The Odyssey

1. The Odyssey

2. The Odyssey • 12,000 line Greek epic poem • An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or "books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero. • According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one divine and one human parent.

3. The Story • The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. • Odysseus is considered the ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and courage, favored by the Gods.

4. Writer? • The poem is traditionally credited to Homer, who is considered the earliest Greek poet. • Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." • Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of bards who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia.

5. Greek Values • It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem, ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of ancient Greek society.

6. Greek Values • Athleticism • Hospitality • Ingenuity • Intuition • Justice • Loyalty • Respect • Teamwork