{"id":21008,"date":"2022-02-11T12:17:14","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T12:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/?p=21008"},"modified":"2022-04-11T08:59:38","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T08:59:38","slug":"odysseus-in-the-iliad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/odysseus-in-the-iliad\/","title":{"rendered":"Odysseus in the Iliad: The Tale of Ulysses and the Trojan War"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OdysseusOdysseus in the Iliad<\/strong> is a Greek warrior and wise man who left to fight in the Trojan War. His story was a famous one because of how clever he was in helping fight and create reconciliations between Agamemnon and Achilles. He was the King of Ithaca, and while he was away, he had to face many unique and interesting challenges in the war.<\/p>\n

Read this to find out just what those challenges were.<\/p>\n

Who Is Odysseus in the Iliad? Background to Homer\u2019s Famous Story<\/h2>\n

Odysseus (or Ulysses, his Roman counterpart) is one of the main characters in the Greek poet Homer\u2019s famous epic poem<\/strong>, the Iliad. Homer also wrote another epic poem named the Odyssey, in which Odysseus plays a role, but that comes after the Iliad.<\/p>\n

The Iliad and the Odyssey were written around the 7th or 8th centuries BC<\/strong>. They\u2019ve become so famous for the information they share about the Trojan War but also because of the excitement.<\/p>\n

As mentioned before, he was the King of Ithaca, legendary for his wisdom, cleverness, and ability to solve problems. He was also a skilled fighter and warrior, but that was not as important as the strength of his mind. In the Iliad, the poem begins right in the middle of the Trojan War<\/strong>, and both armies were in battle for ten years. He is on the side of the Greeks and in position of an advisor to General Agamemnon.<\/p>\n

Odysseus had many roles in the Trojan War which made him renowned and helped turn the tide of battle.<\/p>\n

What Did Odysseus Do in The Trojan War?<\/h2>\n

\"Odysseus<\/strong>Odysseus\u2019 role in the Trojan War was to be an advisor to the general<\/strong> as well as to serve in the Greek army. Since it is a long war, one of Odysseus\u2019 skills and roles was to restore the faith and morale within the troops.<\/p>\n

The general was a little bit hot-tempered and would threaten to leave Troy every so often. However, Odysseus kept Agamemnon in the war<\/strong>, even when he threatened to return home.<\/p>\n

He was shown as a character of good sense, good moral fiber, and strength throughout the poem. On another note, Odysseus played a role with the famous warrior, Achilles<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It was prophesied that Achilles was the only way the Greeks could win<\/strong> the war against Troy. So, Odysseus and others had to search for him and recruit him. He also had to mediate disagreements often between Achilles and Agamemnon.<\/p>\n

In addition, it was Odysseus\u2019 idea to use the Trojan Horse<\/strong><\/a> to get into the city and attack, and he stole a team of fine horses from a king working with the Trojans.<\/p>\n

Odysseus and Diomedes: The Night Expedition in the Trojan War<\/h3>\n

During the war, when the Greeks were falling behind, and realized that they needed whatever was necessary to fight the war, they decided to look beyond their own camp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

King Rhesus was a mythical Thracian king, and he was on the side of the Trojans, but when he arrived in Troy to assist them, he ended up not even being able to fight<\/strong>. Odysseus heard about the king\u2019s famous set of horses, who were said to be the finest in the land.<\/p>\n

Together, Odysseus and Diomedes, the Lord of War<\/a>, snuck into his Trojan camp and killed him<\/strong> in his tent. Then, they stole his famous horses, hoping their acquisition would help them gain progress in the war.<\/p>\n

Odysseus and the Trojan Horse: The Ingenious Plan That Went Down in History<\/h3>\n

While Odysseus did many things for the war effort against Troy, the most famous and well-remembered one is the Trojan Horse<\/strong>. It is so famous that we even use it in sayings today.<\/p>\n

At the final moments of the Trojan War, the Greeks decide to trick the Trojans into thinking that they won. Odysseus had them build a giant wooden horse as a parting gift<\/strong> because the horse is the symbol of Troy. Leaving it outside the city and making it look like their ships sailed away.<\/p>\n

But in reality, there were warriors hiding inside<\/strong> of the large horse. It was their last chance to try and find a way to end the war was victorious.<\/p>\n

Once the city doors were open, and the horse got rolled inside, the warriors waited and emerged under the cover of darkness. They took over the city<\/strong>, after the gates were opened the soldiers waiting for the que outside.<\/p>\n

This was when Odysseus and his partner Diomedes capture the Palladian, the statue that Troy needed for its protection. The war is ended<\/strong>, and because of Odysseus\u2019 genius, the Greeks were victorious.<\/p>\n

Some scholars question whether the war in general, as well as the Trojan Horse, were actually real<\/strong>. But archeological evidence found in Turkey states that the war likely did happen, but we\u2019re still not so sure about the horse.<\/p>\n

Odysseus in the Iliad: Important Relationships Odysseus Had With Others<\/h3>\n

There were several important relationships that Odysseus has with others in the poem. These include Agamemnon, Achilles, and Diomedes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s explore his relationship with each one of them:<\/p>\n