He also met many fallen heroes such as Hercules, Achilles, and Agamemnon. The citizens of Ithaca follow Odysseus on the road, planning to avenge the killing of the Suitors, their sons. Web. [62], Pliny the Elder writes that in Italy there were some small islands (modern Torricella, Praca, Brace and other rocks)[63] which were called Ithacesiae because of a watchtower that Odysseus built there. Nestor suggests that they allow the captive Trojans to decide the winner. The mythology of Greece has been influential throughout. . This name has been used in English translations of Homer's* Iliad and Odyssey since the l600s and in other literature based on the life of Odysseus. A sum of gold is mentioned to have been sent as a reward for Palamedes' treachery. Odysseus figures centrally or indirectly in a number of the extant plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles (Ajax, Philoctetes) and Euripides (Hecuba, Rhesus, Cyclops) and figured in still more that have not survived. Of course, none of the hapless suitors had the necessary strength to string the bow, never mind shoot with it. Odysses.mw-parser-output .noitalic{font-style:normal}, Odyses, IPA:[o.dy(s).sus]), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses (/julsiz/ yoo-LISS-eez, UK also /julsiz/ YOO-liss-eez; Latin: Ulysses, Ulixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Having done so, he proceeds to slaughter the suitors (beginning with Antinous whom he finds drinking from Odysseus' cup) with help from Telemachus and two of Odysseus' servants, Eumaeus the swineherd and Philoetius the cowherd. Restored to full health and vigour, the hero was given one of the magic Phaiacian ships which needed no captain to steer. Walking in the Footsteps of Odysseus: A Practical Guide to the Homeric Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Examples include "rosy-fingered dawn," and "gray-eyed Athena." In one part of the journey, Odysseus is aware that he is about to encounter the sirens, famous for luring sailors to their death with . Odysseus | Myth, Significance, Trojan War, & Odyssey A brief stop at Thrinikia (or Thrinacie) turned into a month-long stay due to bad weather and the Greeks ran out of food. British Museum, London, UK. He was famous for his courage, intelligence, and leadership. ThoughtCo, Apr. Palamedes, at the behest of Menelaus' brother Agamemnon, seeks to disprove Odysseus' madness and places Telemachus, Odysseus' infant son, in front of the plow. Penelope announces in her long interview with the disguised hero that whoever can string Odysseus' rigid bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe shafts may have her hand. [29], When Hector proposes a single combat duel, Odysseus is one of the Danaans who reluctantly volunteered to battle him. "Ulysses (Odysseus)." Ulysses in Greek and Roman Mythology - Study.com This epic describes his travails, which lasted for 10 years, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War and reassert his place as rightful king of Ithaca. The giant took a fancy to the travelling Greeks and trapped them in his cave, swiftly eating two as an appetizer. They land on the island of Thrinacia. One tradition says Odysseus convinces a Trojan captive to write a letter pretending to be from Palamedes. Ovid retells parts of Ulysses' journeys, focusing on his romantic involvements with Circe and Calypso, and recasts him as, in Harold Bloom's phrase, "one of the great wandering womanizers". Thematically, it uses Odysseus' backstory and struggle as a metaphor for dealing with the aftermath of war (the novel being written immediately after the end of the Second World War).[52]. In the Odyssey Odysseus has many opportunities to display his talent for ruses and deceptions, but at the same time his courage, loyalty, and magnanimity are constantly attested. To find the exact location of the statue, Odysseus disguised himself as a beggar and entered the city undetected. The first stop was the island of Kikones where amongst other things, the god Apollo gave the hero twelve flasks of wine. This illustrates a painting by Charles Bentley engraved by R. Sands, and showing The Black Mountains of Cephalonia in the background. Polyphemus cries, "Nobody has blinded me!" In Book 19 of the Odyssey, where Odysseus' early childhood is recounted, Euryclea asks the boy's grandfather Autolycus to name him. Two stories in particular are well known: When Helen of Troy is abducted, Menelaus calls upon the other suitors to honour their oaths and help him to retrieve her, an attempt that leads to the Trojan War. [1] Roman poets place them on some small islands called Sirenum scopuli. After ten years away, Odysseus had been all but forgotten, only his wife Penelope kept faith with the long-missed king. Roman Mythology Names - Behind the Name On his way home, Ulysses and his men encounter various monsters, enchanters, and dangers. Head of PenelopeCarole Raddato (CC BY-SA). While they escape, Polyphemus cries in pain, and the other Cyclopes ask him what is wrong. