Odysseus

Odysseus, a legendary Greek hero, is the king of Ithaca and a central figure in the myths surrounding the Trojan War. He is the husband of Penelope and the father of Telemachus. Son of Laertes, he is renowned for intelligence and cunning rather than sheer strength. In Greek literature his name is Odysseus; in Latin sources he is often called Ulysses. The Homeric epithet polytropos, commonly translated as “the man of many turns,” denotes his resourcefulness and versatility.

Odysseus appears in the Iliad as a Greek commander and is the principal figure of the Odyssey, attributed to Homer, which recounts his ten-year voyage home after Troy. He encounters the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, and Calypso; descends to the underworld; and, with the aid of Athena, overcomes a sequence of dangers before returning to Ithaca to reclaim his throne and marry Penelope, while Telemachus assists in expelling the suitors.

Odysseus’s most famous stratagem is the wooden horse, a deception that leads to the fall of Troy. The episodes in his story examine hospitality, loyalty, fate, and the gods’ involvement, blending craft with leadership in adversity.

In later literature and art, Odysseus has stood as the archetype of the cunning survivor and restless wanderer. The Odyssey’s enduring influence on Western storytelling is reflected in numerous adaptations, and the term “odyssey” has entered common usage to describe any long, arduous journey.