The Odyssey Erik Soberano

Erik Soberano
4-9-08
6th Period
Odyssey – Final Project

In The Odyssey story of Odysseus as told by Homer, Three Greek values are critical. They are 1) Loyalty 2) Respect 3) Faithfulness towards the Gods were distinct cultural norms. The Greek values were told in several chapters. Today our world faces similar situations, which hold essence of the same values. Odysseus’s myth still has relevance in today’s controversial world.

1) In the story The Odyssey, the Greek Value Loyalty, comes in the story
when Odysseus leaves his family for his country but at the same time is disloyal to his family and he leaves on the same day his son, Telemachus is born. In another story Odysseus meets a Cowherd and a Swineherd and is disguised as a beggar and asks them both “If King Odysseus came back would you fight on his side?” and the swineherd and the cowherd said yes with no doubt.


2) In the story The Odyssey, the Greek Value Respect Strangers, comes in the story in the chapter Polyphemus a.k.a. Cyclops. Odysseus and his men entered the cave of Polyphemus without his consent and made themselves at home by using all of his stuff like drinking and eating his food and lying on his bed. Then Polyphemus arrived back home and right away questioned the strange guests, which is defying the Greek Value of respect. In another story The Test of the Great Bow Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar goes in line to go up for the test but the suitors insult him and say that he shouldn’t even given a chance to string the bow. Then Penelope gives him respect by letting “the beggar” do the test.



3) In the story of Calypso, after Odysseus is able to leave the island Poseidon confronts him about defying the authority of the Gods and argues with him and tells Odysseus that he has disrespected him and now tells Odysseus that he will torture him very bad and will cause him trouble to get home.


The Odyssey is a myth, which demonstrates many of the Greek
values 1) Loyalty 2) Respect 3) Faithfulness towards the Gods revealed in many chapters of the myth. Today we can find those same values in life. The influence of Greek culture on modern civilization is well used.