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/who-is-odysseus-119103. [32] During the funeral games for Patroclus, Odysseus becomes involved in a wrestling match with Ajax "The Greater" and foot race with Ajax "The Lesser," son of Oileus and Nestor's son Antilochus. Notwithstanding the loss of their talismanic warrior, the war ran on, but at this point the Greeks began to employ a little more strategic thinking to the problem of overcoming the walls of Troy. Odysseus' ship is the only one to escape. The etymology of the name is unknown. Odysseus has traditionally been viewed as Achilles' antithesis in the Iliad:[34] while Achilles' anger is all-consuming and of a self-destructive nature, Odysseus is frequently viewed as a man of the mean, a voice of reason, renowned for his self-restraint and diplomatic skills. Greek/Roman mythology and the Odyssey Flashcards | Quizlet Ulysses (Odysseus). The hero was also fortunate enough to regularly receive the special aid and protection of the goddess Athena. The few survivors then made it in a single ship to Aiaia (or Aeaea), an island belonging to the sorceress Circe (or Kirke), where more trouble awaited the beleaguered voyagers. The poem was probably written in columns on parchment scrolls. Since a prophecy suggested that the Trojan War would not be won without Achilles, Odysseus and several other Achaean leaders are described in the Achilleid as having gone to Skyros to find him. (In later tradition, Odysseus was instead the son of Sisyphus and fathered sons by Circe, Calypso, and others.). One unfortunate consequence of the Greek's ungallant behaviour at Troy was that the gods punished them by ensuring many of their ships met with disaster on the return voyage home. This lesson will explore whether and how Ulysses changed with the shift in cultures. Odikweos first aids William Walker's rise to power in Achaea and later helps bring Walker down after seeing his homeland turn into a police state. It tells of the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman mythology) during his harrowing return to Ithaca after being away for twenty years, ten of which he had spent fighting the Trojan Wars. Fortunately though, just as Agamemnon let fall his sword, Artemis took pity on the girl, replaced her with a deer, and spirited off Iphigeneia to become a priestess at Tauris in one of the goddess' sanctuaries. He alone survives the ensuing storm and reaches the idyllic island of the nymph Calypso. Here the hero spent five years imprisoned by, but also enjoying the charms of, the Nymph Calypso and with her having a son, Nausithous. Greek Mythology/Heroes/Odysseus - Wikibooks Athena gave the hero an update on all that had passed in his absence. The two Argives became embroiled in a heavy dispute about one another's merits to receive the reward. [16] In Etruscan religion the name (and stories) of Odysseus were adopted under the name Uthuze (Uuze), which has been interpreted as a parallel borrowing from a preceding Minoan form of the name (possibly *Oduze, pronounced /'otutse/); this theory is supposed to explain also the insecurity of the phonologies (d or l), since the affricate /t/, unknown to the Greek of that time, gave rise to different counterparts (i.e. or in Greek, in Etruscan).[17]. Odysseus arranges further for the sounding of a battle horn, which prompts Achilles to clutch a weapon and show his trained disposition. Her festival, called the Floralia, was instituted in 238 bc. The legendary Greek hero, Odysseus was the king of Ithaca, a small island in the Ionian sea, where he lived with his wife Penelope. Odysseus protests that this cannot be done since he made the bed himself and knows that one of its legs is a living olive tree. Some late Roman sources indicate that Odysseus schemed to kill his partner on the way back, but Diomedes thwarts this attempt. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. . When he returns to his senses, in shame at how he has slaughtered livestock in his madness, Ajax kills himself by the sword that Hector had given him after their duel.