Relationships between Gods and Mortals in The Odyssey Essay

The Ancient Greeks were a race of very religious race who believed sinewyly in their perfections and goddesses. Not only did they believe in the front line of their gods, they actuateually believed that the gods often intervened in their lives. out-of-pocket to such a strong belief, the Greeks held their gods in the highest regard and had the utmost respect and reverence for them. Furthermore, they established sealed types of alliances with their gods, usually non relation directs in a physical sense, but kinships nonetheless. some(prenominal) specimens of such relationships be evident by dint of the relationships demonstrated between characters of bell ringers epical, The Odyssey.One such relationship that the Greeks had with their gods were that they were forever trying to cheer them and in certain cases, their efforts were awarded. The Greeks all did their part to show respect for the gods through methods such as prayer and sacrifice, which argon both evident in Th e Odyssey. However, in some cases, it seems that such respect was mutual, as demonstrated by some of the relationships portrayed by homing pigeon. One such relationship was between Odysseus and genus Athene. The latter develops an extensive bond with the mere mortal because she sees herself in him. Due to this, she supporters Odysseus out on many occasions, like when she begs her father, genus genus genus Zeus, to allow her to aid Odysseus in his quest to find home. She pleads, correct saying, My own heart is broken for Odysseus (1. 68), and is competent to convince him. Only through Athenas pleading does Zeus have the incentive to dispatch Hermes to free Odysseus from Calypsos island, allowing him to lastly find home. some other object lesson of this type of relationship is between Athena and Telemachus, Odysseuss son. Only through her guidance does Telemachus mature as the epic progresses, learning his responsibilities as a prince and becoming more assertive. He eventually t akes charge, taking the initiative to find his father and confronting the suitors. An example of Athenas guidance is when visits Ithaca, giving him friendly advice under the disguise of being a stranger. She gives him a nudge in the right direction, at one contingent saying, If I were you, I should take steps to make these men shoot (1. 318-319). Yet another example of such positive divine discussion is through the relationship between Athenaand Penelope.The grey-eyed goddess respects Odysseus cunning married woman and sometimes soothes her loneliness by admirering her sleep. At the end of the epic, she even makes the night longer so that the lovers would have more time to pop out reacquainted. As bulls eye writes, The rose Dawn might have lay down them weeping still had not grey-eyed Athena slowed the night (23. 271-272). Athenas goodwill helped mortals on numerous occasions in The Odyssey, demonstrating an example of the relationship between the Greeks and Gods where the mo rtals reverence was rewarded.On the contrary, another type of relationship is where the gods are rather indifferent to the mortals, despite their praying and sacrificing. Examples of this are present in Homers epic as well. For example, as Zeus ponders the situation of Aigstos and Orests, he muses, exclaiming, My word, how mortals take the gods to task All their afflictions come from us, we heard. And what of their own failings (1. 48-50)? This is a entire example of how contrary to the belief of some mortals, the gods did not control every insignificant detail of their lives. The gods were at times uninterested in curious in mortal affairs. Another example of this relationship is through that of Zeus and Odysseus.Zeus admires Odysseus, asking Athena, Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus (1. 87)? However, though Zeus knows exactly what has been going on with Odysseus and respects the wisdom of the mortal, he would not have taken the initiative to help him without Athenas plead ing, present his practically indifferent attitude. However, he is better off with a god indifferent to him than with a god holding a grudge against him.Another type of relationship is one in which the gods would punish mortals for certain things, utilize divine intervention to negatively influence their lives. One obvious example in The Odyssey is the relationship between Odysseus and Poseidon, the formers antagonist. Poseidon passionately hates Odysseus because he blinded the gods son, Polyphemus, in order to escape from the man-eating cyclops cave. The vexed god of the sea constantly tries to hamper Odysseuss attempts at returning home in any way possible. Another example of such relationship is when Odysseus men are punished for disobeying the gods. They are advise not to slaughter Helios, the Sun godscattle by Tiresias, as he says If you raid the beeves, I see destruction for ship and crew (12. 166-167). However, the crew ignores the advice and kills some cattle for food.This is a blasphemous act and they are punished for it when Zeus sends down lightening and thunder, and they all recur their lives. Only Odysseus survives, and he barely does so. Another example of such relationship is shown through the fear that the mortals had of displeasing the gods. For example, when a storm spurred by Aeoluss own winds brings Odysseus and his men back to Aeolus, the ruler of the wind suddenly refuses to help them because he is sure that they are cursed by the gods. Aeolus himself is scared to help them for fear that he himself will get on the bad perspective of a god.The Ancient Greeks obviously had relationships with the gods they worshipped in a miscellanea of forms. Not only did some have relationships where their respect was rewarded but others were not so lucky. Others had relationships where the gods were practically indifferent toward them. These mortals took matters into their own hands. But there are also the really unlucky ones, the mortals who had rel ationships with gods where the gods would actually intervene in their lives negatively. Homers The Odyssey demonstrates an assortment of such relationships.