The Odyssey, the name in itself embodies a tale of vast exploration to which fortune may change at any moment’s notice. In Homer’s poetic epic, we primarily follow the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who after the Trojan War disappeared for ten years on a voyage to make it home safely to his family. The tale is a hybrid between historical accounts and Greek mythology, utilizing physical manifestations of gods to fill in for the loss of technological prowess as a result of the Greek Dark Age that spanned from the 11th-9th century B.C.E. As much as The Odyssey is a tale of godly intervention, it also serves as a tool to analyze ancient Greek civilization; whether it is from the cultural customs that were prominent in its population, to the …show more content…
common technology of the era, we can observe the poem as insight into ancient Greece. In Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’; subsistence in the form of lavish banquets, social/political hierarchies concerning the lust of power for Penelope’s suitors, and the technology of the time all coincide to show us how Greek culture worked and thrived. A civilization is composed of many factors; however, it’s most important construction falls under the principle of Systems Theory; which is an interdisciplinary study of systems and how they work together to form a cohesive civilization. The two most important overarching categories in the study of Systems Theory is environment and population. In order for a society to take root, it must have a predictable environment, in which its inhabitants can practice agriculture without fear of flooding or other natural hazards. Rich fertile soils, an abundance of strategic resources, and easily navigable land are some important characteristics of an environment that can sustain human civilization. Populated by agrarian people, a forgiving environment that houses the fair conditions for farming allows for sedentary communities to take place. However, for a truly definable civilization to emerge from said tribes, the emergence of culture and governmental structure needs to be implemented. As there are two overarching categories, there are five subsystems in regards to Systems Theory; which are subsistence, social/political hierarchies, trade/communication, symbolic, and technology. Subsistence considers food production, which is vital to sustaining an adequate population. As the name suggests, social/political hierarchies refer to the organization of political and social statuses within a civilization. Trade/communication dictates a surplus in resources, leading to a heightened wish for commerce, as well as writing in order to keep track of trade. Symbolic represents specialization in the arts, whether it is in the form of paintings, sculptures, etc. Finally, technology refers to the common tools or technological innovations that a society produces. All the systems within idea of Systems Theory work together in order to produce a functioning and fully definable civilization. Throughout The Odyssey, technology in the form of weapons, fortune, and metaphorical stanzas of rigor show us the technology that was abundant at the time.
In the 12th Century B.C. Greeks began transitioning out of the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age; throughout the text, numerous references are made to the durability and longevity of iron, “Bronze and gold and plenty of hard wrought iron”. It is obvious that the Greeks knew the advantages of Iron over bronze, considering that its constantly used as a metaphor for strength and unbreaking. In Greek Society, iron is also seen to be equivalent to that of gold and bronze, which is are staple metals that are considered to be of the highest value. It is without a question that iron was seen as a huge technological innovation in history as well as Greek mythology. However, it is apparent that bronze was still in more use than that of iron. “But only two who captained your bronze-armored units.” when it came to weapons or armor, bronze is still heavily in use during this age, making iron moreso a luxury of the time period since it hadn’t yet been fully integrated. In The Odyssey we can also see a specialization of labor; wherein, metallurgy produces various forms of luxury goods that mark an artisan quality. “I’ll give you a mixing-bowl, forged to perfection— it’s solid silver finished off with a lip of gold.” while, a bowl being made of silver may not impact its usefulness, it shows that the Greeks did not only focus on the utility of a metal, but they viewed it as a potential luxury. The Greeks valued aesthetics. It wasn’t just about the single utility of an item, but it was also about making luxury to fit the upper class. With a surplus of food comes specialization of other tasks, in this case
metallurgy. The need for luxury among the Greeks did not just end with innovation in technology; however, it expanded into the cornerstone of civilization, subsistence. Feasts and banqueting played a huge part in the culture of Greece, as well as catering to guests. “I’ll eat Nobody last of all his friends— I’ll eat the others first! That’s my gift to you!” even Polyphemus, the man devouring cyclops shows some sort of accommodation for Odysseus when offered wine. Food is mentioned heavily throughout The Odyssey, its importance lies beyond bare necessity; as much as it was important for survival, the Greeks tended to be enamored with lavish feasts complete with alcohol. “ Quick, unhitch their team. And bring them in, strangers, guests, to share our flowing feast.” regardless of status, feasts represented a time of rejoice and indulgence. Considering the large and seemingly constant feasts, we can easily assume that the kingdoms of Greece were creating relatively large surpluses of food. At every turn, even in the most despicable of times, hospitality and banqueting is offered up to Odysseus who is largely viewed as a stranger after his ten year disappearance throughout the poem.
“The Odyssey” is an epic written by Homer between 750 and 650 B.C. It is the tale of the main hero’s, Odysseus’s, journey home to Ithaca from Troy. It takes place after the Trojan War and is the sequel to “The Iliad.” Odysseus and his men set sail from Troy and come across the lair of the lotus eaters. After escaping, they run into the cyclops,
According to Don Talpalriu with Softpedia, copper and bronze weapons were found 500 miles from Athens in 2008. In the Odyssey, Telemachus provides evidence on page 55 that there were five main sources of elements to be found in Greece:
It defined and sustained Greek society for hundreds of years much like the Bible once did in Christian nations. Yet, despite its archaic nature, The Odyssey remains fresh two and a half millennia after its conception. Homer's world has woven the fantastic together with the ordinary in such a way that it will never fall apart. In a significant sense, The Odyssey is immortal. Works Cited:..
