Culture and Society in The Odyssey - 1037 Words

Homer’s epic poem, â€Å"The Odyssey† reveals many aspects of ancient Greek life and culture through character and plot. Through each of the tales circling the life of Odysseus and the Greek people, Homer depicts the history, legends, values, and merits of the ancient Greeks. Greek culture is known to be one of the most flavored and thorough in history, and each facet of it—from religion to ideology to mentalities and beliefs. The Greeks valued intelligence and wit very strongly. â€Å"The Odyssey† offers countless examples of this. In fact, Odysseus himself gets out of many tough situations and conquers many obstacles with his wit and cleverness. He tells Polyphemos the Cyclopes that his name is â€Å"Nobody† and succeeds in blinding him and getting†¦show more content†¦Feasting was commonplace at the time. In â€Å"The Odyssey† the suitors are constantly feasting, hosting drinking contests, and so on. Finally, perhaps the most vital and well-known aspect of Greek culture is its religious beliefs and ideologies. Deeply pious in the gods, the Greeks believed the Zeus guarded the world with other Olympian gods, and these higher beings determined each individual’s future. Fate and destiny were believed in, and sacrifices were constantly committed in order to please the gods and gain their favor. Prayers to the gods for aid and help were common. Prophecies were numerous, although accurate ones were rare. And of course, the Greeks believed in the Underworld, a dreadful land with Hades as its ruler. â€Å"The Odyssey†, being in a Greek lifestyle, is naturally filled with references to these religious beliefs and thoughts. Odysseus and his companions often made sacrifices to the gods. He visits the Underworld to speak with the blind prophet Tiresias who accurately predicts Odysseus’s travels. Because of the prophet’s words, Odysseus is able to make his journey safely. As for a general point of view on life, the Greeks were extremely optimistic. They believed strongly in the strength of justice and that righteousness would always prevail over evil. They believed that determination and endurance would always win in the end. Homer constantly refers to this broad, universal point in â€Å"The Odyssey† with the triumph of Odysseus over theShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Archetypes In The Odyssey1291 Words   |  6 PagesArchetypes in The Odyssey All humans have ideals and patterns in common. Humans from a thousand years ago and humans in modern times have archetypes. Archetypes are characters, actions, or situations that are repeated in all human life. Archetypes are found in myths, legends, dreams, films, music, literature and several other forms of entertainment. In fact, The Odyssey, a prominent piece of writing, contains many archetypes. The Odyssey is a 3,000 year-old epic written by Homer in Ancient GreeceRead MoreVarying Cultural Structures in Homers The Illiad and The Odyssey1008 Words   |  5 PagesGreek mythology deals significantly with culture and its factors, as they describe the societies and the people inhabiting it by depicting their everyday life and the state of their land. Both Hephaestus, in Homer’s Iliad, and Odysseus, in Homer’s The Odyssey, set out to portray the cultures that they saw, yet the cultures and societies varied greatly, from Hephaestus illustrating the highly developed soc ieties of the Greek and their culture; while on the other hand, Odysseus seems baffled by howRead MoreExamples Of Archetypes In Homers Odyssey1292 Words   |  6 Pagesfact, The Odyssey, a prominent piece of writing, contains many archetypes. The Odyssey is a 3,000-year-old epic written by Homer in Ancient Greece. It describes the adventures of Odysseus. 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