Odysseus (mythology) - the king of Ithaca, the son of Laertes and Anticlea, the husband of Penelope and the father of Telemachus. Characters of ancient Greek mythology

Today we will get acquainted with such an interesting character as Odysseus (sometimes also called Ullis). This is King Odysseus - the son of Laertes and Anticlea. According to some versions of the myth, he is the son of Sisyphus. Sisyphus allegedly seduced Anticlea before she married Laertes. Autolycus, the father of Anticlea (according to Homer - "the great perjurer and thief"), was the son of Hermes, whom he helped in his tricks. Hence the hereditary qualities of Odysseus, coming from Hermes - dexterity, practicality, intelligence. Among others, cunning should be noted. Odysseus, whose characteristics we are interested in, acquired new features in the work of Homer. What did he contribute to his image? Let's figure it out.

Odysseus' innovation in portraying Homer

Initially, the biography of this hero was not connected with the Trojan War. Odysseus, the history of which was the property of only adventurous fairy-tale plots, was not portrayed so vividly before Homer. It has been featured in the following folklore motifs: an hourly long sea voyage threatening death, the character's stay in the "other world", as well as the return of her husband at the very moment when his wife is threatened with the need to conclude a new marriage. These motifs were transformed by Homer's epic about the Trojan War. The poet added to them whole line important ideas: selfless love Odyssey to his native hearth, return to his homeland, the suffering of a hero who experienced the wrath of the gods. Note that the very name "Odysseus" comes from the Greek word meaning "I am angry." That is, it can be translated as "a man of divine wrath", "hated by the gods."

What does Homer write about this interesting hero like Odysseus? Mythology offers us many interesting stories, but the Trojan War deserves special attention. The fact that Homer included this hero among the leaders who fought with Troy led to the formation of ideas about his military exploits, about his decisive role in the capture of the city (the motif of a wooden horse invented by Odysseus). From this moment on, the folklore cunning, who is the "destroyer of cities", is heroized. Before us appears the brave Odysseus. Mythology is replenished with many interesting stories about him.

The image of Odysseus

Odysseus is the most striking figure of the Ionian stage of the epic. The king of Ithaca is the bearer of tireless energy, practical intelligence, the ability to navigate difficult life circumstances, the ability to speak convincingly and eloquently, to deal with people. In his image, in comparison with the heroes of other myths, earlier (for example, such as Ajax Telamonides, Diomedes or Achilles), a clear novelty is noticeable. Odysseus wins not only with weapons, but also with mind and word. He goes to the Trojan camp with Diomedes. However, bringing the warriors seduced by Thersites to submission, he not only beats Thersites and exposes him to ridicule, but also utters a fiery, inspired speech, which arouses the fighting fervor of the troops. Odysseus is even more consistent with the heroism of Homer's Iliad when he goes to Achilles as one of the ambassadors or during a speech in the council. Here he utters words that no mortal can compete with. This is the hero that Homer glorified in his work.

Odysseus is "great in soul and heart", "glorious with a spear". Only Philoctetes excelled him in archery. This is noted by Homer. Odysseus in his image is "flawless". Nevertheless, the hero himself admits to Alkinos that among people he is famous for his cunning inventions. Athena confirms that it is difficult even for a god to compete with him in deceit and cunning. Such is Odysseus. Mythology Ancient Greece introduces us to the many stories associated with him. Let's talk briefly about the most famous.

How did Odysseus prove himself before the start of the Trojan War

Odysseus managed to prove himself even before the start Trojan War. He was among the many suitors of the beautiful Queen Helen, but he preferred Penelope, her cousin, the niece of Tyndareus, who became his wife.

After Paris kidnapped Helen, this hero must participate in the campaign against Troy. Odysseus, not wanting to leave his wife and newborn son Telemachus, pretends to be insane. However, Palamedes exposes him in pretense (Odysseus subsequently killed him for this), having tested the hero on his paternal love. Odysseus sets off for Troy with 12 ships. He helps the Greeks locate Achilles, whom Thetis hid on about. Skyros, and also to find him among the maids of the daughter of King Lycomedes (Deidamia). After that, Odysseus is called to deliver She was doomed to be slaughtered by Artemis. The Greeks, on his advice, leave the wounded Philoctetes on about. Lemnos. Subsequently, he will bring him in the 10th year of the war near Troy.

