In Homer’s Odyssey, gods and other supernatural beings dominated every aspect of mortal life. All living things and phenomena that occur in the world can be traced back to the gods. Seeing as how gods are responsible for the lives of mortals and the state of the natural world, performing deeds that anger the gods would prove to be disastrous while performing deeds that please the gods would prove to be beneficial. Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War was took ten years due to angering gods like Poseidon and Helios. However, it was through Athena’s aid that he was able to make it back home.
Throughout the story of Odysseus’s journey told by Homer, there are many defining examples of interaction between humans and their gods. The gods primarily interact with humans by either siding with or against them. The gods would often side with humans since they wanted to help them such as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, helping Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, whereas the gods seeking revenge such as Poseidon, who sought revenge on Odysseus for slaying his son Polyphemus, would turn against them. While actual interaction between gods and humans seems to be a rather risible idea, there was much guidance given to humans by the gods throughout the Odyssey.
The Multiple Layers of Myths In ancient times, civilization would rely on myths passed down from generation to generation for entertainment, which eventually affects their everyday lives in one way or another. The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald from Homer, is an epic poem illustrating the journey Odysseus took on his way home. On the other hand, Mythology, a book written by Edith Hamilton, describes the different perspectives Romans and Greeks have of mythological creatures, gods, and heroes. Common themes shared between both are: Actions are weighted by benefits of consequences, Fate is already written in one’s actions, and Betrayal can be the key to one’s downfall.
Books 5 and 6 of The Odessey are very significant parts of the story. In book 5 the gods (except Posiden) meet to discuss the fate of Odysseus. They conclude that he should be set free to return to his family but it will take him ten years. Hermes an artisan messenger, go to Calypso to tell her to set Odysseus free. When he does Calypso then begins to give a rhapsody saying that the male gods can do whatever they want but when it comes to female gods the males always interfere.
The gods ruined Odysseus’ crew’s, Menelaus’, and Odysseus’ lives by intervening. The gods ruined Odysseus’ crew’s lives by killing all of them. Menelaus may have gotten a lot of treasures from the gods, but he suffered because almost all of his friends died. Odysseus had a hard life because the gods constantly interfered in it. First, the gods killed all of his crewmates.
The Iliad, written by Homer, was believed to of been written sometime in the 8th century B.C., it tells the story of violence, war, and pride between the Trojans and the Acheans. In this paper we are going to discuss a few very interesting points. One of the points being ancient belief in the Homeric gods vs. modern day belief in the real God. The point of this paper is to know whether we should consider the Homeric gods equivalent to the biblical God.
Greek Allusions Greek Mythology Explanation/ Description Implication: When you see this term in a poem or text, what is the purpose of including this reference? Zeus/ Jupiter Zeus was given a lot of power/ control when him and his siblings divided the universe amongst themselves. Zeus was in charge of the clouds, rains, and the sky. Zeus’ power surpassed the power was more than all the divinities’ power combined, which is why he gained a lot of respect from others.
In the Odyssey, I feel as if the Gods role was to function more as spiritual guides and as support for the human of choice. An example being Athena reuniting Odessyus and his son after 20 years, Hermes warning Odysseus of Circes witchcraft, and Circes giving him directions. Yet, I also feel as if they punish for poor behavior as well.
The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s
The gods and goddesses didn't like humans in fact they stayed far from them. If the humans wanted to see the gods and goddesses, they needed to travel far such as to the peak of the mountain top and ask their presence. They could only be seen by who they have chosen. I wonder if he has asked for forgiveness maybe he would be granted his life before it all. I love how you pointed out the Greeks worshipped the gods and goddesses despite their disdain for humans.
In Homer’s epic; The Iliad and the Odyssey. The Gods and Goddess plays a different roles in the story. In the Iliad, the gods are an external supports by helping their favorite’s mortal, both Achaeans and Trojans; accept for Zeus who is trying to stand for justice and fate. On the other hand, the Odyssey is focusing on Odysseus, a hero who are on his journey home with Poseidon as his divine antagonist. The idea represent in both epic discuss how the gods has impact mankind directly and indirectly.
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer portrays Greek gods and goddesses as possessing human qualities and faults. Through their actions and emotions, Homer emphasizes the detrimental effects of lust, envy, wrath, and greed in ancient Grecian society. He also never fails to remind readers of the importance of respect for holy figures because of their powerful abilities to create chaos and wonder". Homer wants to prove that gods and humans share a variety of traits, and the only difference is that god don’t allow these flaws negatively to impact their society. To help further his argument, we can compare Greek gods and goddesses to that of Christianity.
Greek gods and Gods are different, but also there both the same. Let me say same reasons why their bothe them same and different. One reason why Greeks gods are different from God, from the bible is because there are make stories from the Greeks and they are not real, but the God from the bible are true stories and they are real. Also, in stories in Greek gods they live in a temple call Mount Olympics, but in the story of God, he lives in heaven or here with us. Lastly, God teaches us people a lesson while Greek gods tell us how things happen in our world.
In the Iliad, the gods did not have one definite and specific role to play, alternately serving as counselors and deceivers, mediators and warmongers. However, whatever they do and accomplish seems to spring from whims, favors asked of them and slights done to them, love for people who catch their fancy andfuryagainstpeoplewhohaveincurredtheir(quitehasty)wrath. Thisbeingsaid,weshouldnotattempt to present them with the title of “unselfish deities” or box them into any single role, however generous or self-serving. Their motives are too scrambled for us to completely pin down the part they play. Let us, for the present, merely state that the gods of the Iliad can be the stimuli and the limitation of human achievement, powerful arbitrary creatures that can help and hinder according to their moods and caprices.
The Iliad, written by Homer, is an ancient Greek epic about the Trojan War, which the divine certainly influences. Unlike how most gods might act or behave in books nowadays, the gods in the Iliad share some uncommon traits. For example helping their favorite morals, the idea of justice and harmony is surely excluded in the portrayal of Greek gods. The divine in the Iliad are characterized as very emotional and somewhat manipulative. Regardless of what occurs, it 's all the doing of the gods.