[40]. Source: LINK . Updates? Virgil tells the story of Aeneas and his travels to what would become Rome. She served as a champion and protector of women, especially in their domestic roles of marriage and motherhood. He in turn offers a first-person account of some of the same events Homer relates, in which Ulysses appears directly. Penelope | Greek mythology | Britannica Attic red-figured stamnos, by the Siren painter. He draws the wrestling match, and with the help of the goddess Athena, he wins the race.[33]. Cartwright, Mark. Taken from Greek Mythology, Ulysses name is the latinized version. Where Does the Phrase "Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts" Come From? Homer also states that the name Odysseus means victim of enmity, no doubt in reference to the ill-feeling which Poseidon directed against the hero. He found them on that site in Pheneus. In a strange twist, lovely Aphrodite is married to the ugly and crippled Hephaestus. Answer a question to start your personalized learning plan. Summary The early Christian writers praised him as an example of the wise pilgrim. The novel is constructed as a modern parallel to Homer 's Odyssey. He always champions the Achaean cause, especially when others question Agamemnon's command, as in one instance when Thersites speaks against him. First, he went back to Syros and persuaded Neoptolemos to join him. Ulysses. After defeating the Trojans in an intense, ten-year war, the Greeks' courageous leader, Ulysses, king of Ithaca, begins the voyage home with his soldiers. [46] According to the legends Odysseus lost his mares and traversed Greece in search of them. Philosophers usually admired his intelligence and wisdom. Odysseus was once again chosen as envoy in order to persuade Agamemnon's daughter Iphigeneia to join the Greek forces at Aulis. Cartwright, Mark. [28] Later on, after many of the heroes leave the battlefield due to injuries (including Odysseus and Agamemnon), Odysseus once again persuades Agamemnon not to withdraw. Odysseus cleverly discovers which among the women before him is Achilles when the youth is the only one of them to show interest in examining the weapons hidden among an array of adornment gifts for the daughters of their host. However, Nestor, the wise king of Pylos, predicted that only with the help of the great warrior Achilles could the Greeks hope to conquer the great walled city of Troy. In Dante's The Divine Comedy, written in the late 1200s, a character named Ulysses told of a voyage beyond the Pillars of Herculestwo peaks at the . However, the two got on rather well and became lovers, resulting in Odysseus extending his sojourn to a whole year. The noun ULYSSES has 1 sense: 1. KISS - God of Thunder "God of Thunder" is a song by the American rock band Kiss, released on their 1976 album Destroyer. Odysseus tries to avoid it by feigning lunacy, as an oracle had prophesied a long-delayed return home for him if he went. The form () Odys(s)eus is used starting in the epic period and through the classical period, but various other forms are also found. World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. POLYPHEMUS AND ODYSSEUS: THE STORY | Spartacus Brasil Ulysses and the Sirens | History Today Zeus fulfills Helios' demands by causing a shipwreck during a thunderstorm in which all but Odysseus drown. After Polyphemus eats several of his men, he and Odysseus have a discussion and Odysseus tells Polyphemus his name is Outis ("Nobody"). [5] In Latin, he was known as Ulixs or (considered less correct) Ulysss. Odysseus easily strings his bow and wins the contest. Dante did not have access to the original Greek texts of the Homeric epics, so his knowledge of their subject-matter was based only on information from later sources, chiefly Virgil's Aeneid but also Ovid; hence the discrepancy between Dante and Homer. A great warrior, Pyrrhus is also called Neoptolemus (Greek for "new warrior"). Together with Diomedes, Odysseus fetches Achilles' son, Pyrrhus, to come to the aid of the Achaeans, because an oracle had stated that Troy could not be taken without him. In Greek mythology, sirens ( Ancient Greek: singular: , Seirn; plural: , Seirnes) are humanlike beings with alluring voices; they appear in a scene in the Odyssey in which Odysseus saves his crew's lives. Calypso, prompted by divine intervention, helped the hero build a raft on which he set off for Ithaca once more. In the trojan war Odysseus came up with the brilliant idea of the wooden horse. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. [14] Odysseus often receives the patronymic epithet Laertiades (), "son of Lartes". Siren | Definition, Legend, & History | Britannica The people of Pheneus also pointed out to him writing, purporting to be instructions of Odysseus to those tending his mares.