, composed sometime
around 900 BC, is notable for many reasons. It is full of memorable stories that writers and
artists have alluded to in their works for about 3,000 years now.
One of the
coolest things about The Odyssey is theof its , Odysseus. As a
larger-than-life character, Odysseus is a little different than the typical epic hero. His
strength is not so much physical as it is mentalhe's an exceptionally smart guy, and this is how
he survives twenty years of life-threatening adventures on his way home from Troy.
When he finds himself trapped in the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus (who just happens
to be the son of the God of the Sea, Poseidon), he tells him that his name is Nobody. A little
later, when Odysseus blinds the one-eyed Polyphemus, the cyclops calls out to his brothers,
Nobody has blinded me. His brothers perceive this as pointless ranting; why would somebody
claim to be blinded by nobody?
Along with his intelligence, Odysseus also
has a little too much pride. When he and his surviving men escape Polyphemus, Odysseus taunts
him, telling him his real name. Polyphemus cries out to his father, Poseidon, who exacts revenge
on Odysseus by keeping him lost at sea for many more years before finally allowing him to make
it back to Ithaca and his son and wife.
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