#odysseus: MAN(GOD)SLAUGHTER IT IS

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

the second odysseus picked up his (poseidon's) trident, poseidon did indeed realise that there are other ways of persuasion

[mokishy]

Diomedes is not so fundamentally different from his father.

I HAVE DELIVERED

After months of dragging my feet, I finally fished it! (in 4 hours holy shit) and I'm kinda proud of it, but this is probably also the product of my excessive overthinking, but with not further ado, let's begin!

Let’s start with the basics: Tydeus was known for being a wild, out-of-control warrior. His rage was legendary. Diomedes? On paper, he’s the golden child: loyal, calm, respectful, chosen by Athena herself.

But that image of diomedes comes crashing down the moment you dig deeper into his character

On the surface, Diomedes is framed as the “better” version of his father, Tydeus: more disciplined, more strategic, favored by Athena instead of punished by her as stated previously. The Achaeans respect him (not so much leave the poor boy alone let him have his moment instead of comparing him to his father), the gods empower him, and Homer seems to elevate him as the model warrior.

But as i said, when you dig into the text, really look at what Diomedes does, how he fights, how he speaks, you start to see something much deeper and darker: he's not all that different from Tydeus at all when you think about it.

Reading the iliad but focusing on diomedes character its as if he’s constantly on the edge, just barely containing something

he’s a machine of destruction. He slaughters Trojans left and right, wounds Aphrodite without hesitation, and goes after Ares, the literal god of war. He only stops when Apollo himself tells him to back off—and even then, he makes a move again before finally being shut down.

That kind of divine defiance? That’s Tydeus-level rage. It’s just masked under a sheen of Athena’s wisdom and a more calculated cool. Diomedes may wear the face of the perfect Homeric hero, but there’s a savage streak that echoes his father’s madness, just barely held in check.

In the iliad book 10 dio and ody sneak in trojan teritory they catch dolon a trojan spie

Odysseus promises to spare him if he gives them info about the trojans and man sure does he spill

After that? Diomedes decapitates him.

He doesn’t just kill Dolon (after promising to spare him,) he slaughters him, strips him, and then goes on a joyride of death through the enemy camp. When they find Rhesus and his Thracians, Diomedes doesn’t blink—he kills twelve men in their sleep. And then he wants to keep going, like it’s not enough. It’s only when Athena, again, steps in and essentially says, “Okay, calm down now,” that he stops. In this book with Rhesus and the Thracians, Diomedes is already done. He’s already got what he came for. But instead of retreating, he chooses to kill—because it’s not about necessity. It’s about the desire to keep going.

And what’s so chilling about this is how pointless it is, tactically. After Dolon gives them all the info, they don’t need to go murder a dozen men. Diomedes chooses to. He gets no kleos, no divine reward. he doesn’t need a prize. The violence is the prize. He just does it. Because he can.

it’s explicit in the language Homer uses. Diomedes is in full battle ecstasy mode. described as moving like a lion among sheep, grinning and glorying in the chaos. he doesn’t just kill efficiently.

He revels in it.

He likes it, he thrives on the battlefield, and he enjoys bloodshed

"And the son of Tydeus, Diomedes, was glad in his heart as he struck down the men." Iliad book 5

"Glad in his heart" That phrase ("χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ") pops up in a moments of sheer war ecstasy. It’s not just duty or valor—it’s joy. And when you see it describing Diomedes mid-slaying spree? That’s not your clean-cut hero. That’s a man dancing on the edge of madness.

it’s not just duty. It’s pleasure.

This illustrates how Diomedes isn’t just acting out of obligation not out of practicality, not out of necessity he’s relishing in the kill. It’s not just about the heroics or strategy; there’s an almost primal enjoyment in the violence itself.

The fact that he “was glad in his heart” tells you how far this man is from just being a noble warrior. He’s got that bloodlust burning inside him, and there’s an undeniable thrill in the destruction. It's scary how much he enjoys others suffering.

It’s clear that Diomedes, despite his noble status and divine favor, has that same chaotic, destructive edge his father Tydeus had—it’s just barely held in check.

That bloodlust? That JUST SCREAMS tydeus the difference?: Diomedes knows how to leash it. He’s not the monster his father was; he’s the tamer of that monster within himself. That restraint is what elevates him from being another brutal warrior into something greater: a true hero who chooses to remain in control, even when the thrill of violence is right there.

In fact, the only real difference is that Diomedes is simply better at pretending he’s in control. He puts on the face of the noble hero, but underneath, that same wildfire of rage, that same lust for blood, is burning—just like it was in Tydeus.

Diomedes doesn’t just embody the traits of a Homeric hero—he tests their limits. He walks a razor-thin line between earning immortal kleos and crossing into the kind of reckless savagery the gods despise. The same rage that drives his heroism threatens to tip him into hubris at any moment; and he gets away with it every time.

What makes Diomedes so compelling and so chilling is not that he lacks the ferocity of his father but that he’s better at hiding it. Tydeus is obvious in his rage; he makes no effort to conceal the monster he is. Diomedes, on the other hand, knows how to perform the role of the ideal hero: the noble warrior, the obedient champion of Athena

He’s not more virtuous—he’s just more strategic. He doesn’t kill less, or more cleanly, or even more justly. He kills with the same savage delight, but with the awareness to pull back just before he crosses a line that would cost him divine favor or mortal admiration. This ability to pretend, to wear a hero’s mask while feeding the same destructive instincts as Tydeus hiding the underlying madness behind that mask, makes Diomedes the more dangerous figure. Tydeus may have lost control; but Diomedes hides his control so well, it’s easy to forget what he’s controlling in the first place.

