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How Does Odysseus Reflect In Greek Culture

1563 Words7 Pages

The Odyssey, the story of Odysseus, a valiant warrior who is trying to make his way back home from the Trojan Wars, offers great insight into the life of the ancient Greeks at the time, who were believed to be the first group of people to establish a full civilization in Greece and to actually speak the Greek language. Not only does this story tell the tale of a struggling man trying to find his way home, it also provides insight of the way that the Greek culture was ran compared to that of other species, specifically the Cyclops that Odysseus and his crew eventually runs into. The encounter between the Cyclops Polyphemus and Odysseus can be seen depicted on an ancient drinking cup, known as a Kylix, that is kept in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. …show more content…

In The Odyssey, the differences in the way …show more content…

The Greeks are proud to come out to enjoy each others company and they encourage the art of storytelling and conversation. These attributes, along with the Greek's artistic ability, can be seen within the story and in the ancient Greek society when looking at the cultural artifact that contains many intricate details. These kind of activities allow the men that assemble to intellectually and artistically connect, which is a practice that is foreign to the Cyclops. The gratitude and appreciation that Odysseus has for the talent that Demodocrus, a poet who performed 3 narrative songs during his stay at Scherie (VII), possesses would be incomprehensible to Polyphemus. The civilization of the Greeks depends upon their ability to be intellectually engaged, rather than just instinctively engaged like the

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