Odysseus: Past Leader and Pioneer of The Present Era

Homeric epic heroes have long been considered superior to normal human beings. Throughout a variety of epic poems, the traits of a hero are clear: strength, courage, and intelligence. The Oxford Dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Odysseus’ never ending curiosity drags him into various dilemmas, but his intelligence and superb strength enable him to escape danger. His arrogance is often a setback, but it is loyalty and determination that drives him through his precarious journey. Regardless of the situation, Odysseus faces each challenge with courage and intelligence, thus clearly exhibiting the attributes of an epic hero and ideal leader.

One instance in which Odysseus demonstrates his intelligence is when trapped within the Polyphemus's lair. Although it was his very own curiosity that landed him in that situation, Odysseus’s masterful articulation of speech lends itself to his eventual escape. Odysseus plays with the emotions of the Cyclops by speaking beguilingly and luring him with the wine. The Cyclops, pleased with these gestures, takes the wine, ultimately leading to his demise. Odysseus further displays his intellect following this cunning episode. Knowing that the Cyclops will run for help after being wounded, Odysseus formulates a plan that effectively prevents himself from being discovered. Odysseus renames himself, stating, “Cyclops, thou askest me of my glorious name, and I will tell it thee; and do thou give me a stranger's gift, even as thou didst promise. Nobody is my name, Nobody do they call me — my mother and my father, and all my comrades as well.” If anyone asked about who had wounded Polyphemus, the simple and confusing answer would be “nobody.” This plan works fabulously. When the other Cyclops answer Polyphemus’s call for help, his answer is nonsensical. Polyphemus’s fellow kinsmen vacate the premises laughing and jeering, ending in a brilliant victory for Odysseus.

A further demonstration of Odysseus’s cunningness is demonstrated after killing all the suitors. He tells the servants and Telemachus to pretend like a wedding is happening. “Now the great house resounded aloud to the thud of their footsteps, as the men celebrated there, and the fair-girdled women; and thus would a person speak outside the house who heard them, ‘Surely now someone has married our much sought after queen’.” In that way, Odysseus would be able to make a clean get-away to his father’s home, and no one passing by would suspect anything was wrong. Odysseus considers the safety of everyone, even the servants who remained faithful to him. His intelligence and kindness is shown when he thinks through all the possible scenarios and chooses the one that benefits the most people. Not only is Odysseus clever, he is extremely loyal to his home and family. The love for his family and people gave him the strength to persevere through harsh setbacks and hard expeditions.

Odysseus’s similarity to other leaders of ancient Greece expresses how he could be presented as the ideal Greek leader. Take, for example, the democratic leader of Athens, Pericles. Pericles was eerily similar to Odysseus, having the ability to use words to manipulate and influence men around him. Alexander the Great’s decisiveness can only be rivaled by Odysseus, a trait that all leaders must possess. The characteristic of arrogance is often present within a leader. Odysseus carried this trait, as did Alexander the Great. Alexander believed he was half immortal, compared himself to Hercules, and drew inspiration from Homer’s epic poems, especially Odysseus.

Despite some minor mistakes, Odysseus is an intelligent and courageous leader who gains admiration not only from his servants and shipmates, but also from readers in our modern world. Odysseus endured much hardship and cast away luxuries to reunite with those he loved. Thus, the constant protection garnered from Athena seems justifiable for this man. Today, Odysseus is viewed as one of the greatest heroic leaders. Odysseus is an ideal model for ancient Greek leaders, and although we may not notice it, he continues to shape and influence our views on leadership today.