Odysseus

• In Greek Mythology, Odysseus was the Greek King of Ithaca and the central character of the Odyssey, the sequel to the Iliad written by Homer.
• Odysseus was known as Ulysses to the Romans.

The Odyssey

• The Odyssey describes the ten year Journey of Odysseus to return to his home at Ithaca after the fall of Troy.
• The Journey is thought to have taken place in the Ionian Islands near the Peloponnese.
• The Odyssey opens halfway through the story, In medias res (‘in the middle of things’).Horace.
• Events that have occurred previously are explained in flashbacks or by recounting stories.

Portrayal by Homer

• Homer portrays Odysseus as a Greek Hero who is wise, courageous, shrewd and resourceful.

Portrayal by Virgil

• Odysseus was Ulysses to the Romans and is not revered but portrayed by Virgil as cruel, sly and deceitful. The Roman Hero was Prince Aeneas.

The Odyssey

• All the ancient editions and most modern translations are divided into 24 books. Some groups of books and certain individual books, have their own titles.
• The Telemachy:
  • Books 1-4.
• The Apologoi:
  • Books 9-12.
• The Cyclopeia:
  • Book 9. His encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus.
• The Nekuia:
  • Book 11: where Ulysses meets the spirits of the dead.
• The Mnesterophonia.
  • Book 22: The slaughter of all the suitors.
• Book 24: the ending.

• The Telegony is a lost alternative ending.

Similar Stories

• True Story by the Roman satirist Lucian of Samosata.