The Odyssey

"Earth breeds no creature frailer than a man, of all that breathe and move upon the earth." The Odyssey is one of the oldest works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. It, and the Illiad are the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. The Odyssey follows the complex Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who after fighting for ten years in the bloody Trojan War is faced with another 10 year struggle in his effort to return home. The Odyssey details his path through a world of wonders and dangerous adventures as he desperately struggles to reclaim his kingdom and his family. Displaying ingenuity over brute strength and keeping one’s head rather than acting rashly were not as obvious to people in ancient times like they are today. These skills served our wily hero well and he triumphed over incredible obstacles including a descent into Hell, Cyclopses, cannibals, an assortment of other mystical creatures and the wrath of the sea god Poseidon. Meanwhile, his wife and son kept away those who were assuming Odysseus was dead or not returning and were vying for her hand and Ithaca’s throne. In the end, Oldysseus returns home, kills his wife’s suitors, wins a contest to prove his identity and retakes the throne of Ithaca.