Why Does Poseidon Hate Odysseus and How Does Odysseus Overcome Him?
Why does Poseidon hate Odysseus is a question one would ask after reading Homer's poem, the Odyssey, which covers the period after the 10-year Trojan War as Odysseus travels back to his city of Ithaca.
During his homeward journey, Odysseus made an enemy of Poseidon who actively tried to prevent his return and kill him. This article explores both the reason for this divine hatred and how the protagonist overcame these obstacles.
Odysseus and the Cyclops
Why Does Poseidon Hate Odysseus?
Poseidon hates Odysseus because he tricked and blinded his one-eyed son called, Polyphemus. Polyphemus, a Cyclops, had captured Odysseus and his men, eating them sequentially until Odysseus intervened to save the survivors.
Poseidon in the Odyssey Story
In Greek Mythology, Poseidon doesn't make a significant appearance and his central involvement stemmed from how Odysseus treated his son Polyphemus.
How Odysseus Tricked Polyphemus
Odysseus obtained wine and made Polyphemus intoxicated. When the giant asked his name, Odysseus responded that his name was 'nobody.' After Polyphemus fell asleep drunk, Odysseus drove a stake through the giant's only eye blinding him.
When other Cyclopes asked what happened, Polyphemus told them that 'Nobody' had harmed him, so they departed, leaving him in pain. The men then tied themselves to the underbellies of the sheep and waited till daybreak.
Odysseus and His Men Escape
When they finally made it outside, Odysseus taunted Polyphemus by revealing his real name. This provoked the giant to call upon his father Poseidon for vengeance—the origin of the divine enmity.
Poseidon Punishes Odysseus
Poseidon got angry with Odysseus and cursed him for spending 10 years at sea, separating him from his wife and son. Rather than immediate death, the god imposed prolonged suffering through maritime hazards and wandering.
Following their escape, the men received a bag of winds from King Aeolus. A few meters from Ithaca, Odysseus' men opened the bag containing the winds thinking that it contained gold. This mishap extended their ordeal by another decade.
Poseidon causes a great storm
Odysseus' Wanderings
Odysseus ended up on dangerous terrains like the island of the witch-goddess Circe where half of his men were turned into swine. They later encountered the Sirens and the monster Scylla.
After his crew ate sacred cattle belonging to Helios, Zeus sent a storm that killed all remaining men except Odysseus. He eventually reached the island of Calypso, who detained him for seven years before he was finally assisted by the Phaeacians in reaching Ithaca.
FAQ
Why Does Athena Help Odysseus?
Athena admires Odysseus for his cunningness and since she was cunning herself, she thought it wise to help Odysseus whenever he needed it. Additionally, Athena is the deity of Odysseus' household.
In What Book Does Poseidon Punish Odysseus?
The Book in which Poseidon punishes Odysseus is Book IX after he had blinded the one-eyed giant, Polyphemus.
Why Does Artemis Hate Hades?
It is not clear if Artemis hated Hades but what is clear is that she hated Zeus and his brothers for their philandering ways.
Conclusion
Poseidon punished Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus. Let's quickly cover the key points:
Poseidon punished Odysseus after he blinded Polyphemus and escaped by having men tie themselves to sheep.
Odysseus blinded the Cyclops through trickery with wine and deception about his identity.
Odysseus' punishment was ten more years of maritime wandering before reaching Ithaca.
He endured numerous perils across islands, ultimately surviving alone.
Athena assisted him due to admiration for his cunning and her role as household deity.
If he hadn't taunted Polyphemus, he would have easily made it to Ithaca in a matter of days, but he got him poisoned and later on blinded. His hubris almost cost him his life, but his men, unfortunately, couldn't make the journey; however, later on, it's good that he made it to his destination.
