There are distinct differences between the depictions of pirates in the Odyssey and those contained within Chaereas and Callirhoe. These variations reflect a shift in perception that occurred between the Classical Greek era and the Roman period. Whereas the depictions of pirates contained within the Odyssey indicate that piracy was considered to be a perfectly normal activity carried out by the Greek heroes themselves, by the time that Chaereas and Callirhoe was written, pirates were viewed with widespread fear and distrust. Therefore, it can be argued that in the Odyssey, there is a certain amount of self-identification with the figures of the pirates: the pirates are seen as an extension of the Greeks themselves, and even Odysseus. However, …show more content…
Of the spoils I selected those I desired” (Od. 14.229-232). In Book 9, Achilles also describes acts of piracy: “Then I plundered twelve cities of men with my ships, and eleven others by land throughout the fertile Troad. I took many good treasures from all these…” (9.328-332). Later on, in Book 17, Odysseus asks Antiinoos for food, and tells him that Zeus made him keep company with pirates in Egypt (17.424). Other examples can be found throughout the text of the Odyssey (14.257, …show more content…
If the piracy led to catastrophe and a lack of honor, then those acts are condemned. If they do not, then they are lauded. Odysseus regrets his piracy in Egypt only because it was a failure (17.429-433).
By the time of the Romans, views on piracy had changed considerably. Panagakos (2004) notes that according to ancient Roman historians, such as Plutarch and Livy, Roman laws were set in place in order to pursue and prosecute pirates as early as 102 B.C.. One such account describes how Julius Caesar sought out pirates from Rhodes and crucified them (Panagakos, 2004). In Chaereas and Callirhoe, Theron is described as “a criminal who sailed the sea and had ruffians stationed in harbors with the boats acting as ferrymen, but trained as pirates” (1.7). Theron is described as being clever and as the novel progresses, he is even given human elements, such as when he worries about being betrayed by his fellow pirates (1.12), but he has a distinctly criminal element that is lacking in the Greek view of
In the story The Odyssey, Odysseus showed many traits. I believe the most important trait he showed was loyalty. He showed it in multiple situations. Odysseus showed loyalty when dealing with the sirens, the louts eaters, and the cyclops.
In The Odyssey, Homer conveys a mixed message about Odysseus’s crew. At times, they seem loyal, whereas other scenes reveal them as disloyal. Homer does this to help center the attention on how Odysseus can fall victim to temptation and stand up to take control of his crew. The critical moments where Odysseus and his crew are in disagreement are significant because they demonstrate how Odysseus is epic, yet still human and flawed.
“The Odyssey” is an epic written by Homer between 750 and 650 B.C. It is the tale of the main hero’s, Odysseus’s, journey home to Ithaca from Troy. It takes place after the Trojan War and is the sequel to “The Iliad.” Odysseus and his men set sail from Troy and come across the lair of the lotus eaters. After escaping, they run into the cyclops,
Odysseus dealt with his disobedient crew. After an already difficult journey, Odysseus and his crew arrive at Aeolis, where the king Aeolus offers him wind in a bag, which had enough wind to send Odysseus’s ship back home to Ithaca. While Odysseus sleeps, the crew conspires, believing that the bag contained treasure, “Aeolus has lavished these gifts upon him. Let 's have a quick look, and see what’s here, How much gold and silver is stuffed in this bag” (Homer p.142). The crewmen opened the bag and the winds rushed out, taking them back to Aeolis’ island. Due to their curiosity and disobedience, the crew adds years to the journey. But the crew does not learn from the mistake, and the next time they disobey, the consequences were fatal. When they arrive one Helios’ island, Odysseus forbids the crew to consume the cattle of the Sun God. “But swear me a great oath, every last man: If we find any cattle or sheep on this island, no man will kill a single cow or sheep. In his recklessness, but will be content to eat the food immortal Circe gave us” (Homer p.186-87). But while Odysseus is gone, the crew disregards his instructions and feasts one Helios’ cattle. Their consequence was Zeus destroying the ship and the crew, leaving only Odysseus alive. Odysseus wishes to go home, but he cannot control his men’s ignorance. The crew’s disobedience prevents Odysseus from achieving his
In his part of the story Odysseus is trying to get him and his men free of the cyclops so they can go home. The cyclops is Poseidon's son and Odysseus offended Poseidon when he harms the cyclops, which is very disrespectful. These are two huge examples that show why Odysseus is a bad
Murdering and robbing the Cicones on their island was not only unnecessary, but it cost Odysseus many of his men, “I sacked their city, massacred their men. We took much treasure and we took their wives… In each ship’s crew, six of my well-greaved comrades died” (Homer 171). Odysseus could have sailed right by the island of the Cicones, but that would not have boosted his ego. Killing these men and enslaving the others was another opportunity for Odysseus to prove to others what kind of leader he was, so he took it. After learning from this experience, Odysseus did not take the next opportunity to prove himself. Odysseus could have reciprocated Antinous’ actions when he threw a stool at Odysseus, but “When struck, he did not budge; he stood, firm as a rock; he only shook his head…he devised a deadly plot” (Homer 353). Although murdering Antinous at that moment was another opportunity to prove himself, Odysseus knew that it would be detrimental to his plan. Instead of acting out of egocentrism, he continued his façade as a beggar. Throughout his ordeal, Odysseus was able to progress from egocentric to relatively
Hermes, God of Thieves, could be considered a major character in Homer’s “The Odyssey”. The Coen Brothers, director and producer of the film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou”, took the idea to take characteristics from Hermes and gave the thieving qualities to George Nelson, the cunning thief in their movie. That’s not all the Brothers borrowed though; The events involving Nelson are extremely similar but different in all the right ways. For example, “The Odyssey” states that Odysseus’ crew killed other people's
Homer’s The Odyssey chronicles Odysseus’s return home from the Trojan War to reunite with his wife, kingdom, and son. However, Odysseus has been encountering serious difficulties that have prevented him from reaching home for nearly twenty years. These difficulties include various different types of monsters, each of which seems to embody undesirable traits such as laziness or savagery. The Greeks portray creatures with these traits as monsters as an example of the Greeks’ “better” traits and subsequent superiority. Each species of monster within The Odyssey represents one or more qualities that the Greeks have demonized in comparison to themselves.