Odysseus, before the start of the war, goes with Menelaus to Troy, trying in vain to settle the matter by peace. During the siege, he takes revenge on Palamedes, whom he considers an enemy. Odysseus in the last year of the war captures Dolon, a Trojan scout, and makes a sortie with Diomedes against King Res, who has just arrived to the aid of the Trojans. After the death of Achilles, the hero of interest to us was given his armor, which was also claimed by Ajax Telamonides. Odysseus, having captured Helen (a Trojan soothsayer), learns from him that in order to win, it is necessary to take possession of the statue of Pallas Athena, which is located in Troy in the temple of this goddess. The king of Ithaca, disguised as a beggar, sneaks into the besieged city. He steals the statue. In addition, Odysseus, according to one version, owns the idea of creating a wooden horse.

Contrasting two worlds

In the biography of Odysseus, adventurous fairy-tale stories are permeated with the motif of suffering. This hero, with his constant piety, finds himself in situations in which either he or his companions violate it. This leads to more death and suffering. The severity and cruelty of Odysseus is the property of archaic heroics. All this recedes into the background, giving place to intellectual heroism. The hero is patronized by Athena. In the Odyssey, the terrible ancient world is characteristically contrasted, in which sorcerers, cannibals, magic, Poseidon and Polyphemus reign, and rich in plans, smart Athena, who leads the hero to his homeland, despite all the obstacles. Thanks to her, Odysseus is saved from the world of dangerous miracles that captivate him.

Not only Olympians help this hero. He forces himself and Kirk to serve, turning evil sorcery into good. Odysseus fearlessly goes to Hades with the realization of his future. No wonder the gods are afraid that if they do not return him home, Odysseus, "contrary to fate", will return himself. Therefore, they patronize this hero.

How does Odysseus' return to his homeland begin?

Odysseus, whose birthplace is Ithaca, for a long time tried to return home. It took 10 years for his return, which begins with the fall of Troy. The storm threw his ships into the land of the Kikons, where he had to confront them. Odysseus ravaged the city of Ismar, but then was forced to retreat under the onslaught of the enemy, having suffered heavy losses. After 9 days, he came to the Lotus-eaters, and after that - to the country of the Cyclopes.

Odysseus at the Cyclopes

Here, together with 12 companions, he became a prisoner of the one-eyed Polyphemus, a giant cannibal. Having lost 6 comrades, he made the giant drunk with Thracian wine.

When Polyphemus fell asleep, Odysseus gouged out his eye with a pointed stake. The hero, together with his companions, got out of the cave in the following way: clinging his hands to the wool of the rams, which the giant released every morning to the pasture. Odysseus, while on the ship, called himself blinded by Polyphemus. He called on him the curse of Poseidon, his father. His anger will haunt Odysseus in the future, until his return to his homeland.

Odysseus on Eola

Odysseus, the myth of whose return we describe, then finds himself on the island of Aeola. Here, as a gift, he receives a fur with contrary winds tied in it. These winds should make it easier for travelers to return. They bring Odysseus' fleet closer to Ithaca, but here his companions decide to untie the fur just out of curiosity. The winds that have broken free again nail the fleet to about. Eola. He refuses to help the hero further.

At the sorceress Kirka

After Odysseus's fleet is attacked by ogres-cannibals lestrigons, only Odysseus's ship is saved from 12 ships. He comes to Fr. Eya, where the sorceress Kirk rules. She turns half of the hero's companions, whom he sent out for reconnaissance, into pigs. The same fate threatens Odysseus himself. However, Hermes supplied him with the miraculous root "moth", which averts the action of magic. The Hero forces Kirk to restore his injured comrades to human form. On this island they spend a year.

Odysseus and the Sirens

Odysseus, on Kirka's advice, visits underworld. He learns from the shadow of Tiresias, the deceased soothsayer, about the dangers that threaten him on the way to his homeland, as well as in his own house, located in Ithaca. The ship of Odysseus, leaving the island, sails past the coast. Here sailors are lured to the sharp coastal rocks by sweet-voiced sirens. Odysseus plugs the ears of his companions with wax, thanks to which he manages to avoid danger. He himself listens to their singing, tied to the mast. The hero's ship manages to safely pass the rocks floating in the sea, and also pass through the narrow strait between Scylla, the six-headed monster, manages to pull off the ship and eat six of his comrades.

