The Odyssey
Rasie Turner
Ms. Neff
English 1030
22 September 2010
The Odyssey Greek gods and goddesses are very important in the Greek culture. There are a few Greek gods and goddesses that play very important roles in The Odyssey. They are Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Circe, and Calypso. The relationship between the mortals and the gods are very interesting. Everything that happens in this poem, dealing with the mortals, is related to one of the gods. Without the gods, Greek culture and literature would be nothing. Zeus is the king of the gods. All of the other gods and mortals look up to him. If anybody needs approval of something, they go to Zeus for the answer. For example, when Odysseus was trapped on Calypso’s island, Athena went to Zeus to get him to help Odysseus off of the island. So Zeus sent Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to Calypso to tell her to release Odysseus form her island. Zeus is very important in Greek literature, and culture. This epic poem starts off with Odysseus trapped on a beautiful, nymph goddess’ island. Her name is Calypso. She held Odysseus on that island for seven years before she let him go. She had fallen in love with him and would not have let him go unless Hermes had not ordered her to. This shows some of the principles in Greek culture. Women were not as important as men. There were plenty Greek gods that messed around with different mortal women, but when Calypso fell in love with one she had to give him away. The fact that she did not willingly give him away shows some of Calypso’s personality and spunk. She offered Odysseus immortality if she stayed on the island with her. Even though he denied, she did try her hardest to get what she wanted and thought she deserved. Circe is also a beautiful Greek goddess who trapped Odysseus on her island. After escaping the land of the Laestrygonians, cannibalistic giants who suddenly attack and devour Odysseus’ crew, they land on an island named Aeaea. Sadly, Odysseus’ ship was the
Ms. Neff
English 1030
22 September 2010
The Odyssey Greek gods and goddesses are very important in the Greek culture. There are a few Greek gods and goddesses that play very important roles in The Odyssey. They are Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Circe, and Calypso. The relationship between the mortals and the gods are very interesting. Everything that happens in this poem, dealing with the mortals, is related to one of the gods. Without the gods, Greek culture and literature would be nothing. Zeus is the king of the gods. All of the other gods and mortals look up to him. If anybody needs approval of something, they go to Zeus for the answer. For example, when Odysseus was trapped on Calypso’s island, Athena went to Zeus to get him to help Odysseus off of the island. So Zeus sent Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to Calypso to tell her to release Odysseus form her island. Zeus is very important in Greek literature, and culture. This epic poem starts off with Odysseus trapped on a beautiful, nymph goddess’ island. Her name is Calypso. She held Odysseus on that island for seven years before she let him go. She had fallen in love with him and would not have let him go unless Hermes had not ordered her to. This shows some of the principles in Greek culture. Women were not as important as men. There were plenty Greek gods that messed around with different mortal women, but when Calypso fell in love with one she had to give him away. The fact that she did not willingly give him away shows some of Calypso’s personality and spunk. She offered Odysseus immortality if she stayed on the island with her. Even though he denied, she did try her hardest to get what she wanted and thought she deserved. Circe is also a beautiful Greek goddess who trapped Odysseus on her island. After escaping the land of the Laestrygonians, cannibalistic giants who suddenly attack and devour Odysseus’ crew, they land on an island named Aeaea. Sadly, Odysseus’ ship was the