What makes this ironic is that Diomedes, despite all his bloodlust and near-madness, still (in some versions), gets the immortality that was denied to his father. Tydeus, who couldn’t contain his violent nature, ended up punished by the gods; he was denied the eternal glory he craved. Diomedes, on the other hand, dances on the edge of divine retribution, right there with him, and yet, he walks away with not just divine favor but immortality itself.

He’s not Tydeus 2.0.

He’s Tydeus 2.0 with better self-control

And honestly,

I think he kinda fooled all of us

[ramblings-of-a-chaotic-neutral]

Another thought on Epic the Musical, do you want to know one detail that kills me every time?

If you look at the titles of the songs, the ONLY songs that are named after characters are songs that are named after monsters that are trying to slaughter as many people as possible (like Polyphemus, Scylla, and Charybdis). No human character or even any god gets a song named after them, only the monsters do.

But (MINOR SPOILER AHEAD), do you know what song 38 is titled? Odysseus.

Odysseus, the man made monster, who has become something so far from his own humanity that he is counted within the ranks of the terrible monsters that came earlier in the story. Odysseus, who will absolutely be trying to slaughter as many suitors as possible when he returns to Ithaca.

It's such a small detail, but it gets me every time I think about it! Because not only has Odysseus become a monster in the eyes of the other characters, but he has become one in the eyes of THE VERY MUSICAL ITSELF!

AHHHHHHHHH!!!

[calypso-apologist]

Is it possible that you could do a yandere Odysseus x Reader? It doesn't matter what kind of reader tbh...... Whatever your comfortable with is fine.

not my best one but it should be a decent read, at least-

Yandere!Odysseus returning after twenty years ♡

CW: murder. mentions of blood. yandere themes.

Twenty years.

You've waited for the love of your life to return for twenty years.

You've raised your son, watched him grow into a man. A dreamer, wanting to meet his father again, this time able to actually remember it. He was so little when Odysseus left, he couldn't have any memories of him. You tried to fill the void with tales of your beloved husband, sparking Telemachus's eagerness for adventures.

But as years passed, you started to lose hope. Despite standing strong, never letting your doubts show, doing whatever you could to stall. You'd weave the funeral shroud during the day and then unthread it at night, fooling the suitors for as long as you could.

And then, one day... the storm. You didn't know why, but you firmly believed that storm was a sign. He was back, damn it, he had to be. As foolish as your hope might've been... you were right. And you realized that, hearing the screams of men slaughtered in the halls of your very own palace.

You couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. As terrible as the suitors were, you thought Odysseus would merely chase them away after completing the challenge you've made. Pull a scary trick, threaten them a little, scare them into leaving... not kill everyone and screaming at them in fury.

And while your soul was soothed when you heard him with Telemachus, the moment he walked through the door to your bedroom, there was something... off.

It was your husband, yes. Worn out by two decades of trials and tribulations, with tired eyes and a frame much lighter than you remembered. You could probably pick him up easily, with how light he seemed now.

And despite the tired, sad look he gave you, despite the hesitance with which he approached you... something was wrong. Something in your body screamed at you to run.

You put that dreadful feeling aside as listened to him confess to all the horrid things he's done while away. You forced yourself to remain stern as you offered him one last challenge - the wedding bed.

And yet... something snapped in him when you demanded that he moves it. You could almost hear his heart shatter like a vase thrown against a wall. You could see the last few sparks of life leave his eyes. The way his fists clenched at your order.

For the first time in your life, he raised his voice at you.

He shouted, gripping your arms. How dare you? How could you? Do you not know what he went through? Do you not understand the hardships he endured? All the ways the gods have tormented him?

Do you even know how much he lost, just to get back to you?!

He's been to Hades and back, he watched his friends die, he endured years evading the advances of a Goddess, just to stay loyal to you, and here you were, thinking you could mock him by asking him to move the wedding bed that he carved into the olive tree that you've first met him under?! The tree he built his whole damn castle around?!

He was furious with you until you screamed back at him, making him realize that you were only testing him. And yet... it would seem the damage was done. Even despite how he seemed to soften again, there was something different in his eyes.

You could see how despite how gentle his hands were as they cradled your face, this wasn't your husband anymore.

It wasn't Odysseus, it was a monster.

Of course, he'd never harm you! No, no, no, you were his precious spouse, the love of his life! And he would never let anyone even try to separate you from him again.

And if you could leave your bedroom, you'd know that. It wasn't just suitors he killed, no... he slaughtered everyone who wasn't you or Telemachus.

He came back to his family. And he would keep his damn family as close as possible, damn it.

No matter the cost.

