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Odysseus: Difference between revisions
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Odysseus is a mythical Greek hero His father is Laertes (332); his mother is Antikleia (333). He is king of the land of Ithaka (219), where his wife, Penelope and son, | Odysseus is a mythical Greek hero. His father is Laertes (332); his mother is Antikleia (333). He is king of the land of Ithaka (219), where his wife, Penelope and son, Telemakhos live. Odysseus is well known for his brain and crafty ways. | ||
Before the Trojan War, he was among those seeking to wed Helen, daughter of Zeus. He is credited with coming up with a plan to soothe the tensions among her contentious suitors. He proposed that all suitors must abide by Helen’s final decision in picking a husband and that each should swear an oath to protect the sanctity of this marriage, if it were ever threatened from outside (Herzberg 188). | Before the Trojan War, he was among those seeking to wed Helen, daughter of Zeus. He is credited with coming up with a plan to soothe the tensions among her contentious suitors. He proposed that all suitors must abide by Helen’s final decision in picking a husband and that each should swear an oath to protect the sanctity of this marriage, if it were ever threatened from outside (Herzberg 188). | ||
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He is the star of ''The Odyssey'', which is named in his honor. This epic details his adventures on the journey home from the war and the troubles he finds in Ithaca when he arrives there (100). | He is the star of ''The Odyssey'', which is named in his honor. This epic details his adventures on the journey home from the war and the troubles he finds in Ithaca when he arrives there (100). | ||
During the 10 year journey from Troy back to Ithaka, Odysseus had many encounters that prolonged his journey home. He has to free his men from the Lotus-Eaters, the Kyklops giant, Polyphemus, and the enchantress Kirke. He traveled to the underworld, where he receives valuable information to help him continue his trip home. This new knowledge that he received helped him to have a safe passage from the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. But, he could not save his crew when they violated commandments by slaughtering and eating the cattle of the sun god. Through this action their ship was struck by a thunderbolt and only Odysseus survived. He swam on the island of the nymph Kalypso, where he became her lover, was held prisoner (263), and lived there for seven years. He built a raft and sailed for Ithaka, but once again he ran into Poseidon's furious storm (269) and was | During the 10 year journey from Troy back to Ithaka, Odysseus had many encounters that prolonged his journey home. He has to free his men from the Lotus-Eaters, the Kyklops giant, Polyphemus, and the enchantress Kirke. He traveled to the underworld, where he receives valuable information to help him continue his trip home. This new knowledge that he received helped him to have a safe passage from the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. But, he could not save his crew when they violated commandments by slaughtering and eating the cattle of the sun god. Through this action their ship was struck by a thunderbolt and only Odysseus survived. He swam on the island of the nymph Kalypso, where he became her lover, was held prisoner (263), and lived there for seven years. He built a raft and sailed for Ithaka, but once again he ran into Poseidon's furious storm (269) and was shipwrecked on the island of the Phaiakians where he told his tale of wandering at a banquet in the palace (303). After his fabulous tale, he was allowed onboard a Phaiakian ship, given untold riches, and deposited, sleeping, on his home island (362-363). | ||
Once he returned home, he still had problems. After being gone for twenty years, Penelope had remained faithful. But the palace was occupied by a group of suitors who were waiting on Penelope to pick one of them to marry. Odysseus arrived at the palace disguised as a beggar and saw everything in disarray. He slaughters the suitors and cleansed the palace before Penelope sees all the blood and bodies. But, then he had to deal with the anger families of the suitors. But Athena stepped in and told the people of Ithaka that there would be peace and that the King of Ithaka was home. | Once he returned home, he still had problems. After being gone for twenty years, Penelope had remained faithful. But the palace was occupied by a group of suitors who were waiting on Penelope to pick one of them to marry. Odysseus arrived at the palace disguised as a beggar and saw everything in disarray. He slaughters the suitors and cleansed the palace before Penelope sees all the blood and bodies. But, then he had to deal with the anger families of the suitors. But Athena stepped in and told the people of Ithaka that there would be peace and that the King of Ithaka was home. | ||