The Odyssey was full of wonder, power, and surprises. It is packed with epic heroes, creatures, gods, and goddesses. The gods, goddesses, and creatures had supernatural powers that effected the lives of Odysseus, his crew, and his family. Their actions proved to be powerful, beneficial, and deadly. The gods, goddesses, and creatures in The Odyssey on many occasions proved to be powerful. Zeus, leader of the gods, was a prime example of this. When, “Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north/ a storm against the ships, and driving veils of squall”, many of Odysseus men died. Another account when Zeus was very powerful was, “Zeus Cronion piled a thunderhead above the ship....then the squall struck whining from the west, with gale force, breaking both forestalls” destroying the ship. When Odysseus tells the Cyclops “Poseidon Lord, who sets the earth a-tremble,/ broke it up on the rocks.....a wind from seaward” it shows how Poseidon was very powerful. Also how Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of winds that his men unleash that throw them off course. Although the gods and goddesses were powerful they were also beneficial. Zeus was beneficial in the way that he helped Odysseus, “Then Zeus thundered/ overhead, one loud crack for a sign.”, this sign told Odysseus to start attacking the suitors. The way Circe helps Odysseus in warning him of dangers to come, “Circe foresaw for us and shared with me,/ so let me tell her forecast: then we die/ with out eyes open.” She warned of the Sirens, Charybdis, Scylla, and the island of the sun god. Also Athene help Odysseus fight the suitors and win. She also disguises Odysseus to hide him from the suitors and Penelope. In The Odyssey the gods, goddesses, and creatures proved to be deadly. The six-headed monster, Scylla, killed six of Odysseus’ men, “whisking six of my best men from the ship.....She ate them as they shrieked there.” ...
