Lucky are the Dead: Odysseus and Achilles as Olbios

Dorothy Parker, one of the most loved poets, satirists and humorists of the 20th century once noted that the dead are lucky. However strange and dark this sentiment might, at the time, have proven to be, it is no stranger than many similar sentiments echoed in the annals of literature, particularly Greek tragedy. The Odyssey is an Homeric epic whose voice has not ceased to reverberate in the minds and imaginations of readers. It is the story of a very long and perilous journey for the hero, Odysseus, who has been missing for ten years. Odysseus survived assassination attempts, Calypso, the Cyclops, the Land of Lotus Eaters and even a deadly temptation by the Sirens but he remains alive. Achilles, on the other hand, appears much larger than life in his death, in the battlefield, alongside fellow warriors (Fagles; “Hour 11 Class Notes”). A look into these heroes, Achilles and Odysseus, offers further distinction.

While he was no god or demi-god, Odysseus was a mere mortal who rather haughtily tested the fates and was known as Olbios. Like Achilles and other heroes before him, Odysseus’ feats of intelligence, bravery and strength brought glory to Ithaca and were a source of pride for the hero’s family. Odysseus’ fixation, however, was not only on bringing glory to his city and honor to fellow countrymen. His ten year journey from one peril to another started with one prince’s quest to find and kidnap the most beautiful woman in the world. Once kidnapped, the Spartan King went to battle against Troy with the mighty Odysseus at his side. The Trojan War ended in victory for Sparta but it cost the lives of two of the war’s greatest heroes: Achilles and later, Odysseus (Fagles; “Hour 11 Class Notes”).

Achilles became famous for his bravery and the manner of his death in the Trojan War. He would have truly been considered more blessed and was formally initiated into hero cult as evidenced by the frenzied attempts to save his body after death, the worshippers who revered him, the songs and stories and prophesies around him, his part-god status, the myths immortalizing him and the manner in which he was buried. Odysseus, by contrast, is a hero in disguise. First, because his most heroic deeds do not end in death and next because his actions glorify himself and are excessive and unnecessary. Odysseus is blood thirsty and constantly angers the gods with his recklessness. It would take the intervention of Apollo to bring down Achilles, who consulted his mother about the manner of his death and chose a short, glorious life rather than a long boring one. Odysseus is killed on his way home though he longed for the personal gratification and comfort of his wife Penelope and his son. The most compelling reason why Odysseus cannot reach olbios is because he still alive and is still adventuring and his life cannot be measured until after it has ended (“Hour 11 Class Notes”).

In summation, while Odysseus meets the criteria for an Homeric hero; his courage and thirst for glory are not enough to define him as olbios. The celebration that heralded the birth of Achilles, the fact that he was part god and part man, his heroism and willingness to live a short glorious life and die on the battlefield make him singularly distinguishing and worthy of the cult following he earns in death. Odysseus wants to receive his glory when he comes home. He proves to be too attached to worldly things like passion with Calypso and the pleasures of exotic islands. Glory-seeking is an end onto itself and he wages his own life, his ship and the lives of his crew to achieve a legacy of adventure and glory-seeking that cannot last (Fagles).

Works Cited

Fagles, Robert. The Odyssey. New York: Viking, 1996.

“Hour 11 Class Notes: Blessed are the heroes: the cult hero in Homeric poetry and beyond.” [PDF].