Odysseus

ancient Greece · epic hero · mythology · adventure

Hero of Troy. Odysseus was a brilliant Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War, which lasted ten years. He's famous for thinking up the clever trick of the Trojan Horse, a huge wooden horse that hid Greek soldiers inside so they could sneak into the city of Troy.

Ten-year journey. After Troy fell, Odysseus tried to sail home to his island kingdom of Ithaca, but gods and monsters blocked his way. What should have been a quick voyage turned into an epic ten-year adventure filled with strange islands, magical creatures, and powerful gods who wanted to stop him.

King of Ithaca. Odysseus ruled the Greek island of Ithaca and had a wife named Penelope and a son named Telemachus. While Odysseus was away at war and then lost at sea, Penelope waited faithfully for him to return.

Homer's hero. Odysseus is the main character in Homer's epic poem called the Odyssey, written thousands of years ago in ancient Greece. He's also an important character in the Iliad, Homer's other famous epic about the Trojan War.

Smart and clever. Odysseus was known for using his brain rather than just his strength to solve problems. He tricked enemies, outsmarted monsters, and used clever plans to survive dangers that would have defeated other warriors.