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Divine Intervention In The Odyssey

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Man is Nothing Without the Gods

For any proper work of epic poetry, divine intervention is required. This is why in Ancient Greece protection and assistance Drôme the gods is crucial. The Greek gods play a large role in the lives of all Greek citizens, whether they are helping them or hurting them. Throughout novels such as, “The Odyssey,” the characters do their best to appease the gods since they know that their lives heavily depended on it. The life of Odysseus is no exception to this matter, especially with the meddling of Aeolus, guardian of the winds, Athena, goddess of war, wisdom, and cleverness, and Circe, enchantress and goddess of magic. One of the divine interventions that occur in “The Odyssey” are due to the keeper of winds, Aeolus. In Book 10, it explains how Odysseus and his men land on the island of Aeolus. After the men stay with him for a month, “to extend his hospitality Aeolus gives Odysseus two parting gifts: a fair west wind that will blow the fleet of ships towards Ithaca, and a great bag holding all of the unfavorable, stormy winds.” One day while Odysseus slept while the ships were closing the distance between them and Ithaca, Odysseus’ men opened the large bag, believing it to hold gold or silver. Also in Book 10. “the bad winds thus escape and blow the ships back to Aeolus’ island. The king refuses to help them again, believing now that their voyage has been cursed by the gods.” Due to the heavy hands the gods had in the lives of the Greeks,

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