The sacred cows of Helios and the wrath of Zeus

On about. Thrinakia Odyssey awaits a new test. The sacred cows of Helios graze here. Odysseus, warned by Tiresias, tells his comrades that they should not encroach on these animals. However, they are starving and decide to disobey him. Comrades, taking advantage of the fact that Odysseus fell asleep, kill cows and eat their meat, despite the bad omens accompanying the meal. Zeus, in punishment for this blasphemy, throws lightning at the ship of Odysseus, who went to sea. All his companions perish, and he himself manages to escape on a collapsed mast. A few days later, Odysseus is nailed to Fr. Ogygia. The nymph Calypso, who lives here, keeps the hero at her place for 7 years, until, at the insistence of Athena, the gods order him to be released to his homeland.

How does Odysseus get to his homeland?

His journey ends as follows. Odysseus builds a raft on which he sets sail. After 17 days, he sees land. But then Poseidon discovers him and unleashes a storm on the raft, so Odysseus is forced to resort to last resort- he decides to use Leucofea's magical veil. The hero swims to the island of Scheria. The people of the feacs live here. Odysseus, with the help of Nausicaa (the princess), finds his way to the palace of Alcinous, the Phaeacian king. He participates in a feast where the narrator Demodocus sings a song about the capture of Troy.

Odysseus, because of the surging memories, cannot hold back his tears. He identifies himself and begins a story about what he has experienced over the years. The people of the Feacs collect rich gifts for him. With their help, Odysseus gets home on a high-speed ship.

The motherland, however, meets the hero not very hospitably.

The murder of suitors

Odysseus is not recognized, as Athena transforms him. He watches the atrocities of the suitors, who force Penelope to take a new husband. The king of Ithaca comes to grips with Ir. He experiences all sorts of bullying from potential suitors. Odysseus, in a conversation with Penelope, pretends to be a Cretan who once met her husband. He tries to inspire the woman with confidence that her husband will return. Meanwhile, Eurycleia's nanny, whom Odysseus's wife instructs to wash his feet, recognizes him by the scar, but keeps the secret under pain of punishment. At the suggestion of Athena, Penelope arranges a competition in archery, which belongs to Odysseus. None of the applicants can even pull the string. Then Odysseus takes a bow and with the help of Athena, together with Telemachus, kills his offenders. Laertes and Penelope, who had lost hope of his return, he makes himself known by signs known only to them. Athena, with the consent of Zeus, establishes peace between the king of Ithaca and the relatives of the murdered suitors. After that, Odysseus reigns peacefully.

Versions of the last years of Odysseus' life

Telegon (the son of Kirk and Odysseus) arrives in Ithaca during one of his absences. He was sent by his mother to find Odysseus. A battle takes place between the arrival and the king of Ithaca. Telegon in a duel mortally wounds his father, whom he does not recognize. After a belated identification, according to one version, he takes his body for burial to the Kirk. According to other versions, the king of Ithaca dies peacefully in Epirus or Aetolia, where he was honored as a hero with the gift of posthumous divination. Probably, the local cult of Odysseus existed for a long time. After some time, it spread throughout Italy.

Odysseus gained great popularity. The mythology of ancient Greece has gained great popularity in our days. Ancient Greek myths are known and loved by people around the world.

The brave Odysseus was sometimes considered the son of Sisyphus, who seduced Anticlea even before his marriage to Laertes, and according to some versions, Odysseus is the grandson of Autolycus, "the perjurer and thief", the son of the god Hermes, who inherited their mind, practicality and enterprise.

Bartholomeus Spranger, Athena and Hermes, plafond, painting

Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, had high hopes for the ingenuity and intelligence of Odysseus. Together with the wise Nestor, Odysseus was instructed to persuade the great warrior Achilles to take part in the Trojan War on the side of the Greeks, and when their fleet was stuck in Aulis, it was Odysseus who tricked Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra into letting Iphigenia go to Aulis under the pretext of her marriage to Achilles. In reality, Iphigenia was intended as a sacrifice to Artemis, who otherwise would not agree to provide the Greek ships with a fair wind.

Jacques Louis David Agamemnon does not give Iphigenia as a wife to Achilles

It was Odysseus who came up with the idea with the Trojan horse, which brought victory to the Achaeans. The Greeks pretended to lift the siege from the city, and went out to sea, leaving a huge hollow horse on the shore, inside the body of which a detachment of soldiers hid under the leadership of Odysseus. The Trojans, rejoicing at the departure of the Achaeans, dragged the horse into the city.
They decided to present the statue as a gift to Athena and provide the city with the patronage of the gods. At night, armed Achaeans poured out of the horse through a secret door, killed the guards and opened the gates of Troy.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Procession Trojan horse to Troy

From here ancient saying: "Fear the Achaeans (Danaans) who bring gifts", and the expression "Trojan horse". Troy fell, but the brutal massacre perpetrated by the Greeks caused the strongest anger of the gods, especially Athens, because the favorite of the gods, Cassandra, was raped in her sanctuary.