[cakeforke]

ok, so I used to be really sceptical of all rhe poseidon-is-afraid-of-odysseus memes, but I've thought about it more and,,

imagine you're an ancient god, you haven't been bested by anyone for ages, you're one of the most powerful olympians. humans are less than flies to you

this one pesky human harms yoyr son, but you don't really care you only act bc you have to

you think you've dealt with the problem, no issue now

years later, you have a confrontation with said human. recently, this human has

fought a 10 year war

travelled for another 10 years

starved

fought

nearly dies so many times

been to the underworld

been stabbed and knocked unconscious

struggled by charybdis

understandably you think this fight is going to be a breeze,, over in 30 seconds

instead this human fucking kicks your ass completely

now at this point you're afraid, but he's so desperate to get home AND there's some weird freaky 600 dead men lending him their strength thing. it's not too big a deal surely??

this man proceeds to strut home, and slaughter 108 men. not just any men, but rich young nobles who have almost certainly a) been trained well and b) been fighting each other to pass the time. these are not weak untrained peasants. not only does he massacre them with ease, but he does it using a bow with such a ridiculous draw weight NONE OF THEM COULD EVEN STRING IT

and then, after all that he goes and has shit tonnes of reunion sex

like,, this human has kicked your ass and not even been tired

I'd be scared too

[wolfythewitch]

Pspspsps Wolfy, I'm very curious what your thoughts are on the differences between Homeric vs Epic Odysseus. This is an invite to infodump/ramble if you have strong opinions on this

I think the main difference is that it took EPIC!odysseus an entire act to get to where homeric Odysseus is, if that makes sense? Then again iliad odysseus and odyssey odysseus are also pretty different in their own right, but that's probably what you get when putting a man in war (ancient war, where honor and traditions were still upheld) and spooky monster situations (it's apparent from the encounter with polyphemus that this is already Vastly different from home and from troy. the cyclops do not follow xenia, what's to say the others do?)

But again, morality and tradition are still separate things, especially when bringing the gods into it. The law of hospitality is definitely one to respect (iirc it's also a major thing in norse myths) regardless of your philosophy in the importance of human life. It's why the monsters throughout the odyssey are so terrifying, because it present the concept of xenia but all wrong. it takes the rules they live by and bends it every which way. but I digress,

Point is, Odysseus can hold up certain virtues not because they're the moral, kind thing to do, but because it's a way of life (and the best way to not get him or his men killed). He is not immune to murder. In fact, he will murder if the situation calls for it. A lot of his instincts are actually to murder, it's just that he often restrains himself because of consequences. He doesn't derive joy from slaughter (I'd say the war haunts him severely) but it would be wrong to say that he doesn't want to kill, or that he isn't the same as any other soldier on the field in pursuit of glory or fame. He is in fact ruthless in pursuit of his goals. Whatever it takes to win the war. whatever it takes to get him home. whatever it takes to keep him alive. whatever it takes to win him his homecoming and his glory both. He is not a good person. (re: the odyssey)

I'm not saying he doesn't have a shred of goodness in him (he's human after all) but I am saying that it can coexist with his end serves the means attitude. He is human and he wants everything and he gets kicked around island to island for wanting and i love that for him

[fangirlingpuggle]

Dumb Epic AU where Odysseus doesn't kill the infant in the middle of just a man realizes that while he's singing and lamenting choice Zeus isn't paying attention and very slowly hides infant and pretends to kill him.

When Gods run in with Odysseus like '...Is that Hectors son?' Odysseus just keeps bluffing like '...No... this is a different baby totally different'

Also Circe pretty much demanding to babysit during Underworld saga because 'YOU FUCKING MORON IF YOU WILLING TAKE A BABY TO THE UNDERWORLD YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER 2 MORE GODS TRYING TO KILL YOU'

Bonus (Because suddenly couldn't stop thinking about Circe in this AU): This leads to them going back to Circe's island after underworld saga she takes one look at Odysseus post monster breakdown and is like... yeah no, you just stopped me from killing (and probably later eating your men) we are taking a deep breath and not going full murder mode ok, ok.

Circe tags along on ride back to Ithaca because 1) Fuck Poseidon 2) Odysseus is clearly about to have a breakdown 3) Fuck Poseidon 4) Odysseus got Hermes to agree to watch her Island because in his own words this will be fucking hilarious and again 5) Fuck Poseidon.

This leads to no siren slaughter, Circe there are other ways them flirting with them. When they say layer of Scylla the either

A) If we go with the myth of Circe cursing Scylla it's awkward, the crew trying to sail around while Scylla targets to Circe while Circe works on reverse spell, cue Scylla turning mostly back human helped on board and then fist fight with Circe (Then Scylla is just around for rest of story)

Or B) If Circe isn't involved... cue there are other waysing her... just Circe flirting with Scylla in full beast mode while the others slowly row them through.

When they do get back to Ithaca Odysseus hearing about suitors and just like '...you know the pig thing I get it... do your thing' Odysseus reunites with Penelope and Telemachus introducing them to Astyanax while Circe deals with suitors.

(Bonus Circe is about to head back to island when meets a certain priestess called Cassandra 'HEY DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO MY ISLAND WITH ME?')

[middaytrysts]

read like it's an obsession | kim dokja x yoo junghyeok!reader drabble + headcanons.

Trigger Warning: Non-consensual sex, drugging, attempted sexual assault by a divine being. WC: 638.

 ❝  You appear like a whisper torn from the throat of a waking dream. Harsh, real, true, as though the world conspired to shape you for me alone. But you live only in my mind, my phone my only connection to you, with my blanket thrown over my head. And when the dream dies, when morning dares to return, I’m left with the bitter taste of my own inadequacy. The kind of man who wouldn’t even lift a finger to learn your language, even if the answer sat glowing in the palm of his hand.

