10 Lessons I Learned From The 'Odyssey' Online | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Lessons I Learned From The 'Odyssey' Online

(It's not what you think.)

2191
10 Lessons I Learned From The 'Odyssey' Online
Instagram

Since I have no money to purchase the physical book, I Spark-Noted Homer's entire "Odyssey." And thus, with the aftermath of the Trojan War in my mind, I found 10 both valuable AND useful lessons from the story of Odysseus…take a look!

1. Too many suitors are annoying!

We get it, guys, you like Penelope (Odysseus’s wife), but honestly it’s rude to be snatching up this woman so quickly after her husband hasn’t returned from the Trojan War.

2. Drugs are bad.

When Odysseus and his men become lost at sea after leaving Troy, they find themselves on an island of lotus-flower-eaters. A few fellows thought to themselves, “Hey, let’s eat these psychedelic flowers,” and ended up forgetting everything they ever knew. So overall, don’t’ do drugs because that really slows down the journey.

3. Cyclopes are foes, not friends!

So when Odysseus and his men stumble into a Cyclops’s cave, he decided to snack on a few guys for fun. Luckily, Odysseus was quick witted and blinded the Cyclops, and the men were able to escape on the bellies of sheep.

Also, great news, the Cyclops was the son of Poseidon (God of the Sea), which happens to be the small bit of water that Odysseus is using as a means of transportation. So that’s great news.

4. Pigs are humans too.

Again, Odysseus and his men are WAY off track on their voyage and happen upon the island of the goddess Circe. She kindly turns many of the sailors into pigs. She spends a year having sex with Odysseus, and in return, makes the pigs human again.

5. The underworld is a pretty helpful place.

Finally, Odysseus decides to ask for directions home. Although he has to zip to the underworld real quick, it is totally worth it because his deceased mother is really helpful. Shout out to moms everywhere.

6. Sirens sing really well.

Okay, so we’re on our way home, and whom should we hear but the sweet lulls of sirens. Luckily, they don’t trick Odysseus, so everyone aboard is safe from death by song—the most gruesome manner to go.

7. Watch out for sea monsters.

Again, Odysseus can’t catch a break. When the monsters Skylla and Charbdis (please note: great baby names) cross the ship, they end up indulging on a few sailors as brunch. Fortunately, most men survive….BUT sea monsters are not great for overall sailing morale.

8. Kobe beef isn’t worth it — in the long run.

Next, the crew finds themselves on an island where the sun god, Helios, keeps his precious cattle. The Einstein’s that they are decide it’d be a fantastic idea to eat a few. Thus, Helios throws a fit and kills all the men but Odysseus in a giant storm. Great job guys.

9. No one likes a shipwreck.

Except maybe Kalypso, mostly because she keeps Odysseus there for seven years as a sex slave. Either way, he eventually escapes back to Ithaka.

10. Playing dress-up is fun at any age.

Especially when Odysseus pretends to be a beggar and ends up beating up all of Penelope’s other suitors. Thus, peace in the land.

Overall, the biggest theme that I see in the Odyssey is that being vegetarian is not a bad idea. First of all, it keeps you from eating your friends who may be animals. And furthermore, not eating meat saves you from a lot of trouble with the gods. But also please remember that we aren’t living in ancient Greece anymore, so nearly none of this is applicable to modern day life.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2053
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1241
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200462
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21056
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments