In Homer’s The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, travels for 10 years to get home to his family. Along the way, he faces many trials and struggles that test his strength and wits.
One of the most significant challenges he faces is when Nausicaa, a princess, invites him to bathe and dress in fresh clothing. Upon doing so, he is transformed into a different man – one who looks young and strong again.
This transformation comes from two sources: his new clothes and the return of sunlight after many days at sea. Both of these symbols have significance in the story beyond just helping Odysseus get back his strength and appearance.
This article will discuss the importance of the loss of Helios, the sun, in this story.
Symbolism
In the modern world, symbolism is used frequently in media and in everyday conversation. For example, saying something will “raise your blood pressure” is a symbolic way of saying it will get you angry.
Many popular songs today attribute symbolism to love, which is a very common theme in modern music. Love is not simply defined as a feeling, but rather a force that brings change and strength.
This is symbolized by love songs making you feel strong or changing your mood to happiness or intimacy. The same can be said for the Greek gods: They are personified as having power over different aspects of life.
In the story of Odysseus, his loss of Helios, the sun, symbolizes a loss of symbolism in his journey. This is because Odysseus was sailing for such a long time that he arrived at places where it was night time, representing the lack of Helios (the sun).
Mythology
In Greek mythology, Helios was the personification of the sun. He was thought to ride a golden chariot across the sky each day, pulling the sun behind him.
According to ancient mythology, at one point all of mankind lived on an island called Atlantis. A great leader named Atlas led the people of Atlantis, and he was said to have a powerful dynasty that possessed great wealth.
Atlas himself was said to have been a guardian of a special tree that held up the earth. This may have been a reference to mining operations, as he would have guarded the source of valuable minerals that supported his kingdom’s wealth.
He and his family were said to have been cursed by Poseidon (or Neptune), god of the sea, which may have been why Plato described Atlantis as an island submerged by water.
Given this information, it is possible that “Lost City” could refer to a lost civilization.
Narrative
In the ancient myth, Odysseus fights a 10-year battle to return home. This comes to represent his struggle to return to his family and his life.
The myth also alludes to the fact that Odysseus’s crew members die one by one as they journey across the ocean. For them, this represents their death of hope of returning home.
For both Odysseus and his crew, losing the sun symbolizes a loss of narrative. Without knowing where they are going or when they will get there, there is no sense of direction or purpose.
This loss of narrative is particularly striking when we consider that our own sense of self is closely tied to our ability to tell stories about who we are and what we have done in our lives.
In other words, without the ability to tell stories about our past, we may lose part of our identity.
Characters
In the Odyssey, Odysseus returns to his home to reestablish his position as king. However, this is not an easy task as many obstacles stand in his way.
He has to fight off those who try to take his place as king, he has to convince those who don’t recognize him that he is indeed Odysseus and the true king, and he has to regain the trust of those closest to him after so many years apart.
Throughout the epic poem, characters undergo significant changes both for better and for worse. Some characters even die which shows how dramatic these changes can be. Everyone experiences some kind of transformation which makes the story very interesting.
Some characters that experience change or “development” are Nausicaa, Eumeuys, Penelope, Telemachus, and King Alcinous.
The Trojan War
In the years following the Trojan War, many suffered as a result of the conflict. Not only did those directly involved in the war suffer, but those who came after also suffered from the aftermath of the war.
Those who were left behind by soldiers who went to war suffered, as well as those who lost loved ones or were injured themselves. The destruction and anguish that came after the war was not easily overcame, and some even claimed it could not be overcome.
The sun itself was said to have darkened when Achilles was killed during battle- an omen of his death and of how his death would affect others.
Achilles was a hero with great strength and power, much like Hercules. His death symbolized a loss of strength and power for those fighting in the Trojan War- they could not win without him.
Odysseus
In Greek mythology, Odysseus is a hero who goes on many adventures. He is most famous for his adventure to return home after the Trojan War.
During his journey, Odysseus and his crew encountered many trials. One of these trials was when the crew was lost at sea for nine days without sun or starlight. This symbolized a loss of guidance and direction for the crew.
The ancient Greeks believed in multiple gods and goddesses. Zeus was the king of the gods, and he was believed to control the sun. Because of this belief, the absence of the sun may have been due to Zeus’s anger toward Odysseus and his crew.
Despite this potential reason for the loss of Helios, or the sun, it is impossible to truly know why this occurred. However, it is important to remember that even in difficult times like these, there is still hope.
Polyphemus
In many versions of the story, after Odysseus and his crew escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus’ island, they run into a storm. In this version, it is Helios, the sun, who deserts them.
This is a significant development in the story, as Odysseus’ crew loses hope after being exposed to such prolonged darkness. They fear that without the sun there is no hope of returning to Ithaca.
For Odysseus himself, the loss of Helios represents a loss of control over his fate. He cannot will himself home; he must wait until nature restores sunlight. This adds to his feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness as he struggles to regain control over his ship.
The return of the sun also serves as an important turning point in the tale: it signals both Odysseus’ return to Ithaca and Penelope’s decision to commit suicide if it is not really him due to his disfigurement.
The Sirens
In Greek mythology, sirens were creatures that lived on an island. They had the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a bird.
Their song was said to be so beautiful that it enchanted sailors and drove them to swim out to the sirens’ island. There, the sirens would trap the sailors and eat them.
Since Odysseus knew about their deceitful nature, he had his crew tie him to the ship’s mast while they passed the sirens. This way, he could not listen to their song or go after them.
Later on in mythology, sirens became associated with death. This was because their beautiful song eventually drove people to suicide.
They also became associated with sex in later myths. In some stories, sirens were prostitutes that lured men to their island with their beauty.