Ajax drags Cassandra from the Palladium in front of Priam, Pompeii, Menander's house

The wanderings of Odysseus were a favorite story of the Greeks and Romans, who called him Ulysses. From Troy, Odysseus headed for Thrace, where he lost many people in the battle with the Kikons. Then a storm carried him to the land of lotophages ("lotus eaters"), whose food made the newcomers forget about their homeland.

Judson Huss, Lotophagus

Later, Odysseus fell into the possession of the Cyclopes (Cyclopes), being a prisoner of the one-eyed Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon. However, Odysseus and his companions managed to avoid certain death.

On the island of the lord of the winds, Eol, Odysseus received a gift - a fur filled with fair winds, but curious sailors untied the fur and the winds scattered in all directions, ceasing to blow in the same direction.
Then the ships of Odysseus were attacked by the Laestrigons, a tribe of cannibal giants, but the hero managed to get to the island of Eya, the possession of the sorceress Circe (Kirki).

With the help of Hermes, Odysseus was able to force the sorceress to return the human form to the members of his team, whom she turned into pigs.

Further, on the advice of Kirk, he visits the underworld of the dead, where the shadow of the blind soothsayer Tiresias warns the brave Odysseus of the coming dangers.

Painting on a vase, Odysseus and Tiresias

Leaving the island, Odysseus' ship sailed past the coast, where sweet-voiced sirens lured sailors to sharp rocks with their marvelous singing.

The hero ordered his companions to cover their ears with wax and tie themselves to the mast.

Happily passing the wandering rocks of Plankta, Odysseus lost six people, who were dragged away and devoured by the six-headed Skita (Scylla). On the island of Trinacia, as Tiresias predicted, hungry travelers were seduced by the fat herds of the sun god Helios. As punishment, these sailors died from a storm sent by Zeus at the request of Helios.

Statuette from the island of Milos, 5th century. BC. Scylla

The surviving Odysseus was almost swallowed by the monstrous whirlpool of Charybdis.

Jerome Delacroix, Scylla and Charybdis

Johann Heinrich Fussli, Odysseus before Scylla and Charybdis

Exhausted from exhaustion, he was washed up on the island of the sorceress Calypso, who left him and offered to marry.

But even the prospect of immortality did not seduce Odysseus, who was eager to return to his homeland, and seven years later the gods forced the nymph in love to let the traveler go. After another shipwreck, Odysseus, with the help of Athena, disguised himself as a beggarly old man, returned home, where long years his wife Penelope was waiting for him.

Besieged by noble suitors, she played for time, announcing that she would marry when she had finished weaving a shroud for her father-in-law Laertes.

However, at night Penelope unraveled what was woven during the day. When the maids revealed her secret, she agreed to marry someone who could string the bow of Odysseus. The test was passed by an unknown beggar old man, who, throwing off his rags, turned out to be a mighty Odysseus.

After twenty years of separation, the hero embraced his faithful Penelope, whom Athena rewarded with rare beauty before meeting.

According to some versions of the myth, Odysseus, unrecognized, fell at the hands of Telegon, his son from Circe (Kirke), according to others, he peacefully reposed at an advanced age.

Nausicaa is the daughter of Alcinous and Arete, king of the Theacians. Athena, who appeared in a dream to Nausicaa, ordered her to go in the morning with her slaves to the seashore. There, Nausicaa found the shipwrecked Odysseus, dressed him, and sent him to her father's house. She hoped that the hero who attracted her heart would become her husband. When Nausicaa found out about Odysseus' desire to return to his homeland, she, saying goodbye to him, asked him to remember the one who saved his life. Post-Homeric myths link further fate Nausicaa with Telemachus, whose wife she became.

The old nanny recognizes Odysseus by the scar on his leg.

Scientists have solved the mystery of the location of the legendary Ithaca

A group of British scientists may have solved one of the mysteries of ancient Greece by collecting evidence of the location of the legendary Ithaca, where Odysseus lived - the king of this island and main character of the same name epic work ancient Greek poet Homer. "Finding Ithaca is like finding ancient Troy, the ruins of which were found on the coast of Asia Minor more than a century ago," says one of the authors of the search work, archaeologist Robert Beatlestone, a passionate admirer of Homer.

