Calypso

Calypso was a nymph (or minor goddess) who lived alone on the lush island of Ogygia, far from gods and mortals. When Odysseus was shipwrecked on her shores, she fell in love with the weary hero and kept him as her companion for seven years.

Calypso offered Odysseus the greatest gift any mortal could receive: immortality and eternal youth, if only he would remain with her forever. Her island was a paradise of gardens, springs, and beauty. Many would have accepted without hesitation.

But Odysseus longed for Ithaca, for his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. He sat on the shore each day, staring across the sea, weeping for home. Finally, Zeus sent Hermes to order Calypso to release him. She obeyed reluctantly, helping Odysseus build a raft. Calypso's name means "she who conceals" — and the story asks whether paradise itself can be a prison if it keeps you from where you belong.