Illustration of Odysseus tied to a ship's mast

The Odyssey

by Homer

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Student Question

How do the gods contribute to the death of Odysseus's men in The Odyssey?

Quick answer:

The gods play a crucial role in the demise of Odysseus's men. Zeus, at Helios's request, sends a storm that destroys their ship, leaving Odysseus as the sole survivor. This divine retribution is for the men's impiety, as they killed and ate Helios's sacred cattle despite warnings and ominous signs. Their actions, led by Eurylochus, defy Odysseus's orders, resulting in their deaths when Zeus unleashes his wrath.

Expert Answers

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In book 12 of the Odyssey, Zeus creates a storm at sea, which destroys Odysseus's ship, killing everyone on board except Odysseus himself. Helios, the sun god, asks Zeus to send this storm to avenge the impiety of the men, who killed and ate his cattle while they were trapped on the Island of the Sun by unfavorable winds. There may initially have been some excuse for this conduct, as the men were starving, but they continued to feast even as Helios showed his anger by sending evil omens, causing the dead cattle to move and bellow.

Odysseus's men are persistently disobedient, and Eurylochus is particularly inclined to disobey his orders. It was he who insisted that the crew should land on the island in the first place, and it was his idea to eat the Cattle of the Sun. Odysseus had specifically ordered the men not to eat the cattle and was asleep at the time. He, therefore, escapes death when Zeus kills all his men.

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