Still, I hunt for you. In strangers’ eyes, in the lull between conversations, in broken pixels and half-sung lyrics. I devour stories hoping to taste a fragment of you, just enough to keep going.

This rusted, rattling heart ticks forward blindly, stubbornly, because obsession, too, has its own rhythm.

And still.

You had the audacity to become real.

Not a gift, but a torment. Not a companion, but a gravity I couldn’t escape.

You made me chase the silhouette of your back, made me want what I was never meant to hold.

And what is a reader if not a creature obsessed with control? Gnawing at my lower lip, fingertips smudging the glass, pleading with the screen to give more and more.

When your hand found my throat, it wasn’t pain I felt. It was revelation. It was belonging.

My eyes burned with the hunger to possess the narrative. No, to become it.

And I won’t let you go.  ❞

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

YANDERE! KIM DOKJA. In the same way Odysseus endured ten long years on the open sea to return to Penelope and slaughtered 108 men to ensure no one else could claim her, he pulls himself from the grave with the same brutal ferocity he carves into a battlefield, raw, relentless. The land of the damned holds no power over him.

Up there, among the constellations, you were adored. They are inevitably drawn to the striking beauty of a protagonist, but Dokja can’t bear the thought of anyone else perceiving you without suffocating under the fear of their sight. When he returns to you, regret stains his white coat, but he still offers you the sweetest smile. Would you like to know what the rib cage of a god looks like?

YANDERE! KIM DOKJA. Devotion like Kim Dokja’s doesn’t stay neutral. It turns people into heroes… or something much worse. He had spent years poring over stories of you: your adventures, your triumphs, and your lovers. When he first met your love interest, he thought it didn’t matter. In fact, he rooted for them when he read your stories.

But something in him hesitated, a quiet tension he couldn’t quite name. Why do they get your regard? Why did any version of them know the way you sounded when you moaned, while all he’d ever known are lonely nights with his hand wrapped around himself? Why couldn’t he be the one to keep them from ever reaching the proper ending? In the end, he made sure they didn’t.

YANDERE! KIM DOKJA. Your dazed eyes, wrecked by some love goddess, leave him spinning. He was tempted, and he let himself fall to pieces. At first, sex is just mimicry. He grabs at what you’ve liked before, piecing it together, clumsy and desperate, like a reader forcing a favorite character to move how they want.

Over time, he learns what truly makes that pretty gaze ignite, fingers tangled in your hair, twisting just right. His body moves against yours in a frantic, consuming rhythm. When he’s buried deep inside, he murmurs out devotions. When he’s done, he presses a kiss on your cheek and cleans you up, scrubbing away the night before you ever get the chance to remember.

[thequeenofthedisneyverse]

I've seen the Eurylochus x Zeus thing going around and...I thought of a really funny scenario

Thunder and clouds circled around the sky but left a rather large section of light to peak through. The air felt staticky as raindrops started to fall down onto the ship.

Soon, a large thunderclap could be heard and seen from above. Large fingers then parted the clouds and showed the one and only, Zeus. Strong build, poofy white hair, and eyes that give "I can kill and/or f*ck you"...wait- ZEUS?!!

"Pride is a damsel in destress"

Eurylochus blinked twice...this mother f*cker isn't serious right now.

"Hiding away where only I can undress her~"

Zeus started dancing with a "woman" made of clouds as he sung. He paraded around like a careless idiot, and this was making Eury's blood boil. He's really doing this...

"Try all she can not to confess, In the END it's all the same once I apply the pressure-"

Eury's eye twitched in irritation and frustration, his aura seething just by the sight of him. So slowly, Eurylochus took off his sandal and aimed it at Zeus.

Other soldiers, including Odysseus, stared at him on confusion but the man holding the shoe could care less. While the thunder controlling idiot was having his theatric fun, he was aiming his shoe just riiiight....and he let it go.

And, just like he knew it would, it hit Zeus right in the eye. It hit the might god in the eye as soon as he saw it coming toward him.

"Ow! What the-"

"TAKE US HOME NOW!" Eurylochus barked, truly not caring whether the shoe hurt Zeus or not. He's a god, he'll definitely walk it off.

All the soldiers around him looked at him as if he lost his mind completely. Why the hell did he just do that?

Zeus looked down at the small man that caught his heart. The fury and irritation in his eyes evident. So cute.

"Aaaaw, but Eury, I was just getting to the best part-"

"MY best part will be WHEN I STICK MY FOOT UP YOUR ASS!! TAKE US HOME RIGHT NOW!" Eurylochus wasn't hearing any part of what Zeus had to say. Not after all this time. Out of all those times he could have helped. Hold up...did this motherfucker call him..."Eury"? Did he honestly think he had the privilege too?!

"Oh, don't threaten ME with a good time, baby~"

Baby? BABY?!

Odysseus and the other soldiers would look at Eurylochus and Zeus back and forth. Most started to think they were having delusions from the trauma while others...were so confused.

If Eurylochus had the ability to kill a god, THIS god, he would. His hand was brought to his face and pinched the bridge of nose.

"What. are. you. doing here, Zues?"

"Well...seeing as YOU slaughtered one of Helio's cattle...IIII sort of have to avenge him" Zeus gave him that sh*t eating grin that would have made Eury smile any other time.

"By?"

