The Odyssey - Homer

Sendil Anbhu August 17, 2014

I recently read The Odyssey by Homer, considered as one of the most highly regarded and celebrated epics along with The Iliad (Homer).

complex and epic in its scope, Homers The Odyssey was written almost 3000 years ago. The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems. It is a sequel to The Iliad.

Homer to whom The Odyssey was attributed , is thought to have been writing around 800-90BC, and the poem is thought to mark the beginning of western literature, almost 3000 years ago.

many scholars believe that it could not have been written by one person and that several were responsible for composing this work. As for Homer himself, it is a matter of considerable argument between scholars as to whether he ever existed and when. the evidences are not adequate.

As there was a great oral tradition of story telling in ancient Greece, it is more likely that the epic poems were developed and refined over generations by many orators.

whatever it is, The Odyssey is indeed a great literary work. The Odyssey is story of Odysseus [The Greek warrior] journey home to Ithaca after the Greek victory over the Trojans. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War.

In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, who compete for Penelope's hand in marriage.

Odysseus faces numerous challenges in his return journey to home, after the fall of the city of Troy. on his travels, he passes through bizarre and foreign lands, challenged at every turn by Gods and mythical beasts.

The goddess Athena helps Odysseus in his struggle to reach home and regain his throne from the suitors whose aim is to persuade Odysseus wife Penelope to marry one of them, all the while enjoying the hospitality of Odysseus' household and eating up his wealth.

The Odyssey is fundamentally about the human sense of belonging and homecoming. It explores the powerful and universal themes of courage, strength of mind and temptation.

one of the major themes of the work is the play off between the human qualities known by the ancient Greeks as Metis and Hubris.

in simple terms Metis is best described as intelligence and common sense or cunningness and guile.

Hubris on the other hand, is excessive pride and self confidence.

in essence they are opposed traits - the perfect individual needs to have a measured balance of both inorder to avoid failure in whatever life throws at them.

I enjoyed reading The Odyssey. what we have take from the book is balancing both Metis and Hubris.

The Odyssey is a Classic and it is a must read.

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