Odysseus and Abraham
Other than the advent of Christianity, it can certainly be argued that the Greeks had the greatest influence of any ancient civilization on the development of the modern world. Their advances in literature, philosophy, and art remain ubiquitous influences worldwide. However, one of the most powerful things that these Hellenistic tribes managed to do was to create different types of heroes. For the most part, heroism in many corners of the ancient world was centrally based on the virtues of martial prowess, adherence to the accepted code of arms, and ritualistic loyalty to comrades. Specifically in ancient Greece, honor was the most important attribute of a man’s identity. To defend their reputations, men would leave the…show more content… But unlike these other heroes of the Iliad, who were locked into warlike patterns of behavior, Odysseus occupies an unchartered place in the pantheon of Greek heroes. Markedly, what Homer does with his refashioned representation of Odysseus is give the reader a glimpse of what it means to be a hero both on and off the battlefield. In this epic poem, Odysseus faces a host of circumstances vastly different than those he had to contend with during the war, and although he does not always respond with brute strength, his responses are nevertheless heroic. Surely, his heroic journey will prove to be much like that of Abraham of the Old Testament, wherein both men achieve a moral evolution through their…show more content… He boasts of his fame when and glorifies himself to the Phaeaceans, saying “I am Odysseus son of Laertes, known before all men/for the study of crafty designs, and my fame goes up to the heavens” (IX. 19–21). Essentially, he is still brash and arrogant to the extent to where it blinds him. For example, when Odysseus meets the Poseidon’s son Polyphemus, in a moment of pride, he blinds the Cyclops, but rather than escape the scene quietly, Odysseus says to the Cyclops “if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shame you so, say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye…” (IX.559-562). By and large, he does this because he is a far-roving veteran of the Trojan War who still desires that his name would be echoed across nations far and wide. However, his foolish actions just incur the wrath of the gods, who curse him to roam for ten years before he can return to his homeland. Along the course of his journey, Odysseus is forced to discover a new strength in humility by essentially becoming nobody in order to regain his identity and his old life. Clearly, both Odysseus and Abraham are called on upon by the gods to have epic travels to enable them to be more fitting leaders of their