4). The suitors, led by Antinous and Eurymachus, expect justice to be served when Telemachus sails to Pylos without telling them. '[The] Suitors had embarked and were sailing the high seas with murder for Telemachus in their hearts'; (pg. 69). They eventually found him, however they did not kill him like they sought out to. This is a case in which 'justice'; did not happen at all. The adventure of Odysseus and Polyphemus, the cycloptic son of Poseidon, showed good examples of justice. Polyphemus ate four men of Odysseus' crew and in return, Odysseus and his remaining crew administered justice: 'Seizing the olive pole, they drove its sharpened end into the Cyclops' eye'; (pg. 135). In doing this, they were able to escape and they set sail. Odysseus, carried away in his pride, announced his identity to Polyphemus. When he had heard Odysseus' name, Polyphemus called upon his father, Poseidon, to adminis...
Odysseus is one of the most renowned warriors of all time. However, many historians argue that he was one of the worst leaders in all of literature and humanity. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus has shown traits unbefitting of a leader and king. Odysseus is a lousy leader because he is arrogant, disloyal, and selfish.
As a result of Odysseus’ dishonesty, Odysseus is able to save many of his fellow crewmates’ lives throughout Homer’s
Homer’s The Odyssey is not just a tale of a man’s struggle on his journey home from the Trojan War, but of his struggle from the consequences of revenge. The Odyssey weaves in different characters’ tales of revenge from the gods and what impact revenge actually had on those characters. Revenge is an important underlying theme in The Odyssey because, in essence, it explains why Odysseus’ journey was so prolonged and treacherous. A few examples of revenge in the poem include Orestes’ revenge on Aegisthus, Zeus’ revenge on Odysseus and his men, and Poseidon’s revenge on Odysseus. These different examples of revenge in The Odyssey show the importance of the gods’ revenge in the epic journey of Odysseus.
Homer's two central heroes, Odysseus and Achilles, are in many ways differing manifestations of the same themes. While Achilles' character is almost utterly consistent in his rage, pride, and near divinity, Odysseus' character is difficult to pin down to a single moral; though perhaps more human than Achilles, he remains more difficult to understand. Nevertheless, both heroes are defined not by their appearances, nor by the impressions they leave upon the minds of those around them, nor even so much by the words they speak, but almost entirely by their actions. Action is what drives the plot of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and action is what holds the characters together. In this respect, the theme of humanity is revealed in both Odysseus and Achilles: man is a combination of his will, his actions, and his relationship to the divine. This blend allows Homer to divulge all that is human in his characters, and all that is a vehicle for the idyllic aspects of ancient Greek society. Accordingly, the apparent inconsistencies in the characterization of Odysseus can be accounted for by his spiritual distance from the god-like Achilles; Achilles is more coherent because he is the son of a god. This is not to say that Achilles is not at times petty or unimaginative, but that his standards of action are merely more continuous through time. Nevertheless, both of Homer's heroes embody important and admirable facets of ancient Greek culture, though they fracture in the ways they are represented.
Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey, the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this, his men are killed and his boats destroyed.
Intro: There are a wide variety of themes present throughout the Odyssey, written by Homer. Be it hospitality, perseverance, vengeance or power of the Gods, loyalty is truly the theme that brings the whole book together. Being 10 years after the Trojan War, many have forgotten about Odysseus and his men as they constantly brave what the gods throw their way. This essay will be talking about Odysseus and Penelope’s mutual loyalty to one another, the loyal relationships between Gods and men and finally, the loyalty Odysseus’ men show for him until death. This essay with prove to us that without loyalty, Odysseus’ legendary journey would have been put to an end near where they started. The general theme of loyalty is what kept Odysseus motivated and determined.