidon, Athena, Hermes are very important concerning the events of The Odyssey. Poseidon has a very large impact …show more content…

Hermes’ help often comes in the form of warnings to inform Odysseus of upcoming dangers. When Odysseus is heading to Circe’s house, Hermes warns Odysseus that she has turned some of his men into pigs. He gives Odysseus a charm that will protect him from Circe’s drugs and power. Hermes also gives him a list of commands that he must do to convince Circe to transform his men back. Hermes explains to him that, “As soon as Circe gives you a tap with her long rod, draw your sword at once and rush upon her as if you meant to kill her” (Homer 127). Odysseus is also told that she will be afraid of him and she will request you to sleep with her, “Do not refuse, for you want her to free your companions and entertain you” (Homer 127). Odysseus does what Hermes instructs him to do, and he and his men are saved from Circe’s sorcery. Hermes also comes to free Odysseus from Calypso’s island. On Calypso’s island, Odysseus cries during the day and is forced to sleep with Calypso at night. He is held captive on Calypso’s island for seven years until Hermes shows up demanding that he be allowed to go. Although Hermes has a minor role in The Odyssey, his impact on Odysseus’ journey home is tremendous. Poseidon, Athena, and Hermes’ roles are of great significance in The Odyssey. The portrayal of gods and goddesses are crucial to the affairs of Odysseus’ adventure. Without the wisdom of Athena and Hermes, Odysseus would not have had the guidance he needed to return home. However, without the interference of Poseidon, Odysseus would not have gotten into the disarray of a journey he was in. All in all, The Odyssey is an ideal example of the harm and hand that gods and goddesses had on Greek culture, mythology, and

Show More
Related

  • Odysseus as Pawn of the Gods in Homer's Odyssey

    1658 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout literature characters have relied upon entities greater then themselves to furnish them with aid as they meet the many challenges they must face. The Odyssey is a tale of Odysseus’ epic journey and the many obstacles that bar his return home. But Odysseus is not alone in this struggle and receives aid from many gods, especially the clear-eyed goddess Athena. There are times when Odysseus beseeches the gods for aid, but other times he is too foolhardy to receive aid from even the immortal gods. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus’ journey revolves around the cyclical phases of his dependence, independence and his return to reliance upon the gods’ aid.

    Read More

  • herody Little Heroism in Homer's Odyssey

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus?  There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of the open sky." proclaims Zeus, the king of all gods in Homer's The Odyssey.  He, among countless others, harbors high regards for Odysseus, the mastermind of the Trojan War turned lost sailor.  However, the epic poem is sprinkled with the actions of gods and goddesses pushing Odysseus towards his path home to Ithaka, giving the mortal war hero little exposure to the limelight.  So when does all the high and mighty talk of Odysseus' power prove true?  Only in the absence of godly intervention can the title character live up to his name.  In Homer's The Odyssey, excessive reliance on the gods' assistance weakens the overall effect of Odysseus as the hero; while, as a break from the norm, Odysseus' single-handed defeat of the Kyklops Polyphêmos adds true suspense to the story as well as merit to Odysseus' character.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Odyssey And Star Wars: A New Hope

    845 Words  | 2 Pages

    Freeing Odysseus from Kalypso, controlling the wind so he could float in the correct direction to shore, and arranging a meeting between Nausikaa and Odysseus are just a examples of how Athena helped Odysseus in the book. Zeus, god of gods, also spoke highly of Odysseus by saying, “Could I forget the kingly man Odysseus? There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of the open sky.”(Homer 1. 84-86) Odysseus’ ability to do more than most men shows the reader that he is the hero of the story. This archetype allows the reader to understand the importance Odysseus has in the story. It also allows the reader to know why he is loved and known by so

    Read More

  • The Craftiness of Athena

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    Athena, the Greek goddess of both wisdom and war, is often considered the craftiest of all Olympian gods. She was born of a headache, and erupted from Zeus’ head fully armed and ready for battle. However, beside all this pomp, she is a rather caring, if war-loving, immortal. Throughout the entirety of The Odyssey she conveys an entirely platonic, almost motherly love for Odysseus. It is this that makes her significant character in Homer’s work. In The Odyssey, Athena is portrayed as a, if not the, major female figure throughout the entire epic poem. With her affection for Odysseus and her frequent appearances she plays a major role throughout the entire poem. Evidence of this integral role will be presented as proof of her importance to the story.

    Read More

  • Athena, and the Role of Women in the Odyssey

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Who Is To Blame The Gods In The Odyssey

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poseidon wasn’t happy with Odysseys when his men killed Poseidon’s cows for food. Poseidon created the storm on the high seas and blows Odysseus on Calypso Island where he was captured. Due to having multiple gods in Greek religion, each god has a certain domain and they can’t interfere with another domain. All of the gods wanted Odysseus to be able to return home and reunite with his family except for Poseidon. “But my heart breaks for Odysseus, that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long-far from his loved ones stills, he suffers torments, off on a wave-washed island rising at the center of the seas” (Homer 1.57-60). Athena’s appeals to Zeus about all of the Odysseus past sacrifices moves Zeus to take pity as well. When Poseidon is absent from Mt. Olympus, the other gods are able help Odysseus home. Athena guides Odysseus to Ithaca, getting him past many dangers and obstacles.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ancient Greeks have brought upon numerous ideas, inventions, and stories to the world. Greek mythology influences modern day literature and life. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War. Odysseus does not achieve his goal of reaching home so easily; monsters and gods come in his way and hinder him. The Odyssey expresses Greek values of hospitality from the customs of Ithaca, humility from Odysseus’s reform, and loyalty from Odysseus’s family.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate and Free Will in Homer's Odyssey

    1370 Words  | 3 Pages

    When we look at Greek Mythology we often run into the gods of that era. Sometimes they are merely backdrops to the human element of the story but in stories such as The Odyssey the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the story.

    Read More

  • Fate And Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

    458 Words  | 1 Pages

    In summary, the Odyssey has instances of fate and free will so people in their time could make their own decisions but the gods could change their lives. In the life of Odysseus he had to spend twenty years trying to get back to his family. In this way the gods controlled his life but he still got to make decisions of attitude which in my opinion is very

    Read More

  • The Role of the Gods in Homer's The Odyssey

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Central Values Of The Odyliad In Homer's The Iliad

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    A modern religious parallel of The Odyssey is that it mirrors how Odysseus relays on specific Gods and Goddesses for direction throughout the epic with modern human behavior for the search of answers through religion. Likewise, In the modern world it is common in human behavior to worship certain deities in hopes for prosperity in all aspects of life. Although, Odysseus’s major mistake was not recognizing and appreciating Poseidon for his assistance early on he still calls upon Athena and other deities for guidance throughout his

    Read More

  • The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey Exhibits at Least Four Characteristics of an Epic Poem

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    The gods and goddesses constantly intervene in the "Odyssey". There are many examples of divine intervention in the "Odyssey". One of the most influential gods in the Odyssey is Poseidon. Poseidon causes Odysseus's journey to be so difficult. Poseidon is mad at Odysseus because of what he did to his son Polyphemus. Polyphemus asked his father to avenge him. This resulted in only Odysseus reaching Ithaca.

    Read More

  • The Iliad and the Odyssey

    1521 Words  | 4 Pages

    These two gods have different effects on the story: Poseidon is trying to cause pain and suffering for Odysseus, while Athena is trying to help Telemachus and give him hope that his father will return soon. The role of these gods is important to both journeys as Odysseus and Telemachus try to reunite their family.

    Read More

More about Poseidon, Athena, And Hermes In Homer's Odyssey

Open Document