Odysseus
Odysseus was the most cunning of all Greek heroes — the man of polytropos (many turns), whose intelligence rather than strength defined a new kind of heroism.
The Legend of Odysseus
Unlike Achilles or Ajax, who fought with pure force, Odysseus survived by cunning — a gift inherited from his grandfather Autolycus, son of Hermes. He devised the wooden horse that destroyed Troy, blinded the Cyclops using wit rather than strength, and resisted the Sirens' song by having his crew bind him to the mast. He outwitted Circe, escaped Calypso, navigated past Poseidon's storms, and descended to Hades to consult Tiresias. Athena favoured him above all other mortals. His homecoming to Ithaca and Penelope required one final deception — the bow contest that only he could win.
Children
Telemachus (by Penelope)
Symbols
Fun Fact
An "odyssey" means any long, eventful journey — the most universally used mythological word in the English language.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Odysseus
🗡 heroHero of endurance and cunning
The craftiest of all Greek heroes, whose ten-year voyage home from Troy tested every human capacity for survival and adaptation.
Autolycus
🗡 herotheft, cunning
The master thief and shapeshifter, grandfather of Odysseus, whose gift for deception was inherited by the most cunning hero in Greek mythology.
Odysseus
🗡 heroKing of Ithaca, hero of the Trojan War
The cleverest of the Greek heroes, whose ten-year journey home from Troy is one of the greatest stories ever told. Odysseus's cunning was his greatest weapon.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroTamer of Pegasus, slayer of the Chimera
The hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and used him to slay the monstrous Chimera. His story is a cautionary tale about hubris.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Theseus
🗡 heroFounder-hero of Athens
Theseus was the great hero of Athens who slew the Minotaur, united Attica, and established Athenian democracy — Athens' answer to Heracles.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroThe hero who tamed Pegasus
The Corinthian hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera, but fell from heaven when he tried to reach Olympus.
Sinon
🗡 herodeception
Greek soldier who volunteered to stay behind at Troy and convince the Trojans to accept the wooden horse.
Bellerophon and Pegasus
🗡 herohubris, fall
The hero who tamed Pegasus and slew the Chimera but was destroyed by his own hubris when he tried to fly to Olympus.
Sthenelus the Argive
🗡 heroEpigoni, Trojan War, Chariotry
Son of Capaneus, member of the Epigoni, and Diomedes' charioteer and closest companion at Troy.
Ajax
🗡 heroThe immovable warrior who held the Greek line
The massive warrior from Salamis who carried a shield like a tower wall and held the Greek line when every other defender broke.
Polydamas
🗡 heroNone recorded
Trojan nobleman and wise counsellor to Hector during the war