Civilized And Uncivilized Country In Homer's The Odyssey

The epic, The Odyssey by Homer, follows the adventures of Odysseus and his Telemachus, attempting to regain control over their home on the island of Ithaca. Since the epic was usually told orally from a bard, it contained descriptions of modern Greek traditions and ideologies. The Odyssey describes the differences between a civilized and uncivilized country. The many islands Odysseus travels to, demonstrates the differences between “civilized” and “savages” countries.
Throughout The Odyssey, there appears to be distinct differences between the lifestyles of those who classify themselves as “civilize” and “savages.” The conditions of each lifestyle can best be understood when compared to each other. By comparing a “civilized” land to a land

Simple descriptions such as homes, religions, and hospitality, exemplify the different expectations of a “savage” land and a “civilized” land. These distinctive differences demonstrate the different classifications of a civilized and an uncivilized country.
A major difference between the land of the Cyclops and other lands such as Ithaca and Sparta, are the land layout and the home structure. The environment depicted in the land of the Cyclops is best described as, “ Thick with woods where the wild goats breed…no flocks browse, no plowlands flow with wheat,; / unplowed, unsown forever-empty of human kind”(9.135-36). Furthermore, the area which Polyphemus considers his home is, “In a cave …then to close his door he hoisted overhead / a tremendous, massive slab” (9.266/272). The overall description of Polyphemus homeland is an uncultivated island. The land contains no farms, no dock, and free of humankind. Similarly, the home of Polyphemus

However, the roles the gods within different societies differ. While on the land of the Cyclops, the Cyclops recognizes the existence of the powerful gods, yet refuse to fear the gods’ powers. The Cyclops boasts to Odysseus, “Telling me to fear the gods or avoid their wrath... we’ve got more force by far” (9.308-11). Polyphemus, acknowledges the existence of the gods, even making a direct reference to Zeus’ lightning shield, however Polyphemus believes he contains more power than a god. Odysseus mentions a connection between fearing the gods and civilization in many scenarios. Specifically, Odysseus states, “ What are they-violent, savages, lawless? / Or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men?”(9.205-06). Odysseus acknowledges that since the Cyclops does not fear the gods, Polyphemus classifies as a savage. Cities, such as Pylos and even Sparta, constantly worship of the gods in order to secure a safe passage through the sea, or please an upset god. Many examples can be found involving sacrifices throughout the epic, such when Telemachus sails to Pylos witnessing, “people lined the beaches, / sacrificing sleek black bulls to Poseidon” and later the people of Pylos make a grand sacrifice, “pouring the lustral water, scattering barley-meal / he lifted up his ardent prayers to Pallas Athena.”(3.05-06)(3.498-99). The people who live in a “civilize” society fear