Legends of the Ancient World: Odysseus

“You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it

home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder,

twisted my maids to serve your beds. You dared

bid for my wife while I was still alive.

Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide heaven,

contempt for what men say of you hereafter.

Your last hour has come. You die in blood.” - Odysseus, The Odyssey

Odysseus is without question one of the most fascinating figures in classical mythology. Indeed, despite being an ancillary character in the Iliad, he was so beloved by ancient audiences that he warranted his own spinoff, the Odyssey. He was endemic throughout Greek thought and art, appearing in statues, theatrical pieces, poems and orations, and he was equally prevalent in later Roman culture. Unlike other notable figures of classical antiquity who were forgotten during the Middle Ages (including a fair few who, unlike Odysseus himself, actually existed outside the realm of legend) Odysseus’s fame endured, and he made regular appearances in Medieval and Renaissance literature, including a memorable turn in Dante’s Inferno. To this day, Odysseus remains a highly popular character, having appeared on both the big and small screen, featuring in a slew of novels, and even making appearances in Japanese anime and video games. Characters inspired by Odysseus and his adventures are a staple of modern fiction, and locations said to match those from the Odyssey are scattered throughout the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece and Italy.

The true root of Odysseus’s mass appeal is that he is a figure of startling complexity. Unlike other main characters in the Epic Cycle, Odysseus does not conform to any particular archetype. While Odysseus’s defining characteristic is clearly his intelligence – he was known to the Greeks almost universally as “Cunning Odysseus” – he is no mere schemer, as he was considered also one of the bravest and most renowned warriors to fight in the Trojan War. And though depicted as a hero, he is also capable of acts of breathtaking amorality. Compared to other Greek heroes such as Ajax (all brute strength and no guile), Menelaus (filled with notions of honor and wounded dignity), or even Achilles himself (thirsty for glory at the expense of all else), Odysseus presents a far more nuanced portrait. Reluctant hero, schemer, criminal, warrior, navigator, explorer, loving (yet frequently unfaithful) husband and father, Odysseus is all this and more. Although part of this complexity may derive from the fact that the original stories adapted by Homer into the Iliad and Odyssey featured two different characters (Odysseus and Ulysses respectively), the character which has reached readers today is unique and nuanced enough to have been labeled, with reason, the first modern literary hero.

Legends of the Ancient World: Odysseus chronicles the legend of Odysseus’s life, comprehensively covers his role in the Iliad and Odyssey, and analyzes the literary legacy Odysseus left. Along with pictures, a bibliography and Table of Contents, you will learn about Odysseus like you never have before, in no time at all.

© 2025 Charles River Editors (E-bog): 9781475332629

Udgivelsesdato

E-bog: 2. maj 2025