"Hmmm, well let's say your act is punishable by death-"

"DEATH?! Zeus....we are starving, EVERYONE ON THIS SHIP IS STARVING!"

"Tell that to Helios"

"Can't YOU?!"

"I don't think he'll listen..."

Eurylochus' eye twitched again and again, "Is there a way we can get out of this?"

"With Helios? I don't think so, he seemed pretty mad-"

"WITH YOU, Zeus?" Eury sighed...he knew where this was going.

The question stumped Zeus for a bit...but then his smirk deepened. And Eury's scowl worsened.

"Depends darling, what do you have to offer?~"

"...."

Aaaaand, that's how the remaining crew got back Ithica safely! Ody was together with his wife and son again, and Eurylochus was back with Ctimene.

....Did I mention Eurylochus couldn't walk straight for three days?

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Poorly Explains: Epic The musical

Troy saga

Odysseus: We are going to reverse piñata these bitches. Then I’m going home to my wife and son.

(Proceeds to kick ass)

Odysseus: (gets a vision) What in Hades was that?

Zeus: need you to stab something.

Odysseus: Cool

(Breaks into a nursery)

Odysseus: You want me to kill this baby?!

Zeus: Yep! He will grow up and kill your family if you don’t. Good luck with your mental health after this.

Odysseus: (sings about being a guy before dropping the baby out the window)

Odysseus: I may have some PTSD

Eurylochus: I’m going to be a Massive pain later btw, I’m hungry.

Odysseus: Stealth mission on the island. Polites you’re with me.

Polites: I’m just covered in death flags.

(Later)

Polites: you should be more receptive

Odysseus: Maybe you’re right… but not with these guys.

(Athena appears)

Athena: Bitch did I just catch you feeling things again? You’re a warrior of the mind.

Odysseus: Yes I remember the flashback.

(Go to cave to get food)

Cyclops Saga

Polyphemus: why you invading my cave and killing my sheep?!

Odysseus: S*** man. Our bad. The name is nobody. Have some wine as an apology.

Polyphemus:(chugs it) Thanks… now I kill you.

(Polyphemus proceeds to go clubbing)

Polites: Oh no my death flags… (gets killed)

Eurylochus: So we killing that cyclops?

Odysseus: No… we are blinding him, stealing his sheep and then I’m doxxing myself.

Athena: What the f***?! I am leaving. You are too emotional.

Odysseus: This is why you have no friends!

Athena:… F*** you… you man! (Leaves)

(A storm approaches)

Storm Saga

Odysseus: probably unrelated to the cyclops but oh look! Sky islands!

Eurylochus: Captain… I think maybe we should NOT mess with the gods anymore.

Odysseus: Eurylochus, I get your concern… but don’t undermine me again.

Aeolus: Yo, I put the storm in this bag. You should be good. Just don’t have anyone open it.

Odysseus: No worries. I completely trust my crew and they wouldn’t be mutinous enough to disobey my order

(The crew proceeds to prove him wrong)

Poseidon: Oh look, it’s Odysseus of Ithaca. The guy who blinded my son.

Odysseus:… F***! The storm was related.

Poseidon: Killing your fleet.

Odysseus: Because I DIDNT kill your son?

Poseidon: Yep! Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves

(Wipes out fleet)

Odysseus: Seriously? What the f***!?

Poseidon: Your turn now

Odysseus: Lol nope! (Opens wind bag to release rest of the storm.

(Lands on Circe’s island)

Circe Saga

Eurylochus: Captain… I need to tell you

Odysseus: Eury… not now. Go scout or something.

(Eurylochus leaves then comes back)

Eurylochus: Men are pigs.

Odysseus: That’s a rude thing to say sure they have some crass

Eurylochus: No. A witch turned them into pigs.

Odysseus: oh… well damn.

Hermes: Hey Odysseus, want to fight Circe?

Odysseus: Ballin.

(Proceeds to go fight Circe, nearly wins)

Circe: How about I let you tap this ass (secretly holding knife)

Odysseus: Look, you are hot. But I have a wife who I’m an unapologetic simp for.

Circe: Damn, I can’t kill you. But I will send you to the underworld.

Odysseus: Wait… isn’t that the same thing?

(So Odysseus and his crew are restored and sent to the underworld.)

Underworld Saga

Odysseus: Sure is Undertale Genocide route up in here.

Polites: Catch phrase.

Anticlea: Dying… Odysseus I’m your mother and I died waiting.

Odysseus: I am going to need so much therapy later.

Tiresias: Vague Spoilers! Also your wife with a man who is a total monster

Odysseus: WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiresias: Good luck bitch. (Leaves)

Odysseus: Maybe I need to be a monster

(They leave the underworld)

Thunder saga

Syren: Odysseus, it’s me your wife. You should jump in the water

Odysseus: But Penelope… I’m just a sexy little baby.

Syren: please?

Odysseus: Okay, but only if you tell me how to get to Ithaca by avoiding Poseidon.

Syren: (gives directions) now jump in

Odysseus: (goes from UwU to 🔪🔪🔪)

Odysseus: BTW we captured your friends.

Syren: WTF

Odysseus: Sashimi time

(Slaughters them)

Odysseus: To the lair of Scylla

Eurylochus: Hey Captain… I need to tell you something…

Odysseus: Eurylochus have the crew light up 6 torches

Eurylochus: I opened the wind bag!

Odysseus: … Make sure you’re holding one of the torches.