[47]. Perhaps Odysseus' most famous contribution to the Greek war effort is devising the strategy of the Trojan Horse, which allows the Greek army to sneak into Troy under cover of darkness. Ulysses - Wiktionary Eating the plant made one forget one's homeland so the hero turned down their offer of hospitality and quickly pushed on with his voyage. Penelope constantly put off a decision of re-marriage though and hoped against hope that her husband was still alive somewhere. Ovid also gives a detailed account of the contest between Ulysses and Ajax for the armour of Achilles. Following the death of Achilles, there was something of a squabble over who should inherit the hero's magnificent armour. Rolf Riehm composed an opera based on the myth, Sirenen Bilder des Begehrens und des Vernichtens (Sirens Images of Desire and Destruction) which premiered at the Oper Frankfurt in 2014. After all the suitors have given up, the disguised Odysseus asks to participate. In Greek mythology Odysseus (/dsis/ -DISS-ee-s;[1] Greek: , , translit. The messenger god gave the hero moly, a plant which made him immune to Circe's spells. In TV miniseries he has been played by Bekim Fehmiu in L'Odissea (1968), Armand Assante in The Odyssey (1997), and by Joseph Mawle in Troy: Fall of a City (2018). Odysseus ( Roman name: Ulysses) was one of the great pan - Hellenic heroes of Greek mythology. Titus Tatius (according to tradition, the Sabine king who ruled with Romulus) is said to have introduced her cult to Rome; her temple stood near the Circus Maximus. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. island people who ate flowers which made them care about nothing else. He keeps in mind the future of his people, fitting for the future Father of Rome. Juno's mythology and iconography were mostly adopted from the Greek goddess Hera. Depiction of Odysseus and the Sirens. ULYSSES (noun) Sense 1. Odysseus (Ulysses) was, in Greek Mythology and Roman mythology, a character in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Helios tells Zeus what happened and demands Odysseus' men be punished or else he will take the sun and shine it in the Underworld. He pretended to have been hunted by the Greeks as an enemy and potential sacrificial victim. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/who-is-ulysses-homers-odyssey-119101. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Penelope - Wikipedia Penelope challenged the suitors that if one of them could string the huge bow that had belonged to the old king and then shoot an arrow through twelve axe-heads, she would marry him. Hence, Odysseus was the great-grandson of the Olympian god Hermes. Return to Ithaca (1946) by Eyvind Johnson is a more realistic retelling of the events that adds a deeper psychological study of the characters of Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. Odysseus, a Greek hero, is the leading figure in the epic poem the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). All of the winds fly out, and the resulting storm drives the ships back the way they had come, just as Ithaca comes into sight. It is learned that the war can not be won without the poisonous arrows of Heracles, which are owned by the abandoned Philoctetes. A copy of a Roman statue depicting Ulysses blinding a cyclops is among the displays at Sperlonga's archaeology museum. The two are not only foils in the abstract but often opposed in practice since they have many duels and run-ins. Homer portrayed Odysseus as a man of outstanding wisdom and shrewdness, eloquence, resourcefulness, courage, and endurance. ThoughtCo. [68], Hellanicus of Lesbos wrote that Rome was founded by Aeneas and Odysseus who came together there. Ulysses, novel by Irish writer James Joyce, first published in book form in 1922. He was famous for his courage, intelligence, and leadership. It was first translated into English in 1616. Usually, mythology only mentions demi-gods becoming gods since they were already divinely inclined. By most accounts, Thetis, Achilles' mother, disguises the youth as a woman to hide him from the recruiters because an oracle had predicted that Achilles would either live a long uneventful life or achieve everlasting glory while dying young. Poseidon, however, once more spitefully intervened and caused a fearful storm to smash the raft to pieces. The Odyssey Book IX - Nekuia, in Which Odysseus Speaks to Ghosts, The 10 Greatest Heroes of Greek Mythology, Non-Canonical Retelling of the Tale of Troy. ThoughtCo. When Agamemnon, to test the morale