The Immortal Olympians Act Strangely Human

I agree with Julia that the gods play a key role in the lives of the characters of The Odyssey. The gods seem to have a close relation with the humans who they guide and monitor. Human communication with the gods, the gods’ tendency to disguise themselves as humans and human-like actions give the gods a human effect. When the narrator tells of Poseidon’s travels, he talks about the god like he is a human. The narrator says, “Poseidon had gone to visit the Ethiopians worlds away…at the feast the sea lord sat and took his pleasure” (Book 1 Line 25-30). Homer’s description of the god’' actions and travels has a certain “humanizing” effect. The gods accept plentiful gifts, accept sacrifices, accept the praises of the gods and will help a human in return, making the relationship appear to be possibly reciprocal. Another display of human elements in the Olympian Greek gods is in their prominent emotions. While the Olympians are not as rash as the Sumerian gods discussed in Gilgamesh, the Greeks gods have emotions. Their emotions are a logical response to humans. For example, Poseidon is furious at Odysseus (as any proud father would be), “forever fuming against him for the Cyclops [Polyphemus] whose giant eye he blinded” (Book 1, Line 82). Poseidon’s anger is evident again after Ajax brags that he escaped the wrath of the gods, when Ajax had only escaped with Poseidon’s help. The god’s is impulsive and livid when reacting to Ajax’s dismissal of Poseidon’s help emerging alive from the cliffs of Gyrae. When “Poseidon heard that frantic vaunt, and the god grasped his trident in both his massive hands and struck the Gyraean headland, hacked the rock in two,” and sent Ajax to fall to his death (Book 4, Line 566-569). Contrarily, kindness is also seen when Athena sends help Odysseus, encourages Telemachus and brings hope to Penelope. In the Odyssey, the actions and emotions of the Greek gods make the immortal deities appear similar to the humans over whom the Olympians rule.