Heroics of the Odysseus

Ignorant Heroics

If one were to walk methodically through an art gallery viewing the lovely artworks of the past you'd have to really stop and notice those of the Renaissance. These statues usually period pieces from Italian or French masters such as Donatello or Praxiteles were always sculpting realistic visions of the Gods such as Hermes. In a more popular example even modern man was made too look grand yet realistic in the sculpture of David done by Michelangelo. All depictions in Ancient Greece and Rome were truly to better enhance the world's view of the artistic human form. Art has always tried to mirror life but in the ever yet similarly famous tale Odyessus by Homer there is no question as to this myth's life mirroring image. However most myths are in this way, there doesn't seem to be many relatable things in these stories but the overral moral connects to the reader making the myth more realistic. In the main character this realism must be found in his character, in Odyessues's case there is a great lack of actual muscular heroic action. Especially if you compare it too previous myths like Hercules or Achillies; they were all muscle and not a ton of brain. Odyessus is more wit then might and he actually applies this to his survival, however there is no doubt that these talents are given by the Goddess Athena who watches over his every move. So if his gifts and talents are god's power then is he really a hero at all? Being heroic isn't just about the looks as some would say. No one would claim a woman who has suffered greatly through Chemotherapy while struggling to beat her Cancer. She may not have the muscle or the power that these Greek hunks have but she certainly isn't weak. This is what one would call spiritual heroics. “Odysseus, the man of many wiles”. In a similar sense when Odysseus is called this it better explains his ability to undergo truly compromising