Odysseus

Odysseus is the legendary hero of Ithaca, protagonist of The Odyssey The OdysseyThe Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic traditionally attributed to Homer (epic poet). Across 24 books it follows Odysseus’s return to Ithaca after the Trojan War and reunion with Penelope (Greek mythology) and Telemachus, interweaving sea adventures, recognition, household order and human choices.Open the full entry and a Greek leader in The Iliad The IliadThe Iliad is an ancient Greek epic traditionally attributed to Homer (epic poet). Centered on the anger of Achilles during the Trojan War, it covers a limited portion of the conflict and ends with Hector’s funeral rather than the fall of Troy.Open the full entry. His long return from the Trojan War Trojan WarThe Trojan War is the legendary conflict between Greek forces and Troy that forms the background to The Iliad and The Odyssey. Archaeology and ancient documents illuminate its possible historical setting without verifying every character and event in the tradition.Open the full entry to Penelope (Greek mythology)Penelope (Greek mythology)Penelope (Greek mythology) is Odysseus’s wife and Telemachus’s mother in The Odyssey. While suitors occupy her household, she delays remarriage and ultimately verifies the returned Odysseus through their bed’s private construction.Open the full entry and Telemachus centers on cunning, disguise, endurance and recognition.

Contents7 sections

Key facts

Ithaca and Family

In Odyssey Book 9, Odysseus identifies himself to the Phaeacians as the son of Laertes, from Ithaca. His wife is Penelope (Greek mythology) and his son Telemachus TelemachusTelemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope (Greek mythology) in The Odyssey. Encouraged by Athena (Greek goddess), he travels for news of his father, reunites with him on Ithaca and helps confront the suitors occupying their household.Open the full entry. Home, kin and household remain his desired destination even when life abroad offers comfort or immortality.⁠[1][2][3]

The Horse and the Memory of War

Odysseus is associated with strategy in the Trojan tradition. Odyssey Book 8 connects him with the wooden horse while also emphasizing his emotional reaction to songs of the war. The performance brings his past into the present and prompts his host to ask who the stranger is.⁠[4]

Polyphemus and Poseidon’s Anger

Against Polyphemus, Odysseus uses the false name Nobody, wine and a heated stake, then hides the survivors beneath sheep to escape. Once at sea, he reveals his identity, enabling the Cyclops to call on his father Poseidon (Greek god)Poseidon (Greek god)Poseidon (Greek god) is the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses in ancient Greek religion and mythology. In The Odyssey, anger at Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus makes him a major obstacle to the hero’s return.Open the full entry for revenge. Ingenuity and the consequences of self-revelation are joined in the same episode.⁠[1]

Circe, the Dead and Dangers at Sea

Hermes (Greek god)Hermes (Greek god)Hermes is a divine messenger associated with commerce and guiding souls in ancient Greek religion and mythology. In The Odyssey he carries Zeus (Greek god)’s orders, assists Odysseus against Circe and leads the suitors’ souls to the underworld.Open the full entry helps Odysseus resist Circe CirceCirce is a goddess associated with drugs and transformation in Greek mythology. In The Odyssey she turns members of Odysseus’s crew into pigs, later restores them and gives essential guidance for their onward journey.Open the full entry’s drugs. Circe restores his companions and directs him to consult the dead about his return. He uses advance precautions against the Sirens (Greek mythology)Sirens (Greek mythology)The Sirens are dangerous singers encountered by sailors in Greek mythology. In Odyssey Book 12, Odysseus follows Circe’s advice: his crew block their ears with wax and bind him to the mast, allowing him to hear without stopping the ship.Open the full entry. Scylla ScyllaScylla is the cliff-dwelling monster with six long-necked heads in Odyssey Book 12. She seizes six members of Odysseus’s crew as they pass, while Charybdis threatens destruction on the other side of the passage.Open the full entry seizes six of his sailors as the ship passes beside the whirlpool of Charybdis. After the cattle of the Sun are killed, Zeus (Greek god)Zeus (Greek god)Zeus (Greek god) is king of the gods and a deity of the sky, thunder and order in ancient Greek religion and mythology. In The Odyssey he presides over divine decisions, enforces prohibitions and helps Athena (Greek goddess) bring the final conflict to an end.Open the full entry destroys the ship and he eventually reaches Calypso (Greek mythology)Calypso (Greek mythology)Calypso (Greek mythology) is the goddess on Ogygia in The Odyssey who shelters and detains Odysseus and offers him immortality. After Hermes conveys Zeus (Greek god)’s order, she releases him and helps equip his raft and voyage.Open the full entry alone.⁠[5][6][7]

Disguise, Recognition and Revenge

On reaching Ithaca, Odysseus conceals his identity. With Athena (Greek goddess)Athena (Greek goddess)Athena (Greek goddess) is a goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare and crafts in ancient Greek religion and mythology. In The Odyssey she supports Odysseus and Telemachus and helps bring about homecoming, recognition and a final settlement.Open the full entry’s help he enters the household as a beggar, reunites with Telemachus and prepares to confront the suitors. Eurycleia recognizes an old scar. His handling of the bow reveals his ability before he, his son and loyal servants kill the suitors.⁠[3][8][9]

The Bed’s Secret and an End to Fighting

Penelope (Greek mythology) tests the returned man through the question of moving their bed. Odysseus explains that its post was made from a rooted olive tree, and the couple recognize one another. He also reunites with Laertes. Zeus (Greek god) and Athena (Greek goddess) finally halt retaliation by the suitors’ relatives; the epic closes in reconciliation rather than with his death.⁠[10][11]