Odysseus of Ithaca:
Famed or Fraud? Homer’s Odyssey tells the tale of the Trojan War hero Odysseus’s return home to his land of origin, Ithaca. Homer describes Odysseus as being one of, or possibly the greatest hero in all of Greece’s history. He is characterized as being a fearless, heroic man, who, with divine assistance, bests even the greatest monsters, and overcomes the most troublesome and life-threatening situations that he encounters, or the gods throw at him. However, if not for the assistance given to him by Athena, or any other divine figure, Odysseus’s journey would most likely have not worked out in his favor as it did, and he most likely would have perished within the very first books of The Odyssey. If divine assistance is what gave Odysseus his spark, courage and abilities, then are his abilities really justified? Who is the real Odysseus of Ithaca? Throughout many instances of The Odyssey, Odysseus is seen as this “almighty figure of excellence,” that can “never be beat or conquered.” However, despite the recognition that Odysseus deserves for accomplishing most of his feats, most of the work and assistance given to him was crafted by the goddess Athena; who constantly monitors Odysseus’s every move and protects him throughout the course of the tale. For example, on page 175 of the text, when Odysseus confronts the Phaecian princess Nausicaa, Athena personally makes him appear less menacing and worn. By doing this, Athena guaranteed that Odysseus would be helped, and more importantly, that his survival would be guaranteed. For example, Homer writes, “And then, once he had bathed all over, rubbed in oil and donned the clothes the virgin princess gave him, Zeus’s daughter Athena made him taller to the eye, his build more massive, and down from his brow she ran his curls like thick hyacinth clusters full of blooms.” This act of beautification no doubt increased Odysseus’s chances at assistance, survival, and ultimately, a journey home to Ithaca. In addition, when Odysseus is caught in Poseidon’s storm of wrath, on page 163, the goddess, Ino, betroths Odysseus with a scarf that will shield him from death. Ino says, “Here, take this scarf, tie it around your waist-it is immortal. Nothing to fear now, neither pain nor death.” Without this action of kindness, Odysseus would have instantly perished and the Odyssey would have never been concluded. Throughout the events of The Odyssey, it is perfectly obvious that the gods play one of the most prevalent roles in affecting the life of Odysseus and his family. However, without the gods’ help and/ or hindrance, what would have happened to Odysseus and his crew? There are three major events that could have permanently altered the course of The Odyssey in a drastically different direction. First is the event of the disguise as the beggar, on page 300. Here, Athena transforms Odysseus from a young man to an aged, withered beggar in an attempt to disguise him from the suitors who seek to marry his wife, Penelope. Homer writes, “Athena stroked Odysseus with her wand. She shriveled the supple skin in his lithe limbs, stripped the russet curls from his head, covering his body tip to toe with the hide of an old man…” Without Athena’s work, Odysseus surely would have been recognized by the people and suitors of Ithaca and events would have unfolded in a dissimilar fashion. Another pivotal moment in The Odyssey is when Odysseus is on Circe’s island. Here, the goddess, Circe, transforms unwary men into various types of animals for her amusement. The only way that Odysseus manages to avoid this transformation is because the god, Hermes, presents Odysseus with a rare plant that when consumed, will make him invulnerable to Circe’s magic. Hermes says on page 239, “But wait, I can save you, free you from that great danger. Look, here is a potent drug. Take it to Circe’s halls-its power alone will shield you from the fatal day.” Without Hermes’ help, Odysseus would still be trapped in Circe’s halls. Lastly, is Odysseus’s freedom from Calypso’s island on page 156. Here, Hermes conveys Zeus’s will to Calypso, “Now Zeus commands you to send him off with all good speed: it is not his fate to die here, far from his own people. Destiny still ordains that he shall see his loved ones, reach his high-roofed house, his native land at last.” If not for the Olympians, Odysseus may have stayed on that island forever, grieving for Ithaca. After examining the gods’ role in governing Odysseus’s journey in The Odyssey, can one conclude that Odysseus’s abilities and achievements are really justified? After analyzing the events throughout The Odyssey, it can be concluded and defended that Odysseus’s abilities could not have been by any means possible without the gods’ assistance. Whether it is Ino saving him from Poseidon’s storm of wrath (pg. 163), or the transformation from brute to beggar (pg. 300), the whole of Odysseus’s actions throughout the tale have been strongly influenced by the gods and, without them, the true events of Homer’s writing would have never unfolded in the intended fashion. In many ways, Odysseus is more of a pawn to the gods than a hero in most cases. Putting aside Odysseus’s immense talent in warfare and battle, there are countless occasions where he is subject to the gods’ will and power. For example, on page 163, Odysseus is helpless in Poseidon’s storm. Another perfect example of Odysseus’s vulnerability is on page 283 where Homer writes, “But once we’d left that island in our wake-no land at all in sight, nothing but sea and sky-then Zeus the son of Cronus mounted a thunderhead above our hollow ship and the deep went black beneath it. Nor did the craft scud on much longer.” Here, with one savage blow, Zeus destroyed both Odysseus’s ship and crew, just revealing how vulnerable Odysseus is to the unparalleled wrath of the Olympian gods. In conclusion, many of Odysseus’s feats and accomplishments are the work of the gods. Without them, Odysseus would never had made it home to Ithaca, and the brutal suitors would have most likely killed Telemachus, married Penelope, and Odysseus’s kingdom and possessions would have been slowly dissolved over time. If it wasn’t for Athena, Odysseus may never have been assisted by the Phaecians. Moreover, if not for Hermes, Odysseus would most likely be a pig right now and, if not for Zeus, Odysseus may have never escaped Calypso’s island. Odysseus was favored by the gods and, without that much-needed level of protection from Athena, Hermes, and Zeus, events most definitely would never have played out according to Homer’s intentions. In summary, the Olympian gods played an enormous role in deciding Odysseus’s fate, and without them, one could only imagine how events may have played out for Odysseus, King of Ithaca.