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Odysseus

Jane Mullen, 3rd Period


Overview

Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in Roman mythology, was the


King of Ithaca, a Grecian island

He was a Greek hero who seized Troy, ending the Trojan War,
which began as a result of Paris of Troy abducting Helen, who is
Penelope’s (Odysseus’s wife) cousin

Odysseus was best known for his bravery and courage, which
was displayed in the Trojan war as well as in his ten year trip
returning home from Troy. He was portrayed as a man of
wisdom, determination, and resourcefulness who was
strategically intelligent and somewhat cocky.
Overview Continued
Odysseus was the epic hero in the epic poems “The
Illiad” and “The Odyssey,” both written by Homer

In The Illiad, he helps to defeat Troy after a 10 year


war. He came up with the idea to build the Trojan
horse, which was how the Greeks overcame Troy.
Odysseus is the hero in this story and is the main
character.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his fleet are


returning to Itaca, which takes 10 years. Along the
way, they encounter many dangerous situations,
which Odysseus bravely overcomes. He is the
protagonist of the story.
Overview Continued
On the journey home, the fleet lands on many places. The order of the places they
land are Ismarus (confronted by the Circones), the island of the Lotus-Eaters, the
island of the Cyclopes (encountered Polyphemus), the island of Aeolia (they meet
the wind god, Aeolus), the island of Telepylus (land of the Laestrygonians who
destroy all of the ships except Odysseus’s), Aeaea (home of the goddess Circe),
and Hades (Odysseus talks to the blind prophet, Tiresias). After they visit him,
they sail past the Sirens and into the Strait of Messina where Scylla and Charybdis
live. Next, they land on Thrinacia, home of Helios’ sacred cattle, where his crew
members disobey him and eat the cattle. All of the people in the fleet are killed
except Odysseus, and his ship is destroyed. He then passes by Scylla and
Charybdis a second time, clinging to a piece of his vessel, but doesn’t get killed.
He washes ashore Ogygia (home to Calypso). He builds a new ship and leaves the
island, but Posiden (god of the sea) destroys his ship. He lands on Scheria, where
the king there provides him with a new ship and clothing. He finally returns home
after 20 years.

Odysseus is important in the Odyssey because he lead the fleet to and from Troy
and was the main character in the story.
Overview Continued

Odysseus blinding the Cyclopes Odysseus and Circe


Overview Continued

When Odysseus returns home, he finds 108 suitors in his home, each one
hoping to marry Penelope, his wife. He is disguised as an old beggar by the
goddess, Athena. He proves his strength by being the only one to string his
bow, and transforms back into himself. He then murders all of the suitors
and shows himself to Penelope, who thought he had been long dead at sea.
Family Tree

Odysseus was the son of Laertes (son of Chalcomeduse and


Arcisius) and Anticlea (daughter of Autolycus).

He was married to Penelope and together they had a son,


Telemachus.

Telemachus and Circe had a son, Latinus


Works Cited
Bittlestone, Robert; with James Diggle and John Underhill (2005). Odysseus
Unbound: The Search for Homer’s Ithaca. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press.

The Britannica Encyclopedia, 15th Edition. Book 8. Published in 2002. Published by


Encyclopedia Britannica, Ink. Published in Chicago. Article “Odysseus” (pp. 877).
Author Unknown

Author Unknown. “Odysseus.” Wikipedia. n.d. Web. 2 May, 2010.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus

Stevenson, Jamie. “Odysseus’ Trip Home.” Tripod. n.d. Web. 1 May, 2010.
http://bs860.tripod.com/odysseypage/id5.html

Bigelow, Caroline. “Odysseus’ Family Tree.” n.p. 2007. Web. 1 May, 2010.
http://www.musesrealm.net/familytrees/odysseus.html
Photo Credits

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Head_Odysseus_MAR
_Sperlonga.jpg

http://aterrier.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/argos-recognizes-odysseus/

http://www.theoi.com/image/L8.3Polyphemos.jpg

http://michaelromkey.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420b6f153ef0120a5c0bd79970c-8
00wi

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctentertainment/upload/2009/04/odysseus2.jp
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