In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, it is suggested that the ideal Greek concept of a hero is one who exhibits the moral virtue of arete, excellence in all areas. Having a similar denotation to that of the more modern term “well-rounded”, the Greeks valued highly those who were not lacking and were furthermore adept at a wide variety of skills. Odysseus, the protagonist, is an exemplar of a hero that demonstrates this Greek ideal. In addition to having a mighty physical prowess that allowed him to survive his rough journey, he was also able to use his own craftiness and quick-wittedness to overcome these trials. The Greek hero ideal of having arete is evidenced by Odysseus’s use of his intelligence instead of strength to resolve his conflicts …show more content…
His clever use of disguise and deception to trick Polyphemus into letting his crew flee is a clear demonstration of Odysseus relying on intelligence rather than strength. In an attempt to escape, Odysseus declares to Polyphemus, “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.” (IX.397-398). Acknowledging that his strength would not be able to surpass that of Polyphemus’s, Odysseus instead cleverly deceives the Cyclops by telling Polyphemus that his name was “Nohbody”. Polyphemus, not aware of the trick, was unable to ask for help from the other Cyclops when he was attacked, calling out, “‘Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!’” (9.444). The obvious irony of the name that Odysseus chooses both humorously and cleverly presents Odysseus’s cunning, but also effectively showed the importance of having great intelligence besides strength. Had Odysseus resolved this struggle through strength alone, he likely would have lost many men and possibly his own life as well. His deception and craftiness allowed for the optimal resolution of many rewards with little …show more content…
Odysseus’s trials and problem-solving methods proved that intelligence was just as important as strength. Both Polyphemus and the Sirens were obstacles that could not be overcome by strength alone, and only heroes who were both intelligent and physically strong were able to pass the obstructions. The Greek ideal of arete, in more recent times, was reflected in the cultural rebirth of Europe during the Renaissance. The Renaissance, which was characterized by a surge of interest in Greek and Roman culture, reintroduced the ideal of excelling in many fields, which was later dubbed “The Renaissance Man”. The presence of the Greek ideal of arete in the ideology of the Renaissance is evident, with both praising those who were skillful in all areas. The ideal of being a master of all trades has maintained a large amount of appeal throughout history, which Homer, through The Odyssey, has proved to be a major component of all