The Odyssey Summarised - Context, Themes and Importance

The Odyssey is the second epic poem, following the Iliad, attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, a poem both epic in length and in content with the Hero Odysseus facing numerous monsters, goddesses, and even a trip to the underworld on his travels home to Ithaca. The fate of men being in the hands of the gods is a common theme running through both of the ancient epics and the gods themselves are once again a big part of the action of the Odyssey, as they were in the Iliad, as they made the journey of Odysseus a much greater challenge for him.
Where the Iliad focused on the rage of Achilles, the Odyssey is concerned with the nostos, or homecoming by sea of Odysseus, the mythical king of Ithaca. Due to the ruthlessness of the Achaeans’ sack of Troy, they incurred the wrath of the gods, and so Odysseus’ nostos was prolonged for ten years as his ships were hit with unfavourable seas, storms, and misfortune in the form of monsters, supernatural beings, and sorceresses. As one of the oldest surviving epic poems, the Odyssey tells of both the end of the Heroic Age as the final warrior returns home, and the new expansion happening during the Archaic period, the time of Homer.
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- CHAPTERS -
0:00​ Introduction
0:54 Context for the Odyssey
3:28 Themes of the Odyssey
5:29 The Odyssey Summarised
16:51 Outro
- WANT TO KNOW MORE? -
Odyssey www.worldhistory.org/Odyssey/
Homer www.worldhistory.org/homer/
Odysseus www.worldhistory.org/odysseus/
Trojan War www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/
Bronze Age Aegean www.worldhistory.org/Bronze_A...
Ancient Greek Literature www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Li...
Cyclops www.worldhistory.org/Cyclops_...
Scylla and Charybdis www.worldhistory.org/Scylla_a...
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The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:
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[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Why do you think Odysseus' tale is still famous, after several thousand years? Does it speak to some sort of universal human truth?

[@jasonworks1454]

On a personal level I relate the story to dealing with addiction, and spending 10 years struggling with something that could have been over in a week. I think it may have been preserved because the 10% cartel priests of the day needed people to be afraid of not paying to keep gods happy. The 10% cartels still use this approach to stay employed. Thank you for another awesome video.

[@vibhusingh1457]

Its still so famous because its the story of a man who is away from home for sich a long time that in his absence his house falls in the hands of unwanted suitors to hos wife. How a person's absence can be taken advantage of is to be seen here. Moreover enraging Gods is another interesting theme which holds true even today. Destroying nature rampantly in the face of clear warnings is similar to what Odysseus did.

[@me_yessik]

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure Penelope doesn't tell him to go find his father. I'm pretty sure he leaves in the middle of the night without telling her because he knows she wouldn't want him to go.

[@Tekmirion]

Bravo Kelly, well presented as always!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you very much!

[@Pedil]

Just what I was looking for. Great job

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching!

[@Davlavi]

Informative as always.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

We are glad you think so, thanks for watching!

[@avilacanario]

Once again another excellent and informative video.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you very much!

[@braxbragg5130]

Great series! What are the titles of all the books behind you?

[@altinmares8363]

Please post more videos about - Cicero - Aristotle

[@osw330904]

Im a historical intellectual and i really appreciate these vids, but kelly is so distracting… sheesh