According to local legends, the kingdom of Ithaca was located on an island in the Ionian Sea, which still bears this name. However, modern Ithaca is located to the east of the group of islands closest to it, and Homer wrote that it was located to the west. According to Beatlestone, all previous attempts to locate the island were based on the assumption that Ithaca was still an island, although the contours of none of the modern Greek islands matched the description given in the Homeric epic.

"All researchers assumed that the landscapes that they see in front of them are the same as they were in bronze age- explained the Briton. “And if the valleys described by Homer do not match the modern ones, then, they say, perhaps Homer did not describe them correctly.”

However, Beatlestone claims that the ancient Greek poet was right. Ithaca is no longer an independent island, but a peninsula attached to a neighboring island. By superimposing the routes of Odysseus, described in the epic of Homer, on a map of the Ionian Sea obtained from a satellite, the British scientist came to the conclusion that Homeric Ithaca was located in Paliki, the tip of the Greek island of Kefalonia.

After expeditions to the western part of Greece and computer analysis of literary, geological and archaeological data, using, among other things, the most advanced satellite technologies and three-dimensional visualization developed by NASA, the British architect found about 70 pieces of evidence leading exactly to Kefalonia.

With the support of Cambridge University professor James Diggle and Edinburgh University geologist John Underhill, Beatlestone published a book claiming that Odysseus lived on land that is now part of the island of Kefalonia, located west of modern Ithaca. IN scientific work it is said that almost all of the 26 places described in detail by Homer can be found today in the northern part of Paliki and in the vicinity. "The topography of Homer's Island fits the area like a glove," said Beatlestone.

Research shows that Paliki was a separate island in the past. Since the time of Homer, earthquakes have caused massive shifts, with the result that the narrow strait that separated it from the island of Kefalonia was littered with stones from the surrounding mountains. Kefalonia and the other Ionian islands of Greece lie just above where the European tectonic plate collides with the African one. Earthquakes of magnitude 7 and above occur in this region on average once every 50 years. According to Underhill, "as a result of tremors, Kefalonia rose from the sea by more than 5 m."

Professor Diggle has already told the press: "This discovery will revolutionize the understanding ancient world". Nevertheless, the group led by Beatlestone has yet to big job to prove that Paliki is former island, on which the legendary Odysseus completed his 10-year journey from Troy.

Over the next two years, archaeologists will continue geological research, and in 2008 they plan to begin archaeological excavations there, trying to find the palace of Odysseus and the ruins of the city of Ithaca. No one, of course, can yet be sure that Odysseus and his city really existed, ITAR-TASS reports. But the discovery in 1870 of the ruins of ancient Troy, known from the Greek epic, near the walls of which Odysseus and other famous Greek heroes fought, makes scientists believe that Homer's poems are something more than just a legend.

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Homer was born around the 12th-7th century BC, the exact years of his life are not known. He is credited with such famous works like the Iliad and the Odyssey. Ancient legends say that the poet was a blind wandering singer, and also knew these two poems by heart. But we will analyze only the second book, which tells about the adventures of the cunning Greek king, the lucky favorite of the gods Odysseus.

The plot of the Odyssey is built with the help of artistic medium like a flashback. The story begins in the middle, and the reader will learn about all the events later, from the stories of the protagonist.

The story is based on the story of the return of the king of Ithaca to his homeland after the victory in the Trojan War. The cunning ruler spent ten years in the war, and he sailed home for the same amount of time. From the revelations of the wise warrior, we learn that at the beginning of his journey he fell into the hands of the Cyclops Polyphemus, who devoured travelers. In order to get out of the clutches of the one-eyed villain, Odysseus got him drunk and pierced his eye, which caused the wrath of the Cyclops. The enraged giant appealed to Poseidon and begged him to take revenge on the offender.

The king of Ithaca also tells how he got to the island of Kirki, who turned all his friends into pigs. The hero had to be Kirk's lover for exactly a year. After that, he descends into the underground Hades to speak with the soothsayer Tiresias.

Odysseus sails past the Sirens, who are trying to destroy the sailors with their singing. It also passes between Scylla and Charybdis. Soon the hero loses the ship and swims up on the island of Calypso, which he was forcibly captured for seven years.