Scylla: Oh boy free eats.

(Eats 6 people)

Eurylochus: Did you just sacrifice 6 of our friends?!

Odysseus: You are litterally the LAST person who gets to judge.

(Mutiny occurs)

Eurylochus: I’m hungry. Oh look cows.

Odysseus: You idiot don’t touch the cows. They are the sun god’s!

(The cow was killed)

Zeus: So I heard you like killing cattle. Great news I love flexing on mortals.

Odysseus: Damn it Eurylochus…

Zeus: Alright Odysseus, you get to choose. You or your crew.

Odysseus: Me. I miss my wife.

Eurylochus: Seriously?

Odysseus: You Litterally caused a mutiny a few hours ago. You guys ain’t s***

Zeus: Welp. Time to Bolt

(Kills everyone but Odysseus)

Wisdom Saga

(8 year time skip)

Telemachus: Yo what up everyone. I’m the lovable son of Odysseus. He’s been missing for a while and now we got an infestation of Simps.

Antinous: You brat, where’s your hot mom?

Telemachus: Stop objectifying my mom.

Antinous: What you gonna do about it champ?

(Proceeds to get in a fist fight)

Telemachus: I could really use some help?

Athena: Did somebody need help?

Telemachus: A Friend?!

Athena: Uppercut that bitch.

(Telemachus proceeds to lose but did put up a decent fight)

Telemachus: You are my best friend now.

Athena: I would bury myself for you.

Telemachus: So you mentioned another friend of yours. You should go help him too.

Athena: Yea… I should. I wonder what he’s been up to

(Sees everything he’s been up to including getting captured by calypso)

Calypso: I’m a hot goddess. How are you not begging me to bone?

Odysseus: I miss my wife.

(Is borderline suicidal)

Athena: Crap… it’s worse than I thought.

Zeus: Wait… you want us to intervene on behalf of a mortal? We are gods. We don’t do that

Athena: That is Litterally ALL you do. And usually disguised as animals so you can…

Zeus: (changing subject) Okay okay! Let’s make it a game. Convince these gods to release him and me. Then I’ll release him.

Apollo: He killed the Syrens. I liked their songs.

Athena: They started it, and now the other Syrens will be more careful

Apollo: Fair point. Release him.

Hephaestus: He sacrificed his crew.

Athena: They betrayed him first, and if he is freed he will Rebuild his life.

Hephaestus: Okay fair, Release him.

Aphrodite: His mother died waiting for him.

Athena: The War was your f***ing fault!

Ares: Nice try. (Buts in)

Athena: Ares you cheapshotting bastard.

Area: He mocked the cyclops but didn’t kill him, used cowardly tactics. He’s pathetic and weak like his son!

Athena: (rage mode activated) HOLD YOUR TONGUE! Don’t insult my boy!

(Kicks ares ass)

Athena: Odysseus will slaughter all the suitors, and tell your whore of a girlfriend broken hearts can mend.

Ares and Aphrodite: Release him.

Hera: Give me one good reason.

Athena: He’s never cheated in his wife.

Hera: (glares at Zeus) Release him immediately.

Athena: I won your game.

Zeus: Ah but you forget… I’m a petty bitch! (Strikes her with lightning)

Athena: (badly hurt) Please… release him.

(And it’s implied he did)

Vengence Saga

Calypso: I’m not sorry for loving you.

Odysseus: You kept me here against my will for 8 years. Whatever emotions I feel towards you are Stockholm syndrome at best. Later.

(Hermes appears)

Hermes: Ready for one last ride?

Odysseus: Bring it!

(Proceeds to have a dance number with Hermes and get passed Charybdis)

Odysseus: I’m finally home.

Poseidon: Bitch you thought.

Odysseus: No, I am not dealing with this today.

Poseidon: Get in the water!

Odysseus: 600 Strike!

(Cue anime fight)

Poseidon: You may have won by some miracle… but now that storm blocks your way home. Sucks to be you.

Odysseus: No… sucks to be you.

(Odysseus proceeds to penetrate Poseidon with his trident until the god begs for mercy)

Poseidon: How will you sleep at night.

Odysseus: Next to my wife. On a mattress from Mattressfirm! Save 100 dollars on your next purchase with the code f***youposeidon.

(Now at Ithaca)

Ithaca saga

Penelope: Welp, I’ve stalled as long as I could with the Loom. Time to use the bow stall challenge.

The suitors: It’s impossible! No one could string this bow.

Penelope: Skill issue, call me when someone does.

(Hours later)

Antinous: F*** this! Let’s just go kill her son and then open her bedroom door and [Redacted)

(Gets killed by arrow)

Odysseus: I’m killing all of you now.

Suitors: We need to get weapons:

Telemachus: I’m back, and you guys should just surrender now.

Suitors: Are you nuts, your father will kill us anyway. (Proceeds to attack son.

Odysseus: Oh I’m going to kill you guys even harder now.

(Brutally kills all the suitors)

Telemachus: Daddy?

Odysseus: Son?

(Cue hug)

Odysseus: I’m so proud of you. Now go tell your mother I’m home. I’ll be there in a moment.

Telemachus: I will. (Heads off to tell mom)

Odysseus: So Athena, you gonna say hi or…

Athena: You may have been right about being merciful.

