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Greek Divinity In The Odyssey

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The Greek divinity is portrayed as a large influencing congregation that controls separate parts of daily life, nature, and future. Zeus is the overarching leader of all the gods and the god of the sky, Poseidon the god of the seas, Hades the god of the underworld, and Athena, daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom all contribute to the outcome of Odysseus’s travels. The Greek’s definition of gods, which is that of individual control of each element of Earth, evolved to that a singular god that does not have a daily influence, a god of one time creation. The Greek gods choose Odysseus from the beginning of his life and made the choices that caused the Odyssey and thus sparked the religious evolution to modern day Christianity and a distant god. Odysseus was a strong ruler who was influential and intelligent in all components of Ithaca life. His intelligence and temperance gain the notice of the gods and Athena …show more content…

Throughout his writing, Homer consistently explains the actions of individuals by the god’s whims. In the first book, “grey-eyed Athena cast sleep on her eyelids,” is the claim that Penelope only fell asleep because Athena had pity on her to stop her crying (1.384). Instead of using the plausible idea of Penelope simply crying herself into exhaustion, Homer uses Athena as an explanation for Penelope’s slumber. This technique of explaining Penelope’s actions as a choice of a goddess builds the devotion and love for Athena and the other gods. Later in book three, Athena states, “It is easy for a god to bring a man safely home, Even from farm away” (3.256). This statement is a confirmation of the fact that Greeks strongly believed that gods and goddesses have the power to perform miracles. This also supports the belief of no predestined fate. The gods have the final say in any man’s life and the gods will exercise that right as they see

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