The great, cunning, witty hero of Homer's Odyssey. Master of the mind, beloved of Athena.
We all know of his famous deeds, his manipulation of the towering Polyphemus,
his ingenuous greek horse that decimated Troy.
But there are many obscure facts not known to the average greek myth enjoyer.
Did you know these three fun facts about our beloved hero?
1. Conflict with Achilles -
Brawn vs Wits, the debate over which of these is superior has never been settled. The strong Achilles and the witty Odysseus clash throughout the odyssey.
The main disagreement these noble warriors has, was over whether Troy would be taken by might or by artifice.
In the end, it was both these qualities that led the greeks to victory.
2. Chiron Was His Mentor
Unlike other Centaurs, who were known for being violent and savage, the great centaur Chiron was famous for his wisdom and knowledge of medicine.
He mentored a great many noble heroes, and Odysseus was one of them.
Under the centaur's tutorage Odysseus learnt the skills of eloquency, of archery and of noble conduct.
3. The Meaning of his Name
Homer states that the name Odysseus actually means “victim of enmity”!
This is quite fitting, as it is a reference to the ill-feeling which Poseidon directed against our beloved hero througout the odyssey.
In addition, the verb associated with Odysseus' name, ôdinô, can also mean "to suffer or receive pain."
And that concludes what I wished to share with you, the obscure facts about our beloved hero that make him all the more interesting and complex.
Thank you for reading!