of the Achaeans, announces his intentions to depart Troy, Odysseus restores order to the Greek camp. Enraged and humiliated, Ajax is driven mad by Athena. Accordingly, when the hero's ship passed the Siren's island, he instructed his crew to block their ears with wax whilst he himself was strapped to the ship's mast so that he might hear the divine singing yet not be entrapped by it. Odysseus and his fellow Greek warriors then descended from within the horse, opened the city gates, and the Greek army routed the Trojans, defiling temples and mercilessly slaughtering all and sundry. The Greeks dither out of fear in deciding a winner, because they did not want to insult one and have him abandon the war effort. Odysseus (also referred to as Ulysses in later Roman myths) is the hero in the story The Odyssey . Odysseus was involved in several important episodes and his intelligence, wise counsel, and wits proved crucial to the eventual Greek success in the war. Britannica Quiz Odysseus and the Sirens (NAM, Athens, 1130)James Lloyd (CC BY-NC-SA). Upon arriving, he learns that his wife, Penelope, has turned away more than 100 suitors. [64], According to ancient Greek tradition, Odysseus founded a city in Iberia which was called Odysseia ()[65][66] or Odysseis ()[67] which had a sanctuary of goddess Athena. Odysseus and Diomedes (or, according to some accounts, Odysseus and Neoptolemus) leave to retrieve them. Copy citation VocabTrainer Do you know what superfluity means? Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Odysseus and Telamonian Ajax both forwarded claims but the matter was finally decided in a vote and with Athena influencing proceedings, Odysseus was given the weapons and armour made by Hephaistos. Omissions? These were: the involvement of Achilles' son Neoptolemos in the war; Hercules' fabled weapons, then in the hands of Philoktetes (or Philoctetes), had to be used; and finally, the Greeks had to capture the Palladion. The figure of Ulysses is the Roman counterpart of Odysseus, famous for his journey and adventures in Homer's The Odyssey. The trick was how to persuade the Trojans to take the horse inside the city walls. He is most famous for his nostos, or "homecoming", which took him ten eventful years after the decade-long Trojan War. In the course of the first four books, we learn that Odysseus is alive. Clark, Raymond J. Further adventures followed. The Odyssey was written by Homer about 2700 years ago. However, Scylla drags the boat towards her by grabbing the oars and eats six men. Circe - Wikipedia an immortal nymph who held Odysseus captive in her cave for seven years. On his journey there, the hero met his mother, Antikleia, who had died from grief at her son's continued absence. The Greek word used is , literally the man of many turns, and other translators have suggested alternate English translations, including "man of twists and turns" (Fagles 1996) and "a complicated man" (Wilson 2018). One of the few survivors was Odysseus but only after an incredibly protracted voyage of detours and misadventures which are recounted in Homer's Odyssey. Ulysses - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com Consequently, godhood was an inclusive club. Odysseus and the Sirens (NAM, Athens, 1130). This article was most recently revised and updated by, From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Odysseus, Odysseus - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 16898 kb. Odysseus then instructed his men to tie themselves to the bellies of the sheep whilst he chose a ram for the purpose, and thus they escaped to continue their voyage. The literary theorist Nria Perpiny conceived twenty different interpretations of the Odyssey in a 2008 study.[53]. Most such genealogies aimed to link Odysseus with the foundation of many Italic cities. The goddess Athena and the god Zeus intervene and persuade both sides to make peace. Odysseus is one of the greatest of heroes of the Greek myths. [23] The rumour went that Lartes bought Odysseus from the conniving king. Odysseus then kills the prisoner and hides the gold in Palamedes' tent. Odysseus | Encyclopedia.com According to Bernard Knox, "For the plot of the Odyssey, of course, her decision is the turning point, the move that makes possible the long-predicted triumph of the returning hero". 