TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Odysseus is one of the most famous figures in ancient Greek mythology. The King of Ithaca is widely known through the epic Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer, which tells not only the hero's journey home after the Trojan War, but also the struggles, ingenuity, and various trials and tribulations one must face in achieving their goals.
To this day, the story of Odysseus is still considered one of the most influential works of literature in the history of Western civilization, inspiring numerous works of literature, films, video games, and musical pieces.
The newest adaptation of the 2,700-year-old epic is the movie The Odyssey by famed director Christopher Nolan. Featuring a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus himself, the movie is currently smashing box office records globally.
Who is Odysseus?
In Greek mythology, Odysseus was the son of Laertes and Anticleia and the ruler of the Kingdom of Ithaca, a small island in the Ionian Sea.
Homer portrays Odysseus as an extraordinarily intelligent, courageous, and enduring hero. Unlike other Greek heroes who relied on physical strength, Odysseus was better known for his wit.
A Key Role in the Trojan War
Before the Odyssey, Odysseus' name appeared in the epic Iliad, also written by Homer. In this work, Odysseus was one of the leaders of the Greek army and played a significant role during the Trojan War.
Odysseus is also believed to have invented the Trojan Horse strategy, where he packed Greek soldiers into a giant wooden horse and then transported it into the city of Troy.
This strategy proved to be a turning point in the war, which had lasted for approximately 10 years and ultimately led to Greek victory.
A Journey Full of Woe
After the Trojan War ended, Odysseus intended to return to Ithaca to reunite with his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus.
However, what should have been a short voyage home turned into a 10-year adventure due to the various obstacles he faced.
During his journey, Odysseus and his crew encountered various mythological creatures, such as the Cyclops, the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, man-eating giants, and the sorceress Circe.
Odysseus was also stranded on the island of Ogygia and held captive by the nymph Calypso for seven years before breaking free and continuing his sail to Ithaca.
Why Did Odysseus Anger the Gods?
One reason why it took so long for Odysseus to reach Ithace was the anger of the gods, particularly Poseidon, the god of the sea.
Before sailing home, the goddess Circe warned Odysseus that his men should not eat the sacred cattle of Helios, the sun god, no matter what.
However, when food supplies ran out, the crew slaughtered and ate the cattle anyway. Helios then asked Zeus to punish them.
Zeus granted the request by destroying Odysseus' ship with a thunderbolt. The entire crew died, leaving Odysseus the sole survivor.
Furthermore, Odysseus also angered Poseidon by blinding Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops, who turned out to be the son of the sea god.
The Story of the Cyclops and "Outis"
One of the most famous passages in the Odyssey is Odysseus' encounter with Polyphemus.
While trapped in the Cyclops' cave, Odysseus introduced himself as "Outis," meaning "nobody."
After successfully intoxicating Polyphemus with strong wine, Odysseus and his men stabbed the giant in the eye, blinding him with a heated stick.
When Polyphemus cried out for help, he claimed that "nobody" had attacked him. Thinking no one was actually attacking him, the other Cyclopes ignored his cries.
This ingenuity allowed Odysseus and his men to escape by hiding under the body of a sheep that had emerged from the cave.
However, after successfully escaping, Odysseus made a fatal mistake. He couldn't resist revealing his true identity to Polyphemus.
This action led Polyphemus to discover who had blinded him, and he begged Poseidon to punish Odysseus. This prayer would then be the beginning of the long, arduous voyage of the reigning King of Ithaca.
Sirens' Call
The Sirens, another popular storyline in the Odyssey, features creatures with such beautiful voices that they lured sailors to their painful end.
To avoid danger, Odysseus ordered his entire crew to plug their ears with beeswax.
Meanwhile, he himself requested to be tied securely to the ship's mast so he could still hear the Sirens' song and avoid being tempted to jump overboard.
This strategy made Odysseus the only person to successfully hear the Sirens' song and survive.
Back to Ithaca
After a decade of travel, Odysseus finally arrived in Ithaca.
However, his return was not easy. For years, he was presumed dead, leading many nobles to seek Penelope's hand in marriage and seize the throne.
With the help of the goddess Athena, Odysseus disguised himself to test the loyalty of those around him before finally revealing his identity.
After successfully passing various trials and defeating Penelope's suitors, Odysseus reclaimed his throne as King of Ithaca and reunited with his family.
An Enduring Cultural Legacy
Odysseus's story has inspired numerous works of literature and popular culture for centuries, besides the latest Hollywood adaptation, The Odyssey.
James Joyce's novel Ulysses used Odysseus's Latin name as its primary inspiration. Margaret Atwood wrote The Penelopiad, which tells the story from Penelope's perspective.
Odysseus's adventures also inspired the animated series Ulysses 31, the game Super Mario Odyssey, the television series Prison Break, and even the Japanese animated film Spirited Away, which bears a number of similarities to parts of the Odyssey.
Read: 10 Things That Make The Odyssey Nolan's Most Ambitious Film Yet
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