Calypso
By: Anna Le
Is She a God or Monster? God of?
• Calypso, in The Odyssey was
considered a Goddess by Homer. She
was the Goddess of Ogygia, an island
said to be in the Western
Mediterranean. “She is also referred to
as the Goddess of Silence because she
would capture sailors and keep them
on her island.” (Margaret, Calypso)
• “In Indo-European, She is considered
the goddess of the underworld. She ate
the heroes and may been much like
Scylla to the Indo-European.”
(Calypso, the Fair Goddess of Ogygia,
and Nymph of the Odyssey) She may
or may have not been a monster.
What was associated with Calypso?
• In The Odyssey, “according to Homer,
Calypso was the daughter of Titan
Atlas”, (Calypso in Greek
Mythology).
• In Hesiod’s Theogony, “Calypso was
one of the daughters of Tethys and
Okeanos which makes her an
Oceanid.”(Calypso in Greek
Mythology) Whoever her parents
were, she was born from divine
parents. “She is always compared to
Penelope and thus being a force of
diversion and distraction” (Calypso
and Odysseus).
Where were they born?
• “Calypso was as a prisoner on
Ogygia because she supported
her father in the battles between
Titan and Olympians.” (Calypso
and Odysseus)
• She saved Odysseus after he
drifted to shore on her island.
What was their origin story?
• Calypso, in the Odyssey was the
daughter of Titan Atlas. She is the
Goddess of Ogygia most referred to as
the nymph who fell in love with
Odysseus and kept him on her island.
• Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and
warfare, intervened and helped
Odysseus by telling Zeus, the king of
gods, who sent Hermes, a messenger
God, to convince Calypso to free
Odysseus because Poseidon, God of
the sea, wanted to punish Odysseus
for blinding his son the Cyclops.
Calypso had no choice but to free
Odysseus at Zeus’s command.
For What are they most Known for?
• “Calypso was known for holding
Odysseus as a hostage on her island
for seven years.” ( Margaret,
Calypso) ”
• She has both negative and positive
connotation in Greek mythology: as a
concealer and seductress, Calypso is a
negative symbol, but as a rescuer she
is a positive one. (Calypso and
Odysseus)
• She wasn’t wicked, but more half and
half.
• “In some versions she even bore
Odysseus two sons, Nausithous and
Nausinous.”(Calypso and Odysseus)
How did they come to where they are when
Odysseus incorporates them in his tale?
• Odysseus drifted for 9 days out
in the open sea because he was
shipwrecked. Calypso, whom
was imprisoned as a prisoner on
Ogygia welcomed him to her
island and saved him. She
eventually fell in love with him.
Works Cited
- - - “Calypso and Odysseus.” Greek Myths & Greek Mythology. Greek Myths & Greek
Mythology.com. n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2015.
- - - “Calypso, fair goddess of Ogygia, and Nymph of The Odyssey.” The Role of Women in
The Art of Ancient Greece. Rwaag.org. n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2015.
Sailus, Christopher. “Calypso in The Odyssey: Summary, Overview.” Study.com. Study.com.
Web, 2013. Web. 30 Nov 2015.
- - - “Calypso in Greek Mythology.” Mythography.com. Mythography.com. n.d. Web. 30 Nov
2015.
Margaret. “Calypso.” Greekresearch. Wikispaces.com. n.d. Web, 1 Dec 2015.