Greek Gods in The Odyssey. Zeus Zeus is the supreme god and ruler of Olympus. He is the undisputed master of the universe, and he causes rain, drought,

Greek Gods Greek Gods in in The The OdysseyOdyssey

ZeusZeus Zeus is the supreme Zeus is the supreme

god and ruler of god and ruler of Olympus. He is the Olympus. He is the undisputed master of undisputed master of the universe, and he the universe, and he causes rain, drought, causes rain, drought, good weather and bad good weather and bad weather. Nobody dares weather. Nobody dares challenge his fearsome challenge his fearsome thunderbolts. He is thunderbolts. He is somewhat somewhat unpredictable. His unpredictable. His daughter is Athena. daughter is Athena.

AthenaAthena The great Athena is the The great Athena is the

goddess of wisdom and goddess of wisdom and war. Unlike the god of war. Unlike the god of war, Ares, she takes no war, Ares, she takes no pleasure from battle, and pleasure from battle, and she prefers intelligence she prefers intelligence over brute strength. She over brute strength. She frequently intervenes on frequently intervenes on Odysseus’ behalf, often Odysseus’ behalf, often in disguise. in disguise.

PoseidonPoseidon

Poseidon is the brother of Zeus, and he Poseidon is the brother of Zeus, and he rules over the seas and oceans of the world. rules over the seas and oceans of the world. The great Poseidon is nearly equal to his The great Poseidon is nearly equal to his brother in power and dignity, and he is brother in power and dignity, and he is feared and worshipped by the Greeks. He is feared and worshipped by the Greeks. He is the father of the Cyclops, and seeks the father of the Cyclops, and seeks revenge on Odysseus for blinding his son. revenge on Odysseus for blinding his son.

CalypsoCalypso Calypso is a Calypso is a

goddess nymph. goddess nymph. She holds She holds Odysseus captive Odysseus captive for 7 years, hoping for 7 years, hoping to marry him, and to marry him, and releases him only releases him only at Zeus’ order.at Zeus’ order.

CirceCirce

Circe is the witch visited by Odysseus and Circe is the witch visited by Odysseus and his crew. She turns some of Odysseus’ his crew. She turns some of Odysseus’ crew into swine, and then reverses the crew into swine, and then reverses the spell and becomes Odysseus’ lover for a spell and becomes Odysseus’ lover for a year. year.

AeolusAeolus Master of the Master of the winds, he helps winds, he helps Odysseus get Odysseus get within viewing within viewing distance of Ithaca distance of Ithaca but abandons him, but abandons him, concluding that concluding that anyone so unlucky anyone so unlucky must be cursed. must be cursed.

HermesHermes Hermes is the son of Hermes is the son of

Zeus. He is the fastest Zeus. He is the fastest of the gods, and he of the gods, and he serves as the gods’ serves as the gods’ messenger. Also, messenger. Also, Hermes guides the Hermes guides the souls of the dead down souls of the dead down to the Underworld and to the Underworld and protects traders, protects traders, merchants and thieves. merchants and thieves.

ApolloApollo Apollo is the god of Apollo is the god of

prophesy, music and prophesy, music and healing. Like most of healing. Like most of his fellow Olympians, his fellow Olympians, Apollo did not hesitate Apollo did not hesitate to intervene in human to intervene in human affairs. He helped affairs. He helped Paris kill Achilles Paris kill Achilles during the Trojan War. during the Trojan War.

MONSTERS:MONSTERS:Polyphemus (a.k.a. Polyphemus (a.k.a.

Cyclops)Cyclops)One-eyed One-eyed cannibal giant cannibal giant who traps who traps Odysseus and a Odysseus and a scouting party in scouting party in his cave, and is his cave, and is blinded when blinded when they escape.they escape.

ScyllaScylla MonsterMonster Six-headed Six-headed

female sea female sea monstermonster

CharybdisCharybdis a dangerous a dangerous

whirlpool whirlpool personified personified as a female as a female monstermonster

SirensSirensSea nymphs who sing songs that lure men to their deaths

Lotus EatersLotus Eaters Inhabitants Inhabitants

of a land that of a land that is visited by is visited by Odysseus Odysseus and his crewand his crew