Odyssey Webquest

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Circe

Beautiful sorceress who turned Odysseus’ men (but not Odysseus) into pigs

Polyphemus

Cyclops (one-eyed giant) and son of Poseidon; enemy to Odysseus

What does this meme suggest about Odysseus and his journey home?

What was the Trojan War?

The Trojan War is a legendary conflict between the early Greeks and the people of Troy. In the traditional accounts, Paris, son of the Trojan king, kidnapped Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Agamemnon, the brother of Menelaus, then led a Greek expedition against Troy. The ensuing war lasted 10 years, finally ending when the Greeks pretended to withdraw, leaving behind them a large wooden horse with a raiding party concealed inside. When the Trojans brought the horse into their city, the hidden Greeks opened the gates to their comrades, who then sacked Troy, massacred its men, and carried off its women. This version was recorded centuries later; the extent to which it reflects actual historical events is not known. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Trojan War". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Trojan-War. Accessed 12 November 2023.

Click here to read more about him.

Who was Homer?

Over the centuries some historians have speculated about Homer’s identity. Was he even a man at all, or was he a woman? Perhaps he was even a collective or lineage of writers? For much of antiquity, however, the accepted fact seems to have been that Homer was a single, male mind, due to the consistency of the writing style. Both Iliad and Odyssey date from roughly the late 8th or early 7th century BCE, a time when writing was widespread across ancient Greece. Many historians believe Homer was blind, due to his resemblance to a character in Odyssey, a blind poet/minstrel called Demodocus. Homer’s two epic poems captured the ancient world with startling levels of detail. Though his stories are fantastical, it is likely that he blended elements of mythology with historical fact. And even if his factual accounts are chronologically inaccurate, they preserve stories and memories from deep into our human history, perhaps even as far back as the Late Bronze Age. If the Trojan War was real, it was probably some 400 years before Homer wrote the Iliad and Odyssey, and perhaps even before anyone was writing stories. This suggests Homer was one of the first historians to ever exist. He took intergenerational stories that his ancestors had kept alive through oral storytelling, and brought them out into the light, preserving them for the rest of history.

An epic hero . . .

• has larger than life qualities; possibly supernatural powers
• is a natural leader of men
• is appealing to the opposite sex, but rarely commits to long-term relationships
• defeats monsters (bad-guys) and/or fights gods
• has "good" on his/her side
• often stands alone in battle
• is smarter than everyone else; generally a problem-solver
• has a weakness that often destroys him/her or leads to death
• makes long journeys, always on the move, travels to find adventure
• a skilled fighter

Major themes in The Odyssey have to do with the power of cunning over strength, the pitfalls of temptation, the importance of hospitality, and the concept of home and journey.

• Kléos: an individual's reputation/renown. What others “hear” about you

• Xenia: hospitality and guest friendship
• Timé: material ‘honor’, acquisition of wealth and possessions
• Nostos: the longing for home
• Sophrosune: having a balanced wisdom, an excellence of character (level-headed, moderate)

Greek Cultures & Values

Sirens

Enchantresses (often interpreted as mermaids and birds) who use song to lure sailors to their deaths

Calypso

Beautiful sea nymph who kept Odysseus captive for seven years on her island

The Myth of Prometheus

The Myth of Pandora's Box

Click the link below to learn more about the gods and goddesses.

Greek Gods and Goddesses

www.history.com

The Odyssey is set in various locations in and around the Mediterranean Sea. It starts from Troy and follows the hero's journey including adventures in various islands and lands before reaching his home in Ithaca.

Greek Philosophers

Ancient Greece is often thought of as the founding father of Western Philosophy. What were their most famous philosophers known for? Open the link below to read up on ONE of the famous philosophers (e.g., Socrates, Plato, Aristotle). Identify a key contribution or significance that they developed.