The Epic Poems of Homer: "The Odyssey" and "The Iliad"
Homer was a blind poet who lived in ancient Greece around the eighth century BC, almost three thousand years
ago. He is famous for two epic works considered landmarks in human literature: “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” The
hero of both mythological poems was Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. (In Roman mythology, Odysseus was called
Ulysses.)
Homer’s first poem, “The Iliad,” is the tale of the Trojan War and two great warriors, Achilles and Odysseus.
This poem tells of Helen of Troy, the abducted queen whose face was so beautiful that it launched an army of a
thousand Greek ships against her Trojan captors.
One of the most famous accounts in “The Iliad” is the legend of the Trojan horse, a plan thought up by Odysseus
to trick the Trojans and win the decade-long war. The story of the Trojan horse and Odysseus’ trickery led to the
well-known adage, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”
“The Odyssey,” Homer’s second poem, picks up where “The Iliad” leaves off. In the English language, the word
“odyssey” has come to mean a journey of epic proportions. Odysseus’ adventures on the decade-long return to his
homeland, Ithaca, is such a journey.
The tales from "The Odyssey" were probably passed down by word of mouth over many generations. Homer
combined all the stories into one single narrative. He tells the story in flashback, narrating the legendary journey of
Odysseus on his return home to his palace, his wife Penelope, and their son.
Odysseus is a proud and arrogant character and a master of disguise. He excels as a military commander and
ruler and is often called "Odysseus the Cunning" because of his quick and clever mind. "The Odyssey" begins at the
end of the Trojan War. Odysseus and his legion have set sail from Troy aboard twelve ships. Their journey will take
ten long years and is filled with adventures throughout the mysterious islands of the Aegean Sea.
They encounter mythological gods, monsters, and sorcerers. They battle the one-eyed Cyclops and spend a year
with Circe, the enchantress. They escape both the intoxicating Lotus-Eaters and the deadly Sirens’ song. They are
aided by the winged messenger god, Hermes, and the beautiful goddess, Calypso. They even travel to Hades, the
dark Greek Underworld. By the journey’s end, all the ships and men are lost. Odysseus alone survives to see his
beloved Ithaca again.