Odyessus

Question: Can you give me character traits of Odysseus in the Odyssey? its very Urgent

Answer: Athene, in Book XIII of the Odyssey, says to Odysseus: "Hardy man, subtle of wit, of guile insatiate..." and listed his character traits.

Question: I was wondering what customs, traditions or values the Odyssey shows the reader. I already have libations, hospitalty, and dependence on the Gods. please email me back with any info you have! THANKS SO MUCH!

Answer: You have only scratched the surface. When you read the Odyssey the first time you get so wrapped up in the adventure that you glide right over the many idiosyncracies. Life was really different then. Homer hints at the difference but he has managed to be very subtle. You have to dig this information out, but when you dig you come up with real treasure. Let us look at the first page, the first sentence even. Who is Pallas? Athena, of course, but why reference Pallas here and Athene later? Why were there wooers to complain about? Of all the adventures why does he only mention the oxen of Helios Hyperion? Is this the same as Apollo or different? Why would a goddess like Calypso want to hold a mortal like Odysseus? Notice that the gods had ordained that he should return home. Now Odysseus has a chance because Poseidon is out of the country. Even on the first page there are many customs and traditions to consider.

The Greeks needed many deities because there were many aspect to life, and each deity incoporated a separate aspect or realm. As time passed some merged and some separated. Pallas Athene is probably the result of the merger of two separates Pallas and Athena. By studying when the different words are used you might figure out the separate aspects that each represents.

Penelope was important to woo because whoever married her was king. They were not wooing because Penelope was lovely. Wooers were considered guests, and guests should be treated well as was customary. These wooers were being treated like guests, but they did not act that way.

If you eat the wrong oxen, you die. Is this a custom or a historical fact. The oxen of the sun may be days of the year and if you waste your days you may be dead. Apollo is the god of reason, but if you follow your reason do you eat the oxen or sacrifice them to the gods.

Is Calypso really a task or a passion.