2023. In his Ajax, Sophocles portrays Odysseus as a modern voice of reasoning compared to the title character's rigid antiquity. . M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. Penelope finally accepts that he truly is her husband, a moment that highlights their homophrosn (like-mindedness). The hero, still in his beggar disguise, was badly treated by the palace suitors and was the butt of many a cruel jest but revenge was soon to be had. The form Oulixs () is attested in an early source in Magna Graecia (Ibycus, according to Diomedes Grammaticus), while the Greek grammarian Aelius Herodianus has Oulixeus (). 0 0 Auto-resize: 1024x768 1280x720 1280x800 1366x768 1360x768 1440x900 1600x900 1600x1200 1680x1050 1920x1080 1920x1200 2560x1080 2560x1440 2560x1600 . However, the sailors foolishly open the bag while Odysseus sleeps, thinking that it contains gold. Thetis says that the arms of Achilles will go to the bravest of the Greeks, but only these two warriors dare lay claim to that title. It was an atmosphere that mixed myth with reality. The Odyssey is one of the greatest works of classical literature and is one of two epic poems attributed to Homer. Along with Nestor and Idomeneus he is one of the most trusted counsellors and advisors. Where Does the Phrase "Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts" Come From? Odysseus swears her to secrecy, threatening to kill her if she tells anyone. Virgil's Ulysses typifies a common Roman bias: the Greeks, despite their apt . Gill, N.S. Lasting ten years, on his odyssey home the hero stopped in many ports, few of which were friendly. He then encounters the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cattle of the Sun, which his companions, despite warnings, plunder for food. In retaliation, it took Odysseus another decade before he could arrive home barely in time to drive out Penelope's suitors. Who is/Who was Ulysses? definition, short biography and audio Despite the theft of the Palladion, the war rumbled on and it became clear a more ambitious strategy was required if the Greeks were ever going to win the conflict. Apart from a minor incident where Odysseus and Diomedes ambushed the youth Dolon in a forest, Odysseus had little to do until the final stages of the war. Stylistically dense and exhilarating, it is generally regarded as a masterpiece and has been the subject of numerous volumes of commentary and analysis. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Odysseus and the Sirens - American Composers Forum Fast Facts: Odysseus Name: Odysseus; Latin: Ulysses Home: Ithaca, an island of Greece Parents: Father: Laertes (in the Odyssey ), but possibly Sisyphus, Mother: Anticlea, daughter of Autolycus Partners: Penelope; Calypso Children: Telemachus; Nausithous and Nausinous; Telegonus Occupation: Hero; Trojan War fighter and strategist In 5th century BC Athens, tales of the Trojan War were popular subjects for tragedies. [42] Odysseus and Diomedes steal the Palladium that lay within Troy's walls, for the Greeks were told they could not sack the city without it. The Incredible Voyage of Ulysses. According to Homer, there were two Sirens on an island in the western sea between Aeaea and the rocks of Scylla. ( Roman mythology) Latin name form of Odysseus. Gill, N.S. "The Returning Husband and the Waiting Wife: Folktale Adaptations in Homer, Tennyson and Pratt". Odysseus - World History Encyclopedia Ulysses 31 is a French-Japanese animated television series (1981) that updates the Greek mythology of Odysseus to the 31st century.[54]. [1] She is a daughter of the Titan Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse. Odysseus returns to the Argive camp with Philoctetes and his arrows.[41]. ThoughtCo, Apr. Classified under: Nouns denoting people. Last modified December 31, 2013. How do the Greek myths function in Tennyson's poems "The Lotos-Eaters She promised Odysseus immortality if he would stay with her, but Odysseus preferred to return home. Odysseus and his men return to Circe's island, and she advises them on the remaining stages of the journey. The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey, Travels with Odysseus: Uncommon Wisdom from Homer's Odyssey. Eventually (and reluctantly), he consents. Falling hook, line, and sinker for the story, the Trojans duly dragged the horse into the city to stand outside the temple of Athena. Palamedes was not to be tricked though and by laying the young Telemachos in the path of the plough, Odysseus was forced to swerve and so demonstrate he was not so mad after all. "Ulysses (Odysseus)." Odysses, Odyses, IPA: [o.dy(s).sus]), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses (/ ju l s i z / yoo-LISS-eez, UK also / ju l s i z / YOO-liss-eez; Latin: Ulysses, Ulixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the . #408428 4K, Roman mythology, Ulysses and the Sirens, Ulysses, painting Gill, N.S.