The Odyssey

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1. 
   jlcannad Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   I hope when you have some insight you can come back and share because this is a difficult question. I'll give it a shot.
   Purusha: I have no idea how this relates to Odysseus.  Purusha has similarities to the Marduk myth where Tiamat's consort was killed and used to create the world or even the Norse Ymir, the ice giant used to form the world.  However, Purusha is a creation myth while The Odyssey is an epic story.  I'm not sure what your teacher is looking for.
   Indra: Indra and Odysseus both were heroes who took on formidable obstacles in order to achieve a great quest.  Odysseus faced Scylla and the cyclops in his desire to get home and save the people of Ithica.  Had he not succeeded, the suitors would have allowed the commoners to suffer while they feasted.  Indra had to face the serpent/dragon in order to save the world.  By killing the serpent, he freed the rivers of the world and kept the people from dying.  However, Indra certainly worked on a bigger stage (the world) while Odysseus had a much smaller realm of influence.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/myths-legends/rig-veda

   http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01032.htm

   http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10090.htm

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   Posted by jlcannad on Friday October 3, 2008 at 9:20 PM
   
   

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