History of creation

The poem was written in hexameter - this is the size of the heroic poetry of ancient Greece. It is divided into 24 songs, according to the number of letters in the Greek alphabet. It is believed that this book did not have ancestors, but before the creation of the work, many legends and songs had already arisen, on the basis of which the Odyssey was created.

The language of the work is not similar to any dialect Greek. Often there are inflectional forms that were never used in the living ancient language.

Main characters

The main character of the poem is Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. The main features of his character, oddly enough, are considered not heroism and courage, but intelligence, cunning and resourcefulness. His only desire is to return home to his beloved wife and son, whom he has not seen for about 20 years. Throughout the story, the hero is patronized by the goddess of wisdom - Athena.
Odysseus appears before the reader in different roles: a navigator, a robber, a brave warrior, a beggar wanderer, etc. However, whoever he is, he still longs to return home, sincerely suffers for his fallen friends.
Penelope - faithful wife Odysseus, sister of Helen of Troy. She is modest and restrained, her moral character is impeccable. He loves needlework and home comfort. It is distinguished by cunning, as it manages to deceive suitors for more than one year. An exceptionally decent woman.
Telemachus is the son of Odysseus. A brave and courageous fighter, a man of exceptional honor. He loves his family, honors the duty of heir to the throne.

Mythology about Odysseus

Based on the myths, we learn that the hero was the son of King Laertes and the companion of Artemis Anticlea. He was also the husband of Penelope and the father of Telemachus.

Being one of Elena's suitors, he preferred the most beautiful earthly woman her cousin Penelope.
He became famous for his participation in the Trojan War. In addition, he was one of the key characters not only in the Odyssey, but also in the Iliad. He was not only brave, but also cunning, in honor of which he was given the nickname "cunning". Thanks to his resourcefulness, he manages to escape from all troubles.

The birthplace of Odysseus is Ithaca - these are islands in the Ionian Ocean. There he was born and raised, and soon replaced his father, becoming king instead of him. While the hero was swimming in the sea, trying to return home, the suitors, who wooed his wife, captured the city. They constantly ravaged his palace and arranged feasts.

The son of the king, unable to bear such a long absence of his father, prompted by Athena, goes in search of him.
Returning to his homeland, the cunning warrior learns what happened in the city during his wanderings.

main idea

The cunning and dexterous fighter was too arrogant, which angered the Gods, or rather Poseidon. In a fit of narcissism, he exclaimed that he himself could choose his own fate. This Deity was not forgiven him. Thus, the meaning of the work lies in the fact that one cannot indulge in pride and follow its lead. As mentioned above, the ruler of Ithaca deprived the son of the sea ruler of sight, and was very self-confident, believing that the mercy of fate was based on his merits and imaginary superiority. His conceit crossed all the lines, for which God sent a curse on him and forced him to swim in the sea until he realized his guilt.

Homer in his poem showed that a person who considered himself the arbiter of his fate and the crown of creation could suffer from this, and quite seriously. Even the king did not stop having an inflated ego. In addition, the religious motive is strong: the poet, like all people of his time, believed that nothing in this world depends on the subject, everything is predetermined in advance.

Subject

Homer reflected many themes in his heroic epistle. main theme works is an adventurous journey, full of adventure Return of the king of Ithaca from the Trojan battle. The colorful stories of Odysseus completely immerse the reader in the atmosphere of the book.
Stories about his arrival on the island of Calypso, about how he sailed between Scylla and Charybdis, Sirens and other stories of Lord Ithaca are saturated with the theme of love. The hero sincerely loves his family and does not agree to change it to a paradise island with a goddess as a mistress.
Also, the power of feeling is expressed in the image of Penelope. With it, the author reveals the theme of marital fidelity. She was cunning with all her might so as not to get to another. The woman believed in his return, even when no one believed.
The theme of fate appears in every episode of the work. Homer shows the rebellion of the individual against destiny, against the gods, tending to think that he is useless and criminal. Fatum foresees even these movements of the soul, all of them have already been calculated and deduced by moira in the form of a thread of life.
Honor and dishonor is also a topic for the poet to think about. Telemachus considers it his duty to find his father and restore the former grandeur of the house. Penelope thinks that moral decline is a betrayal of her husband. Odysseus believes that it would be dishonorable to give up and not try to return to his homeland.

