The Greek Gods In Homer's The Odyssey

Homer’s The Odyssey is a tale about a man journeying home to his family while facing many trials along the way. Throughout the story, there are many themes that illustrated the Greek Society’s beliefs at the time. One of the most prominent themes is how the Greek Gods were portrayed throughout the story. Due to their significant aid to Odysseus’s endeavors, the Gods in Ancient Greek Society were revered as good and pure. Calypso is one of the first Gods is mentioned in The Odyssey. Though she is in love with Odysseus, she lets him go and even aids him in his departure. She regrettably bids him farewell and explains how she will help, by saying “I at last will freely let you go… I will supply you with bread, water, and ruddy wine… and will send a wind to follow” (48). In this moment, Calypso shows that she cares about Odysseus’s feelings above her own. Her desire is for him to stay, while his is to leave. She knows this, and from the pureness of her heart, puts his feelings before hers. Proving that the Greek Gods were thought to be of pure heart.
However, these actions were justified, and even portray him in a sense of loyalty and justice. The importance of family is a reoccurring theme in The Odyssey. When Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son, was blinded by Odysseus and his crew, he cries out to Poseidon, a child making a request to his beloved father, “If I am truly thine, and thou art called my Father, vouchsafe no coming home to this Odysseus…” (89). Akin any normal father, Poseidon answered the pleas of his child. Revealing that Poseidon does care about his son, and that he is a kind-hearted God. The importance of family being a reoccurring theme, the Ancient Greeks treasured it, and to have a God demonstrate that verifies that the Gods were thought of to be