There has long been a fashion among critics and historians, including Sir James Frazier and Graham Hancock, to insist upon taking the account of Odysseus' voyage to Hades in Book XI of the Odyssey at near face-value as a description of people and places familiar to a Greek audience of Homer's day. Both linguistics and comparative history have been employed to discover exactly how accurately this originally oral epic conveys this gritty realism. Something, however, is not right with this purely empiric approach. What is missing is an examination through the lens of ancient religious practices. Surely a literary work so teeming with deities-wise Athena, spiteful Poseidon, impish Hermes, omnipotent Zeus-deserves such study.
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.
"Odyssey" is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come. One of the reasons it has been so is because of the hero, Odysseus.
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.
The Odyssey is a Greek word meaning 'the tale of Odysseus.'; Odysseus, the King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; father of Telemachus; and son of Laertes was not able to return home after the war he was once in: the Trojan War. Stuck on an island, he is presumed dead. In his absence, suitors for his wife ruin his house with lavish feasts. This epic poem, by Homer, describes how Odysseus, with the help of the gods, gets home and regains his kingship. Justice is always harsh in the Odyssey; there is either no justice or a lot of it; the punishment however, is always severe.
The Odyssey is filled with emotion and adventure. Homer’s ability to show and give the reader a visual of each and every scene gives the story its unbelievable significance. To all the people who read his work there is something to be captured within every sentence, each one different in its own, unique way. Through tales of courage and defeat, friendship and love this book tells of all the values within the life of a single, solitary man, and his journey to attain what is true and dear to him. And this journey is known to all of us as The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a test of human devotion and trust through the gods, the mortals, and the obstacles through which they venture. No matter where they go or what they do, humans are tested for certain characteristics everyday of their lives, whether they realize it or not; and The Odyssey is just one of those many miraculous tests.
The Odyssey is an epic poem that explores the journey of the hero Odysseus. The author of the Odyssey is Homer, who is famous for writing both The Odyssey and Iliad. The title of this poem basically means “The story of Odysseus” and is about his quest to return home ten years after the fall of Troy. There are many characters within the Odyssey, but the main ones you will hear about are Odysseus, his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope and Athena, the goddess of wisdom and daughter of Zeus. In Odysseus’s journey, we see that his hubris is the greatest obstacle for his ability to reason and make logical decisions. Odysseus encounters many obstacles on his way home. He makes many major mistakes that he does not learn from and we see how his big ego affects his future. The Odyssey explores Odysseus’s journey, the mistakes he makes along the way, and how his hubris makes the obstacles he encounters even more difficult to overcome.
The sea can be seen as a dominant setting and a symbol holding a great significance that Homer included into his novel, The Odyssey. Although the sea is predominantly known in the epic as the vast expanse of water that served as a barricade and nuisance to Odysseus’ return home to Ithaca, this only becomes labelled as an adversity when the the god of the sea Poseidon becomes Odysseus’ foe. The sea is actually an essential and meaningful aspect of the ancient Greeks’ lives. It is such a remarkable thing in which it is the “giver of life” through it being a source for food as well as a waterway highway for transportation and exporting or importing goods. Although it may appear to most readers of the novel as merely a negative aspect of the journey, Homer in actuality incorporated the sea into the text with a paradoxical view, contrasting the destructiveness and the comeliness of sea.
Homer’s The Odyssey is a Greek story that follows the journey of its primary character, Odysseus, back to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War. Odysseus encounters many challenges in his journey home, from encounters with Polyphemus the Cyclops, the witch Circe and even the ghosts of dead Greeks. Meanwhile, his household in Ithaca is being threatened by suitors of his wife, Penelope, all wanting to inherit Odysseus’ possessions in the belief that he was already dead. Like many epic heroes, Odysseus possesses many admirable qualities. Three good characteristics of Odysseus are—cleverness, bravery and strength—here are some supporting instances from the epic that demonstrates Odysseus possession of such characteristics.
In Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey,” the protagonist Odysseus’ decision to bring wine with him to offer to the Cyclops, whose home he and his men were invading, was crucial to his entire journey being set in motion. After Odysseus, a Greek hero who fights in the Trojan War, wins, he and his men have to return to their home of Ithaca. On their way, they find themselves in what is known as the Land of the Cyclops. The Cyclops, as Odysseus describes them, were “giants, louts, without a law to bless them” (Homer 10).
Ancient Greek civilizations valued several things in their lives. Based on how Hesiod speaks of the different ages we can infer different values from each “age of man”. In the golden age there was no hard labor and mortals did not face any problems in their lives. They simply lived and respected the deathless gods. The Greeks valued pleasing their gods and perhaps sometimes having no problems in their lives. From the silver age we can assume people valued advancement. Since the silver age angered Zeus he saw it fit to alter the world and make their lives difficult. Allowing mortals to advance their technology and survive. In the bronze age mortals valued war and power, so they created weapons to show that they were the strongest. This comes
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.