Issues

Since the poem tells about the ten-year wanderings of the protagonist, his countless exploits, courageous deeds and, finally, a successful return home, the first place in the work is fabulously adventurous issues: the arbitrariness of the gods, the pride of Odysseus, the crisis of power in Ithaca, etc. d.
Ten years have passed after the king sailed from Ithaca to Troy, all the participants in the battle returned home, and only he alone still does not come. He becomes a hostage of the deep sea. His problem is that he loses faith in his strength and comprehends despair. But no matter how deep it is, the hero still goes to his goal, and the thorns on his way only kindle excitement in him. The exploits and adventures that are described in the poem occupy a large part of the narrative and are its core basis.
The problem of divine intervention in the fate of people is also acute in the work. They control people like puppets, depriving them of their self-confidence. The inhabitants of Olympus also resolve conflicts between themselves through a person, so sometimes he becomes a hostage of a situation, the fault of which is not at all him.

Composition and genre

A poem is a large work written in verse form. It combines the lyrical and epic principles. Homer wrote "Odyssey" in this genre - a lyrical epic poem.

The composition is based on old techniques. A very typical story for that time about how a husband returns home, unrecognized by anyone, and ends up at his wife's wedding. There are also widespread stories about a son who went looking for his father.

The Iliad and the Odyssey differ in construction: for example, in the first book the story is presented sequentially, while in the second this sequence is shifted. It was previously mentioned that this artistic method called retrospection.

What ended?

After ten years of sailing Odysseus, the Gods had mercy and decided to let him go to land. But the king of Ithaca, before returning home, asks the Gods to turn him into an old man in order to find out who was waiting for him.

The hero meets his son and plots with him against Penelope's suitors. The cunning ruler's plan is working. The faithful wife recognizes in the old man her husband, who tells her a secret known only to them. After that, Telemachus and his father brutally crack down on those who had the courage to dare and arrange, in the absence of the king, chaos in his palace.

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When we hear or read about ancient Greek heroes, then we present strong, physically developed athletes striving for glory and challenging fate. But was Odysseus like that - one of the most famous characters Homeric poems "Iliad" and "Odyssey"? How did he glorify and immortalize his name? What feats did he accomplish?

Myths and Poems of Homer

From century to century ancient greek myths they talked about the origin and structure of the world, the deeds of the heroes and the Olympic gods. The wonderful world of mythology fascinated and frightened, explained and prescribed; it reflected the value system of Ancient Greece and the connection of times. Hellenic myths had a huge impact on the formation of European and world culture, and the names of many heroes, gods and monsters have become common nouns, symbols of any qualities and properties. For example, a chimera is a symbol of something non-existent, capable of generating dangerous illusions and delusions.

With the development of social, economic and other public relations mythological consciousness began to collapse, and the poems of the legendary Homer "Iliad" and "Odyssey" served as a kind of bridge between folklore and literature.

The heroic epic of Homer is the peak of the development of Hellenic mythology, but at the same time, its artistic comprehension. In addition, as the archaeological excavations of Heinrich Schliemann proved, the Homeric poems to some extent reflect the reality of the 11th-9th centuries BC. and can serve historical source. Homer is the first ancient Greek poet, was, according to legend, blind and lived in the VIII century BC. However, there is no reliable information confirming the fact of its existence yet. But there are wonderful epic poems that recreate a magnificent world ancient Greek mythology and, at the same time, had a huge impact on the development of all European culture.

Through the character of both poems of Homer - Odysseus, king of Ithaca, participant in the Trojan War.

If in the Iliad he is one of the secondary (albeit key) actors the siege of Troy, then in the "Odyssey" - the main character.

Biography of Odysseus

The name "Odysseus" in ancient Greek means "angry" or "wrathful". The Romans called him Ulysses. The name Odysseus now has a nominal meaning: an odyssey is a long, dangerous, adventure-filled journey.

Odysseus is the son of the Argonaut Laertes and the companion of Artemis Anticlea. According to legend, Odysseus' grandfather was Zeus supreme Olympian god.

Odysseus' wife Penelope, her name has become a symbol of marital fidelity. Long twenty years she waited for her husband from military campaign, with inventive cunning, deceiving numerous suitors.

An important role in the poem "Odyssey" is played by the son of the protagonist - Telemachus.

Turning to the Homeric epic, one can identify the fateful events in the life of the legendary hero:

participation in the matchmaking to Elena the Beautiful, where Odysseus meets his future wife Penelope;
participation, albeit reluctantly, in the Trojan War;
protection of the body of Achilles;
creation of a Trojan horse;
a ten-year journey by sea and numerous adventures in which Odysseus loses all his companions;
return to Ithaca in the form of a beggar old man;
the cruel extermination of the numerous suitors of Penelope;
happy family reunion.

