The Legend Of Ulysses, A Cunning Hero

The legend of Ulysses tells us about the most human of the Greek heroes, famous for his cunning and protagonist of the popular Odyssey , the work of the author Homer. After countless adventures, the hero is admired for his cunning. Born on a day when his mother was taken by surprise by the rain while walking down the street, the word “Odysseus”, another name by which Ulysses is known, means “Zeus rained on the way”.

Born in Ithaca, he was crowned king of Ithaca. It is said that he was a disciple of the centaur Chiron. From an early age he began to live a series of adventures. The legend of Ulysses, however, acquires importance with the Trojan War, of which he was the protagonist. When it began, he was already married to Penelope and with her he had a son, Telemachus.

To evade the obligation to enlist for the war, he pretended to be mad, but his farce was discovered and he was forced to leave. The legend of Ulysses tells that he accompanied the one who had started the war, Menelaus, to reach a peaceful agreement. Failing this, he actively participated in the preparations for battle.

Ulysses lived numerous adventures during the war and always managed to stand out because he was able to juggle any situation. It was he who invented the stratagem of the famous “Trojan horse”, which led his army to victory. But the legend becomes very interesting during his famous return to his homeland, Ithaca, after the conquest of Troy.

The return to Ithaca according to the legend of Ulysses

One of the most popular aspects of the legend of Ulysses is the succession of obstacles that the hero encounters in order to return to his homeland. It took him ten years of war and as many to return to Ithaca.

Many believe that Ulysses is the myth of the exile, as it narrates the experience of being far from his native place and loved ones, together with the difficulty of returning.

Shortly after embarking on the return journey, Ulysses confronts the island of the Ciconi, from which he easily escaped. The wind began to blow hard, pushing him off his route to Ithaca and taking him to the island of the lotophages, so called because they ate lotus flowers. This food made them forget the past and always live happily ever after.

Ulysses’s men ate these flowers and forgot everything. It was he who dragged them by force towards the ship, until the effect was completely gone. Then, they came to the island of the Cyclops, beings with only one eye. Right there they had to face the giant Polyphemus, son of Poseidon. Ulysses defeated him, leaving him blind in one eye and deceiving him. For this reason the monster swore revenge.

New adventures for Ulysses

Ulysses continued to sail with his men and came to the island of the king of the winds, Aeolus. He trapped all the winds in a skin which he gave to the hero so that he could return to Ithaca. He was now near his homeland when the sailors opened the wineskin thinking it contained a treasure; therefore a great storm broke out which drove them away from the longed-for goal.

Much of Ulysses’ crew perished on an island of cannibal giants. Later, the survivors came to Eea Island, where they mourned their misadventures. Right there lived the beautiful sorceress Circe, who transformed some crew members into pigs. With the help of Hermes, Ulysses managed to save himself and earn the respect of the sorceress, who welcomed them all for a year and who gave them instructions to resume the route.

Following the advice of Circe, Ulysses and his men managed to resist the sirens, the impetuous rocks and the monsters Scylla and Cariddi. His men were punished for eating the sacred cows of the sun god and Ulysses was left alone with his ship. Thus it was that he arrived on the island where the beautiful Calypso lived.

The return to Ithaca

Calypso took care of Ulysses. She consoled him and cared for him until he was cured of all his ailments. The island of this deity was a true paradise; however, the hero only dreamed of returning to his homeland, to his wife and son. Yet, at the behest of Poseidon, who decided to take revenge for everything he had done to his son, Ulysses remained on that island for eight years.

The goddess Athena, who greatly appreciated the hero, spoke with the other divinities so that Calypso would let Ulysses leave, who cried every day longing for his homeland. Although Calypso resisted, under threat he let his host go. Poseidon continued to rage with hurricanes and storms, but even then Athena helped the hero, who reached the island of the Phaeacians.

Thanks to the intervention of the princess, the king of Feacia arranged everything necessary for Ulysses to return home. He got him a ship and a crew who took the hero to Ithaca. Finally, with the help of his son Telemachus, the hero was able to reunite with his beloved Penelope, who had waited 20 years for his return, remaining faithful to his love.