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Article: Odyssey, The
- Article from:
- Myths and Legends of the World
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Macmillan Reference, USA. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Odyssey, The
One of the great
epics
of ancient Greece, the
Odyssey
tells the story of the struggles and triumphs of the hero Odysseus as he made his way home after the Trojan War*. Pursued by the sea god Poseidon*, but aided both by his own cunning and by the goddess Athena*, Odysseus overcame countless obstacles during his long journey home. Along the way, he lost his ships, his crew, and the riches he had gained at Troy. The
Odyssey
is believed to be the work of the Greek poet Homer, who also composed the
Iliad.
epic
long poem about legendary or historical heroes, written in a grand style
*
See
Names and Places
at the end of this volume for further information.
The ...