Humanities › History & Culture Odysseus A Profile of the Greek Hero Odysseus (Ulysses) Share Flipboard Email Print Greek Art. Odysseus and the Sirens. Attic red-figured stamnos, by the Siren painter. From Vulci, c.480-470 BC. British Museum, London, UK. Leemage/ Universal Images Group/ Getty Images History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Mythology & Religion Figures & Events Ancient Languages Greece Egypt Asia Rome American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By N.S. Gill N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on October 31, 2018 Odysseus, a Greek hero, is the leading figure in the epic poem the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. He is the king of Ithaca, normally said to be the son of Laertes and Anticlea, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' return home at the end of the Trojan War. Other works in the epic cycle provide further details, including his death at the hands of his and Circe's son Telegonus. Fast Facts: Odysseus Name: Odysseus; Latin: Ulysses Home: Ithaca, an island of Greece Parents: Father: Laertes (in the Odyssey), but possibly Sisyphus, Mother: Anticlea, daughter of Autolycus Partners: Penelope; Calypso Children: Telemachus; Nausithous and Nausinous; Telegonus Occupation: Hero; Trojan War fighter and strategist Pronunciation: o-dis'-syoos Odysseus fought for ten years in the Trojan War before coming up with the idea of the wooden horse—just one example of why "wily" or "crafty" is attached to his name. He incurred the wrath of Poseidon for blinding Poseidon's Cyclops son Polyphemus. In retaliation, it took Odysseus another decade before he could arrive home barely in time to drive out Penelope's suitors. The Odyssey covers a decade's worth of the adventures of Odysseus and his crew on their return to Ithaca from the Trojan War. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Gill, N.S. "Odysseus." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/who-is-odysseus-119103. Gill, N.S. (2023, April 5). Odysseus. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/who-is-odysseus-119103 Gill, N.S. "Odysseus." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/who-is-odysseus-119103 (accessed May 30, 2023). copy citation Featured Video