Important Roles Of Important Gods In The Odyssey

Important Roles of Important Gods Gods always play main roles in Greek culture. They are the creators of everything and without them most stories are not as entertaining. In The Odyssey there are a good amount of gods and goddesses in the tragedy, however three of these gods play key roles. Athena, Zeus, and Poseidon all have significant roles. Their role, depending on the situation, was to aid or bring certain characters to glory or destruction. Athena plays the role of a goddess of great guidance and wisdom. Throughout the entire play she is consistently providing some form of assistance. She aids Odysseus and his son Telemachus the most. In one situation Athena disguises herself as a friend of Odysseus in order to talk to Telemachus. She

This is a where here wisdom comes into play. She knew that by telling young Telemachus this that it would ignite a strong hope in him. This encourages him to stay positive and give him a new confidence. Athena displays her strategic mind and also shows what type of generosity and guidance her heart contains. Earlier in the poem, Athena confesses that’s she has a soft spot for Odysseus. It seems only right for her feelings for his son to follow suit. These lines provide a good image for how Athena can use her wisdom to guide someone in the right direction. Another scene of Athena’s guidance and wisdom comes again with young Telemachus. Odysseus has returned home and she needs to get his son there as well. She comes to him late in the night and says “But you make your way to the swineherd first, in charge of your pigs, and true to you always. Sleep the

Since he is the king of all gods, it is only right he calls the shots. He has the power to call anyone to his will. One of example of this is when he decides to help Odysseus return home. He tells Hermes “Announce to the nymph with lovely braids our fixed decree: Odysseus journeys home, the exile must return home” (Lines 34-35). Zeus’s word is final. When told it is from the king god himself, the nymph does as she is told. This shows how powerful Zeus and his word is. Also it displays that if Zeus wants it done, it shall be done. Zeus helps Odysseus gets a jump-start to returning home by helping him get released off Calypso’s island. Another scene where Zeus holds the fate of more characters is when Poseidon wants to attack Odysseus. Zeus says to him “Here’s what seems best to me. As the people all lean down from the city’s heights to watch her speeding home, strike her into a rock that looks like a racing vessel, just offshore, amaze all of your men with a marvel for the ages. Then pile your huge mountains round about their port” (Lines 175-180 Book 13). He gives a Poseidon a detailed plan on how to punish his own people. This determines the fate amongst the men on the boat, sending is his second act saving the main character of the story. It might be safe to say that Zeus has a soft spot the