Odyssey by Homer

Last Updated on December 15, 2016

The Odyssey is a Greek epic poem written by Homer. It was said to have been published around the 7th century B.C. The story centers on the life of the Greek hero, Odysseus. The poem pertains to the Green society and their social, economic, and political cultures.

About the Author :

Homer is a semi-legendary author named by Ancient Greeks. He is attributed to the epic poems of the lliad and the Odyssey.  His works center on Greek literature and Greek Gods. Not much is known of Homer’s life and is said to have lived around the region of central coastal Anatolia, which is the present-day Turkey.

Summary :

The Greek ruler, Odysseus, returns to his home long after the ten years Trojan War, following the fall of Troy. In his absence, his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, try to ward off the insistent suitors of Mnesteres, who vie on conquering the throne. Everyone in the country perhaps think that Odysseus was dead in the war because of his long term absence. More than hundreds of suitors have been dining at the royal palace. Telemachus struggle hard to send away the suitors from them.

Athena, the goddess, disguises as a prince and helps Telemachus. They gather the Island’s prominent leaders to resist the invasion of the suitors. They also visit King Menelaus of Sparta and King Nestor of Pylos to get information about his father. Meanwhile, Odysseus had survived the war the destruction of his ship, and was kept as a captive at Calypso’s Island.

At Ithaca, two suitors —Antinous and Eurymachus, confront Telemachus and Penelope was letting them wait too long. The suitors instead plot to assassinate Telemachus, when he is away gathering information about his father. He learns about the captivity of Odysseus by goddess nymph Calypso. On Athena’s urge, the Gods sets free Odysseus from Calypso. Calypso reluctantly frees Odysseus to Penelope and Ithaca. On his way home, Poseidon, the sea god, shipwrecks Odysseus, but is saved by the Phaeacians.

On arriving at Ithaco, Athena arranges for the reunion of son and father secretly. On knowing the scenario at his homeland, he disguises himself as a beggar.  Meanwhile Athena arranges for a ‘bow contest’. Odysseus accompanies to the contest to prove his identity. The suitors at the palace have to dart the arrow with the string of Odysseus’ bow into a line of twelve axes. The contest was an impossible situation and Penelope knows that only her husband could do it.

When all the suitors fail in the contest, only Odysseus himself performs the feat, with help of Athena and deft planning. He along with Telemachus and other two faithful herdsmen slaughter all the suitors away. Finally, Odysseus and Penelope are reunited.