All these events form a unique portrait of Odysseus, a characteristic of his personality.

Hero personality

The main feature of the personality of Odysseus is its universality, cosmicity. The genius of Homer created the image of a comprehensively developed person. Odysseus appears not only as a brave hero and winner on the battlefield, he performs feats among monsters and wizards.

He is cunning and reasonable, cruel, but devoted to his homeland, family and friends, inquisitive and cunning. Odysseus is a wonderful speaker and wise adviser, a brave sailor and a skilled carpenter and merchant. He refused eternal youth and love offered by the nymph Calypso, who is in love with him, for the sake of returning to his homeland, to his family.

Thanks to his cunning and resourcefulness, Odysseus overcame numerous dangers:

on the island of the Cyclopes he blinded the giant Polyphemus and thereby escaped death and saved his comrades;
defeated the sorceress Circe;
heard the sirens, but did not die;
passed on a ship between Scylla and Charybdis;
defeated the suitors of Penelope.

In fact, the voyage of Odysseus is the path to the unknown, the comprehension and development of the unknown, the road to oneself and the acquisition of one's own personality.

The legendary hero appears in the Homeric poems as representative of all mankind, discovering and knowing the world. The image of Odysseus embodied all the richness of human nature, its weaknesses and boundlessness. It is no coincidence that many famous writers and poets turned to this image: Sophocles, Ovid, Dante, Shakespeare, Lope de Vega, P. Corneille, L. Feuchtwanger, D. Joyce, T. Pratchett and others.

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As you know, the Odyssey belongs to the genre of epic poetry. It contains more than 12 thousand poems. Scientists say that several centuries before the beginning of new era philologists from Alexandria divided it into 24 books, according to the number of letters of the Greek alphabet. Thus, an ancient book was a fragment of up to 1000 lines, which were placed on one scroll of papyrus. Modern historians have discovered about 250 papyri, which depict parts from the Odyssey.

It is also known that Homer wrote his poems, focusing on the fact that they would be recited by rhapsodic singers, who usually performed at various festivities. In general, the Odyssey, together with the Iliad, should be considered a monument to an era when society passed from one system to another, outliving the communal-clan and giving birth to a slave-owning one.

Analysis of the work

"Odyssey" is dedicated to the story of how the Greek king returns home from the war. Thanks to his skills and efforts, Troy was taken (remember the famous Trojan horse). The return was long - a whole decade, but special attention is paid to the latest trials on the way of the protagonist to the island of Ithaca, where his wife Penelope and son Telemak are waiting. It is noteworthy that the woman has to confront impudent suitors who are trying to convince her of the death of the king and force her to choose a new husband. Having reached the destination, the husband takes revenge on those who encroached on his wife and kingdom.

In addition, the Odyssey contains many digressions- memories of the protagonist of Troy, a story about the adventures that befell the conquerors for all the years spent on campaigns. If you look broadly, the poem describes the events of two decades. If we compare this work with another Homeric creation - The Iliad - then we can see that in the work in question more attention is paid to descriptions of everyday life, as well as the adventures of the main characters.

Heroes of the poem

There are many heroes in the Odyssey: these are both gods and mythological creatures, and people. For example, among the patrons of Odysseus, the goddess of wisdom, Athena, stands out. The antagonist and persecutor of the protagonist is Poseidon, the god of the seas. Throughout his wanderings, the Greek king communicates with Hermes, is captured by Circe, succumbs to the spell of the nymph Calypso, descends into the kingdom of the dead to Hades.

The very image of Odysseus is written out as detailed as possible. In the poem he appears as real hero who performs feats. At the same time, his main achievements are visible not on the battlefield, but among the temptations - wizards and fabulous enemies. He is often quirky and cunning, and he needs these qualities no less than honesty or decency.

Penelope is the wife of Odysseus. In order to maintain love for her husband and loyalty to him during his long absence, she also endures a heroic struggle. Homer makes it clear that Penelope is on her own. female mode just as smart and resourceful as her husband.

The Odyssey mixes reality and fiction. Very often mythology interferes with reality. At the same time, the poem is as realistic as possible, there are even social episodes - for example, when Odysseus acts as a master who takes care of what belongs to him. Conflicts between private and public, desire and duty come to the fore in the poem.

In conclusion, we can say that "Odyssey" reflects not only the real journey of the protagonist in space, but also his movement within himself, the solution of various ethical and moral tasks.