Odysseus: Nah, you were right. And btw, I’m gonna retire from this warrior business. I only want to see my wife. I’m too old for this s***

(Prepares to see wife)

Penelope: Is that you my love?

Odysseus: I changed a Lot over the years… I’m not the same. But could you fall in love with me again maybe?

Penelope: I see… move our wedding bed then.

Odysseus: WTF that is Rooted to the ground. I made that bed with my hands! How can you ask that.

Penelope: Only my husband knew that. So you are him!

Odysseus: Oh…

Penelope: I will fall in love with you every single time. No matter where or when.

Odysseus: (crying) Penelope!

Penelope: Now get your ass over here! I’ve waited 20 years for you and momma has needs.

[nonbinarylocalcryptid]

Before he and Odysseus make up, Astyanax must undergo some character development, so here it is

Astyanax closed his eyes to sleep at Calypso's island, far from the greek man and the goddess, and when he opened again, he found himself at an unknown place.

It was clearly divine intervention, even if he didn't know which god was playing with him, caution was more than necessary. His weapon was next to him in the dry soil and dust that covered everything that his eyes could see.

Ruins were everywhere, but that didn't stopped him from imagining what was there before. In the wholes of the ruin his mind was able to rebuild an image of a past era of prosperity. Giant destroyed walls talked about years of siege and the doors, crooked and rotten in their place, of what was once the city, spoke about days of glory long gone.

Then there it was, a pile of a structure which shape can't be recalled, but the dirt and the moss were no obstacle for Astyanax's mind.

"This is Troy." He said, to the ghosts of those who died there.

"This is where Troy were once", a thundering voice corrected him, condescending. "I want to show you something, come."

Disobedience and a snarky reply crossed briefly by Astyanax's mind, but in the last second he kept those to himself, opting for following the Thunder Bringer. Broken stairs and rooms which once had colour and life greeted him as he ascended, testimonies of a time that was no longer his.

"Why did you bring me here?" He asked.

"I have a mission for you."

"I'm not interested in being your champion, Zeus."

Then the thunder God used the dusty cloud of his sandals to take form and looked him in the eye. His expression was of amusement.

"No one is talking of champions here, boy. I have a mission for you, that's all."

"Still not interested."

"But you are so filled with rage! Wouldn't you like a chance to unwind?"

"I'll pass, thanks for the offer."

A long, patronizing laugh came from Zeus.

"First, take a look at what I have to show, and then decide."

The room, looted and ruined, changed to depict a scene from the past. Sounds of slaughter came from the balcony, and there, in the corner, there was a cradle.

An echo of man entered the room, and something tightened in Astyanax's chest when he recognized the man as none other than Odysseus, a young version of him, old, yes, but younger, and maybe tired, but Astyanax could still see some hope in his eyes.

The scene developed in front of him as Odysseus had told him, which only reassure him that the man had been telling him the truth that dreadful night in the beach.

Astyanax could only watch, as a young Odysseus disobeyed Zeus, faked a baby Astyanax's death, and took the child version of him to safety.

""Come on, little ghost," the young Odysseus mumbled softly, even covered in blood, "where are the clothes for your diapers stored? We must go."

Astyanax blinked away some tears while the illusion faded away.

"I would like you to kill him." Said the king of gods. "That's my mission for you."

"Why."

"As you have seen, he disobeyed me."

"Well, tough, I said no."

"This is your chance to avenge your home, your father! Troy's legacy lives runs through your veins..."

"Is this what the Trojan Legacy is??!?!?" Astyanax exclaimed with fury. "A meaningless death after another! Sonless fathers killing fatherless sons!! Bloodshed that never dries! Ruthlessness, and the greediness of the gods turning everything they touch into ruins."

"Careful, boy, shut your mouth before is too late."

"Or what? You will kill me? You have wanted me death since I was a baby! And now you want me to kill the only man I have called father and for what? Because you are bored??"

"Hector, crown prince of Troy, was your father..."

"And where is he? WHERE IS HE? HE'S DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU AND EVERY SINGLE GOD WHO LIVES IN THAT FREAKING MOUNTAIN OF YOURS."

Astyanax coughed after yelling so much, he even turned red, so lost in his self righteous fury that he forgot to breath for a second.

"Are you done?"

"Not even close." Astyanax muttered with a dangerous edge in his voice.

"You will kill Odysseus of Ithaca because, I, Zeus, God of Thunder, has told you so."

"Eat me, asshole."

Then Astyanax turned around and started his journey downstairs, to see if the greek army left something valuable behind. Something useful. At least he hoped not everything was at the bottom of the sea with the Ithacan fleet.

Zeus didn't stop pestering him, the dusty cloud following Astyanax.

"Where are you going? I did not finish saying my piece!"

"But I did, now fuck off, I need to get back to Calypso's."

"To kill Odysseus, I assume."

"Your assumption is wrong." The characteristic hint of sass was back in the boy's voice, as he took a long wooden stick from the ground, maybe it could be useful...

"I am Zeus, God of Thunder..."

"And I'm Scamandrius of Troy, son of Hector and Andramoche, Ghost of Troy, the Infant from that night, I'm the 601st man, I'm the One you wasn't expecting...and last but not least, I'm Astyanax the cynic, son of Odysseus...and I'm going to let him go and that's final."

"Why? It's an order, kill him!"

"No. He is not my enemy. You are."

"Are you threatening me, boy?"

