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Mortals And Gods In The Odyssey

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The Relationship Between Gods and Mortals

Throughout Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad there is seen a play between the gods and mortals as they all take sides throughout the Trojan War and the homecoming of Odysseus. There is a role the gods play in how the Trojan War ends and while they can hinder fate, it is ultimately unavoidable and will happen. It is also seen that both the Greeks and the Trojans worship the many gods of the divinity of Jupiter and look to them for guidance in unexpected or dangerous situation. They pray and sacrifice to them in the hope their prayers are answered, much like done today with monotheistic religion of Christianity. The relationship between gods and mortals is one of fatherly love to his children.

Throughout both stories we see Zeus, the King of the gods, one especially of a father figure to the mortals as he pities Odysseus for his hardship of trying to get home to Ithaca to his wife, Penelope, and son Telemachus, but is trapped by the sea nymph, Calypso and urges Athena to help him despite there would be opposition by the sea god, …show more content…

The ancients trusted their wisdom in making decisions during untimely situations and their strength and protection in times of war. The gods are not perfect, like any father, as they have their human qualities and were portrayed as the humans themselves by the authors of these myths to help show how the people interacted with each other and how they thought. Much like today in the Christian faith how God is looked to for guidance, protection, and strength. The difference is God is perfect and divine and will not make a mistake in his plan for our salvation. He is the ultimate father for us all and even sacrificed his only son , Jesus Christ, to become an infant with all the human qualities, except sin, and die on a cross to pay our debt for our sins, which is the ultimate sign of His fatherly love for us

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