Odysseus Heroic Qualities

When reading the Odyssey, it’s hard not to be captivated by the thrilling story. Even today, it’s easy to see that Odysseus has every heroic trait there is. But what made him a hero to the ancient Greeks? The reason is that ‘The Great Odysseus’ had competence, godlike capabilities, and he was determined to be righteous and victorious, regardless of the cost. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus was keen on gaining public approval and the glory and martial prowess that came with it. By exceeding expectations, through numerous heroic victories, including his remarkable escape from the multi-headed monster, Scylla, and Charybdis’ whirlpool, he exudes courage and righteousness. All of this determination to be righteous and victorious at all cost made him reckless at times too, as he ignored Eurylochus’ warning

Moreover, Odysseus excelled the average person's capabilities through various burdens, explicitly when he dodged certain death by the sirens by filling his crew’s ears with wax and ordering them to tie him to the mast so he might become the first to hear the siren’s voices and survive. These godlike abilities to succeed at any task challenge with, further solidified his heroic title. Henceforth, as a result of his abnormal capabilities, most of society worshipped him as his name reached far past his land. For instance, when Odysseus came to the land of the Phaeacians, after receiving an underwhelming welcome by the kingdom, he announces his name as, “Odysseus, son of Laeturus of Ithaka”, where he only then is properly welcomed and even praised as he receives a huge celebration with everything from songs and dancing to a feast fit for a king and competitive sporting. This idea, that to be heroic one must also have godly capabilities and be treated highly, is yet another reason the ancient Greeks viewed Odysseus as a