- published: 19 Jan 2013
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The Odyssey (Ancient Greek: Ὀδύσσεια, Odysseia) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature. It is believed to have been composed near the end of the 8th century BC, somewhere in Ionia, the Greek coastal region of Anatolia.
The poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, the Mnesteres (Greek: Μνηστῆρες) or Proci, who compete for Penelope's hand in marriage.
It continues to be read in the Homeric Greek and translated into modern languages around the world. Many scholars believe that the original poem was composed in an oral tradition by an aoidos (epic poet/singer), perhaps a rhapsode (professional performer), and was more likely intended to be heard than read. The details of the ancient oral performance, and the story's conversion to a written work inspire continual debate among scholars. The Odyssey was written in a regionless poetic dialect of Greek and comprises 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter. Among the most impressive elements of the text are its non-linear plot, and the influence on events of choices made by women and serfs, besides the actions of fighting men. In the English language as well as many others, the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage.
[Theme: Odysseus / Greece]
Odysseus
Fought in Troja to bring back Helena
Built the conning horse of wood
To strike the fortress for Athena
On the journey back, adventures encountered, for 20 years
Resisting temptations of the sirens
And creatures of pure evil
Hurricanes sent king of the gods Zeus,
To drown him into dark hell
Guided by the ocean goddess, he survived until the end
He cursed into the sky, end this Odyssey
What's this evil spell that was laid on me
He cursed into the sky, he cursed into the sky
End this Odyssey
What's this evil spell that was laid on me
He cursed into the sky, end this Odyssey
What's this evil spell that was laid on me
Adventures for 20 years
The hero reached his domain
Penelope waited for so long there
With arrows he ended the pain
[STORY:]
[Odysseus:]
Odysseus ruled over Ithaca,
an island on the west
coast of Greece, and was a visitor
of amazing unknown lands.
He built the wooden Trojan horse to
Strike down the enemies fortress.
The Odyssey relates his long,
excessive expedition to return home from Troy after
twenty years of absence.
During this time his look changed drastically,
so nobody but his dog recognised him anymore.