The Odyssey
LitCrits-When the library is closed on weekends
by Homer
The Odyssey is one of the most famous epic poems in history. It tells of Odysseus, a hero of the Trojan war and his travels bck home after the war.
[edit] The Odyssey and Greek culture
The Odyssey says many things about the Ancient Greeks. It describes their customs and manners. It shows their family values and important virtues. Through detailed descriptions and vivid examples, The Odyssey also describes how the Ancient Greeks’ beliefs regarding the interaction of humans and gods parallel our own beliefs of guardian angels.
If the representations of Greek customs and lifestyles in The Odyssey are taken to be true, then it could also be said the depictions of man and god interacting were the honest beliefs of the Ancient Greeks. (The obvious argument to this statement is that the story is fantasy and was always intended as such, but that it had a realistic basis.) However, the opposite will be assumed—that the story was written to be taken as the gospel truth.
In The Odyssey, gods follow characters around. Mainly, Athena follows Telemachus and Odysseus and gives them advice. This belief can be easily compared to that of the guardian angels. If these gods, or heavenly beings, follow people around, help them stay out of danger, give them advice, etc., then they can surely be considered guardian angels in the modern sense.
In the very beginning of the book, Athena enters Odysseus’ house. It is not clear whether she is recognized by Telemachus or not, as he says, “Greetings, stranger! Welcome to our feast, / There will be time to tell your errand later (ll. 18-19).” He calls her a stranger, yet heeds her advice when she tells him to travel to the sage at Pylos, Nestor, and to seek more information about the whereabouts of his father. If taking to heart the advice of a stranger is common, then it is possible he doesn’t recognize the “goddess-in-disguise” as such. If he does recognize her, then he does not appear shocked at the visit of a god. That implies that this must have been a fairly common occurrence.
Perhaps even more strange than the meeting of a man and god, is that they converse as well. Indeed, in The Odyssey gods are treated like ordinary people in that they are talked to and interacted with.
Many instances of gods giving people advice are in The Odyssey. In the beginning of Book 3, Telemachus visits Nestor and Athena encourages him to be brave. She tells him “Not the least shyness, now, Telemachus. You came across the open sea for this— / to find out where the great earth hides your father (ll. 159-161).” Encouraging him further, she says, “Reason and your heart will counsel others. I should say the gods were never indifferent to your life.” She tells him the gods will help him, that they have always taken notice of his life.
When Telemachus gets down on himself and says, “It is a dazzling hope. But not for me. / It could not be—even if the gods willed it (ll. 207-209).” ‘Gray-eyed Athena’ says, “What strange talk you permit yourself, Telemachus/ A god could save the man by simply wishing it—/ from the farthest shore in the world (ll. 211-214).”
Also, in The Odyssey, there are many times when gods help the characters whether preemptively or to get them out of something. In the introduction for Book 5, it tells of Athena pleading to her father, Zeus, to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go. In a summary in Book 9, it says Odysseus is the cleverest of Greek heroes because his “divine guardian” is the goddess of wisdom, Athena. The beginning of Book 10, the god Aoelus does Odysseus and his men a favor. When Circe forewarns Odysseus and his men of the Sirens, he tells him to “Listen with care / to this, now, and a god will arm your mind.”
Later in the story as well, the gods can be seen on Odysseus’ side. Nearing the climax of the epic, Odysseus is about to win the archery contest. When he is about to pull back the first arrow, “Zeus thundered / overhead, one loud crack for a sign / And Odysseus laughed within him…”
In another instance, Athena saves Odysseus from possible death. In the very end of the story, when Odysseus has returned home, the angry families of the slain suitors arrive there ready to incite a blood feud. The gray-eyed goddess appears and calls out “Now hold! / Break off this bitter skirmish; / end your bloodshed, Ithacans, and make peace" (ll. 2019-2021).
If The Odyssey’s descriptions of Greek customs are taken as true, then its descriptions of gods and people could also be taken as such. If people treat gods as nothing special, then a visit from on can be assumed to be a common occurrence. If gods follow, aide, protect and give characters advice, then they can be considered the equals to our modern-day guardian angels.
