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The Odyssey and the Aeneid: a Comparison

In: English and Literature

Submitted By pineappledetect
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Greek and Roman legends have always been very similar to each other. For example, they have all the same gods and goddesses, but under different names – Jupiter and Zeus, Mercury and Hermes, Diana and Artemis. But the two myths The Odyssey and The Aeneid parallel each other so severely that it’s fairly disarming. Their plots, adventures, romances, and time periods all coincide with one another. They have the potential to be compared and contrasted endlessly. The similarities of these two works begin in the titles themselves. The main characters of these two works are Odyssey and Aeneas – their stories’ respective titles reflect their names. These tales both take place shortly after the Trojan war. Odysseus, a Greek, was on the winning side, and is leaving victorious. Aeneas, however, has lost the war, and is fleeing Troy as he was instructed to by the gods. Odysseus believes he is finished with his adventures for the time being. It has been prophesized to Aeneas that he is to discover Rome. Both these men are seeking a home: Odysseus is trying to make his way back to Ithaca, whist Aeneas is looking for a new one. Both of them are surrounded by crew members. Both of them will be alone by the time the stories draw to a conclusion. Odysseus and Aeneas both have a god – or goddess – working against them. Odysseus, after injuring the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon (Neptune, Roman form), has made an enemy in the god of the sea. Aeneas, on the other hand, has done nothing wrong personally, but the goddess of marriage, Juno (Hera, Greek form), has a grudge against all of the Trojans and therefore makes it her mission to cause him to fail. They are, however, both aided by goddesses as well – Athena helps Odysseus because she is the goddess of wisdom and he is a quick thinker, and Aphrodite helps Aeneas because she is his mother. On their journeys, both of these

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