The Greek Gods In Homer's The Odyssey

Homer’s The Odyssey is a tale about a man journeying home to his family while facing many trials along the way. Throughout the story, there are many themes that illustrated the Greek Society’s beliefs at the time. One of the most prominent themes is how the Greek Gods were portrayed throughout the story. Due to their significant aid to Odysseus’s endeavors, the Gods in Ancient Greek Society were revered as good and pure. Calypso is one of the first Gods is mentioned in The Odyssey. Though she is in love with Odysseus, she lets him go and even aids him in his departure. She regrettably bids him farewell and explains how she will help, by saying “I at last will freely let you go… I will supply you with bread, water, and ruddy wine… and will send a wind to follow” (48). In this moment, Calypso shows that she cares about Odysseus’s feelings above her own. Her desire is for him to stay, while his is to leave. She knows this, and from the pureness of her heart, puts his feelings before hers. Proving that the Greek Gods were thought to be of pure heart.
In contrary to Calypso’s actions were Poseidon’s, who made Odysseus’s journey very challenging.
However, these actions were justified, and even portray him in a sense of loyalty and justice. The importance of family is a reoccurring theme in The Odyssey. When Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son, was blinded by Odysseus and his crew, he cries out to Poseidon, a child making a request to his beloved father, “If I am truly thine, and thou art called my Father, vouchsafe no coming home to this Odysseus…” (89). Akin any normal father, Poseidon answered the pleas of his child. Revealing that Poseidon does care about his son, and that he is a kind-hearted God. The importance of family being a reoccurring theme, the Ancient Greeks treasured it, and to have a God demonstrate that verifies that the Gods were thought of to be
good. The most reoccurring God throughout Odysseus’s journey is Athena, always standing by his side. Therefore, she is the overall interpretation of Greek Gods. After the family of the suitors comes to Odysseus’s door seeking vengeance, Athena calls out to them all, and everything is resolved. Subsequently bringing peace to Odysseus’s life, the story is met with closure through the line “A peace war made by Pallas Athene… likened to Mentor her form and voice.” Athena, once again, proves her loyalty to Odysseus. She stands by him and resolves the final conflict. She mentored him and guided him to victory. Athena being the most prominent God throughout the entire story and being the one that is most helpful to Odysseus, confirms that the Ancient Greek Society viewed their Gods as good. Through their actions in The Odyssey, the Greek Gods were always maintained in a good light. Whether it was a due to their helpfulness, or their well justified actions, the Gods were never depicted as malicious. Depicting the Gods so reflects their prestige among the people of that time. The attention towards them was that they were very highly honored, due to their behavior in The Odyssey.