ODYSSEUS (king of Ithaca, the man of many ways)
Hero · legendary Greek king of Ithaca
- Known as
- Crafty
- Parents
- Sisyphus, Laertes, Anticlea
- Siblings
- Ctimene
- Consorts
- Penelope, Circe, Calypso, Callidice, Euippe, Polymele, Hals
- Children
- Telemachus, Leontophron, Polypoetes, Telegonus, Latinus, Agrius, Nausinous, Auson, Anteias, Cassiphone, Nausithous, Arcesilaos and 3 more
- Allies
- Athena, Achilles
- Foes
- Philoctetes
- Symbols and gear
- bow
- Haunts and cult places
- Ithaca, Neritum, Lemnos
- In the sources
- 701 ancient passages
In Godsunder
At the height of their saga. Heroes begin the campaign weaker and grow with every deed.
- Might14
- Grace14
- Vigour16
- Wits20
- Spirit16
- Tier
- 3 · armour 1 · fights as a cunning
- Bow shot. The mighty bow belonged to Odysseus. Odyssey 21 ¶23
- Spear thrust. Odysseus killed Aenus using his spear. Quintus 11 ¶7
Odysseus is the son of Laertes. Euripides, Rhesus 642-674 +19 Odysseus is a king of Ithaca. Euripides, The Cyclops 175-202 +4 Odysseus is the father of Telemachus. Iliad 2 ¶20 +2
Appearance
He appeared in rags and leaned on a staff like a miserable old beggar. Odyssey 17 ¶18 +3 Odysseus and Telemachus strongly resemble each other in head, eyes, hands, feet, hair, and face. Odyssey 1 ¶14 +2 He resembled a lion that had just devoured an ox. Odyssey 22 ¶42 +1 Odysseus was covered in blood and filth from head to foot while standing over the dead. Odyssey 22 ¶42 +1
Powers
Odysseus is renowned for his cunning, stratagems, and resourcefulness. Iliad 3 ¶19 +5 Odysseus is considered the foremost hero in counsel, excelling in good advice and claiming superiority in this regard over Achilles and Ajax. Iliad 19 ¶17 +4 Odysseus possesses superior strength over suitors and has giant arms capable of hurling huge stones. Odyssey 17 ¶24 +4 Odysseus is described as possessing eloquence and great ability in artful words, delivering a speech so powerful that no one could match it. Iliad 3 ¶20 +2 Odysseus claims to have excelled in many athletic exercises during his youth, including being an excellent archer who could throw a dart farther than anyone else could shoot an arrow. Odyssey 8 ¶14 +1 Odysseus is described as exceptionally eager to confront danger, able to endure great hardship, and possessing the ability to perceive situations quickly. Iliad 10 ¶21 +1 Odysseus is described as possessing a piercing wit, deep wisdom, and knowledge of all matters. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 506-542 +1
In the myths
Calypso detained Odysseus in her cave against his will, treating him with great kindness and care comparable to that given to a deity. Odyssey 1 ¶2 +5 Odysseus blinded the Cyclops by getting him drunk and burning out his eye with a heated olive branch to avenge the slaughter of his comrades. Euripides, The Cyclops 441-482 +4 Odysseus instructed Neoptolemus to find a specific cave with two entrances nearby and to use helpful parts of a lookout's story. Sophocles, Philoctetes 1-25 +3 Odysseus killed Antinous, who was the first person to die at his hands, by shooting an arrow that struck him in the throat. Odyssey 22 ¶2 +3 The Phaeacians transported Odysseus to Ithaca by ship while he was fast asleep. Odyssey 13 ¶12 +3 Odysseus defeated Ajax in a contest for possession of Achilles' arms, which the Danaoi secretly voted to award to him, causing Ajax to die by his own sword. Pindar, Nemean 8 ¶7 +2 Odysseus was one of the murderers of Palamedes, whom he contrived to destroy because Palamedes was superior in battle and council. Pausanias 10.31.2 +2 Odysseus ambushed and captured the Trojan prophet Helenus during a solitary night raid. Pausanias 5.22.2 +2 Odysseus traveled to the underworld to consult the shade of Teiresias about returning home. Odyssey 10 ¶41 +2 Odysseus recounted his journey to the underworld and the deaths of his companions after the Trojan War to Alcinous. Odyssey 11 ¶34 +2
Worship
Odysseus regularly offered sacrifices to Pallas and prayed to her for help against the dangers he faced. Euripides, The Cyclops 316-355 +1
Fate
Odysseus is predicted to arrive home in the twentieth year after leaving for Troy. Odyssey 1 ¶25 +1 The gods have decided that Odysseus should finally return to his home, ending his imprisonment by Calypso. Odyssey 1 ¶7 +1 Odysseus was destined to safely reach the land of the Phaeacians and escape his calamities there. Odyssey 5 ¶22 +1 Eumaeus prayed to the gods that Odysseus would return home. Odyssey 14 ¶24 +1
