The story is more or less familiar to everyone. The king of Ithaca, Odysseus, like all the other kings of the Greek cities, was called to participate in the campaign of the Greeks to restore the prestige of the king of Sparta, Menelaus. The legend of the betrothal of the queen of Sparta, the famous for her beauty, Helen, to the son of the king of Troy, Paris, is well known. The reaction of the Greeks to this dishonorable act was also well known

What is it that makes Homer’s Odyssey stand out over the centuries? How has it managed to reach the present day and maintain an undiminished worldwide interest? What features make it a monument of world literature and one of the most influential works of all time? Let’s explore these questions together…

Preamble
Homer begins the narrative of events by calling upon the Muse Calliope for inspiration. “Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he sacked the famous town of Troy.”.

The existence of a divine figure, such as the Muse, who enhances Homer’s writing ability, creates high expectations to the reader for a fascinating story to be heard.

Main Character

Odysseus was not the son of a god, he had neither magical powers nor divine attributes. He was a mortal man, vulnerable because of his nature, but invulnerable because of his spirit. A hero who defeated his enemies with his cunning, who subdued the elements of nature with his ingenuity, who defeated his enemies with a single trick known to all: the Trojan Horse.

A tragic hero. Why? Because he suffered through no fault of his own, he incurred the wrath of Poseidon and found himself in an unequal battle with the god. for 10 years he fought in Troy and emerged victorious, for 10 years he wandered in search of Ithaca. He missed his home every hour and every moment, he was impatient to see his wife and child, even when the goddess Calypso, who was in love with him, promised him eternity with her, equal to equal, god to goddess. He refused and wandered away again, exposed to the wrath of the mighty Poseidon.
But he was not only a tragic hero, he was also beloved by the gods. The goddess Athena and the king of Gods, Zeus, helped him to reach his goal, symbolizing the recognition that man earns through personal effort for evolution.

Ithaca

Odysseus’ final destination, Ithaca, is a personal goal for everyone at all times. It is no coincidence that the enlightened Cavafy was inspired by his own Ithaca, and he was to influence readers all over the world. An Ithaca that no one knows exactly what it looks like. While Homer’s descriptions are monumental, there are no descriptions when we get to Ithaca. Why? Because it’s everyone’s personal Ithaca, which they can imagine however they want, so they can find motivation to fight for it.

Dangers and obstacles

Odysseus is confronted on his journey with all the fears that a human being can feel. With an inexhaustible mental reserve and a monumental acumen, he will manage to survive. The Cyclopes, Laistrygones, Scylla and Charybdis symbolize the obstacles of each man in his life. The Sirens with their divine song, the goddess Calypso with her exquisite beauty and the promise of eternity, the pure and innocent Nausica, creatures that symbolize the temptations that we should avoid in order to concentrate on our goal.

Poseidon

Death itself, man’s greatest fear, was implacably opposed to Odysseus. He pursued him as death pursues human nature. But this haughty man laughed at him, provoked him by committing greater outrages each time, and yet he survived every battle with him. An admirable example for all of us who truly fear our own fragility.

This and much more are the elements that make the Odyssey so special. One of us, a mortal, has reached his goal, the Nostos, the return to his homeland. We can do the same by following his example and fighting against the difficulties as if we were invincible. Thank you, Muse Kalliopi, for your contribution.  We are grateful.

Giovanna☀️