Who Is Odysseus An Epic Hero

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“Could I forget that kingly man Odysseus? There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of the open sky” (Book 1, lines 84-86.) In the epic poem “The Odyssey” by Homer, the main character, Odysseus is an epic hero. This is proven true because of the many qualities which he exhibits such as being a great leader, going on a fantastic voyage, and having help from a Greek God. Homer brings the audience along on an epic journey of Odysseus finding his family and finding himself through battles and encounters on his long voyage back to Ithaca. Odysseus is a great leader. This is clear from the beginning of the epic poem because he leads his fleet of ships and group of men across the world on a quest to go home back to Ithaca …show more content…
For example, she said “But now, since it is our land and our city that you have come to, you shall not lack for clothing nor anything else, of those gifts which should befall the unhappy suppliant on his arrival” (Book 6, lines 191-193.) The people in the city are also very nice to him. This is because in Greek culture, as people stay at different places, they spread the word about the hospitality of the hosts. Each host wants the guests to have positive reviews to say about their homes, so they normally treat the guests with the utmost respect. Another example of good hospitality is when Odysseus arrived in Ithaca disguised as a beggar and Penelope welcomed him into the home and helped to clean him up. She said to the maids “But come, handmaidens, give him a wash and spread a couch for him here, with bedding and coverlets and with shining blankets, so that he can keep warm as he waits for dawn of the golden throne, and early tomorrow you shall give him a bath, anoint him, so that he can sit in the hall beside Telemachos and expect to dine there; and it will be the worse for any of those men who inflicts heart-wasting annoyance on him; he will accomplish nothing here for all his terrible spite” (Book 19, lines 317-325.) All of the hosts who Odysseus stay with are very good to him which proves the idea of xenia in their