What if you had gods controlling your fate? That was the case in Odysseus journey back to Ithaca. Greek gods and goddesses played a huge role in Odysseus’ trip home to Ithaca. Some of the gods hated Odysseus, some wanted to help him, and then some just wanted something to play with.
One god that hated Odysseus and had a huge part in his delayed journey home was Poseidon. In book 9, when Odysseus blinds the monster, the cyclops prays to his father Poseidon, and says “ If I am truly thy son and thou art indeed my father, grant that Odysseus the conqueror of Troy-the son of Laertes-whose address is in Ithaca, may never reach his home!”(Homer, 111) It is shown that one of the reasons that Poseidon hates Odysseus is because he blinded his son.
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Athena said to her father Zeus “But what about that clever Odysseus? I am anxious about him, poor fellow, kept from his friends all this while, in trouble and sorrow, in that island covered with trees and nothing but the waves all around it, in the very middle of the sea!”(Homer, 12) She wanted Zeus’ permission to save Odysseus. Athena's favor towards Odysseus is a major theme throughout the Odyssey. In fact, she is considered "guardian goddess." As the goddess of battle and wisdom, Athena shows favor towards Odysseus because he exemplifies many of the qualities that are most important to her. Another god that helped Odysseus was Zeus. Zeus helped on many occasions. One particular time Zeus sent Hermes to “... declare to Calypso our unchangeable will, that odysseus should return after all his troubles...” (Homer, 62) and he also allows Athena to handle Odysseus. However it was Zeus who also slowed down Odysseus’ trip home due to other gods, such as Helios, manipulating him into sending a storm to destroy Odysseus’ crew and ship. Other minor gods that helped Odysseus are Aeolus, Hermes and Ino. Aeolus gave Odysseus a closed bag of winds so that Odysseus could return home with ease. Hermes helped Odysseus by providing information on how to overpower Circe. And finally Ino aided Odysseus by keeping him buoyant after his ship is destroyed and leads him to the island Phaeacia, where he is later on helped by Nausicaa and Arete