"No, I'm stating facts. He's not my enemy and even if I kill him, that won't bring Troy back."

"Merciness is not a valuable skill."

"And that's the difference between men and gods. The need for mercy." Luckily for Astyanax, the curtains were still in place, so he took them down.

"That's naïve."

"Is it? It's because of an act of mercy that I am alive. Mercy is a weakness, yes, but is a strength too. Civilizations raise and fall because of it"

"He is still a threat."

"To whom? He tried to kill me because you ordered it, he is a mere puppet in your scheme. There's nothing personal in that. He's dangerous to you, and you want to toy with him by making me kill him. My answer is still no, by the way."

"And you are letting him go, out of mercy."

"And out of love." Astyanax looked at him with something that was tinted with sadness. "You know, I feel sorry for you, so many sons and daughters and none of them has called you dad...and it shows."

"You know nothing about me, mortal."

"Neither do you about me, puny god. As I was saying, I choose to let him go, because I'm also Astyanax the merciful, but I'm no idiot. He is a nobody, but you, in the other hand, have much to explain. What would you tell the other gods? Would you return home and tell them that you challenged a child? That you were so scared that you just couldn't stand the thought of me being alive? Go, go and tell them who defeated you, tell them about me, tell them that a boy with no beard beat you in your game. Tell them that your ego blinded you and a boy outsmarted you."

"Do you think is wise to talk like that to a god?"

"No, but is it fair to me to chase me like this? I was a baby, not a threat, back in the Trojan war, yet you wanted me dead. Troy was a beautiful place, without the gods' interferance, yet today is all dust and ashes. And now, you just ordered my death, again, because that's what all the 'kill Odysseus' nonsense is, you just want him to kill me. Is this what you want your legacy to be? A capricius whimsical god with no sense of morality! I just want to live in peace, is that too much to ask? Of course you choose not to speak. If your choice is to tell the other gods...Tell them where to find me. Tell them I'll be in Ithaca, and so will my father."

[therantspot]

I've been seeing a lot of eurylochus hate on tiktok and I've come to rant about how you're allowed to hate him if you want to (I understand) but also, from my point of view, the man doesn't deserve it all. (this is in no way hate towards odysseus, I love the dude)

the way I see it, he literally is just a man. he's made mistakes, obviously. shouldn't have opened the bag, shouldn't have questioned odysseus in front of all the crew, shouldn't have eaten the cows...

but people are calling him a hypocrite for the way he shouts at ody for sacrificing 6 men when he was ready to run for his life when they were with circe. and stupid for opening the bag when he had one job. and dumb for eating the cows.

here's the thing though. eurylochus started out in the musical as the guy that's worried for the dangers that await, he just wants to get home, like everyone else on the ship. he's the first ready to battle for the chance of food to feed themselves and skeptic at polites' view of being nice. he's all "let's get our food by force and get going, we gotta get home" ("I say we strike first, we don't have time to waste, so let's raid the place and-")

but then the kindness plan sort of works. for a quick second, before they start to get slaughtered by a cyclops. odysseus gets them out of it because he's a great leader tho. smart and with a plan, the kind of man eurylochus has relied on for over 10 years. his brother.

but... his brother is tweaking a bit, he had this fight with his matron and lost one of his best friends along with idk how many men that we're under his care... anyone would be traumatized, even if Odysseus doesn't see it yet (I believe he had a time of denial where he wanted to stay positive like polites, but deep down he was spiraling). and eurylochus shows his concern in luck runs out. was he wrong for voicing his concern in front of the crew? absolutely. but I think eurylochus' brain was also tweaking. bro was worried and wants to get home. he also can't help but think how in his war experience, there's many plans that have gone wrong, people around him keep dying and so what if? what if one of his captain's plans goes wrong and they're all goners? and Odysseus understands!! ("thank you for the concern (...) I understand that we're tired, I understand that we're fazed"), but he tries to remind him to have faith in him. so eurylochus does. and I think he's always had faith in his captain, he just didn't trust the gods to be in their favour anymore, because lately, they haven't. he also voiced it at the beginning of the song ("don't forget how dangerous the gods are").

and then eurylochus opened the bag. big fuck up. and maybe it's too far fetched and I'm just looking for ways to justify his behavior BUT. I don't think he did it just to disobey captain's orders. if he had done it because he didn't trust odysseus then guilt wouldn't have been eating him later. I understand it might be because Poseidon suddenly showed up and killed most of the fleet like a minute after he did, that's a big possibility, yes. I also don't think he did because he believed the bag held treasure. he trusted odysseus' word over anything else, so when he said the bag had the storm inside eurylochus believed him. but what if, just what if, by opening just enough the winds would propel them to Ithaca? then again, if the storm was holding them from getting there in the first place why would a man desperate to get home try that? this is not my strongest argument tbh.

then he wants to leave the men as pigs and go home. he truly just wants to go home (10 years of war, a horrible journey back when it should've taken like a week at most, my dude just wants his mom to pick him up and take him home and honestly, same). but bruh. he's been the one that's repeatedly said that they shouldn't trust strangers or gods, reminding everyone to be on their guard, and suddenly his men see a woman and forget all about it???? the guy is traumatized, mourning, tired, and angry. on top of that they placed an enemy that his men should've easily been able to defeat had it been a regular woman and they ended up as pigs, so he really sees no way of beating her and getting anyone back. of course he wants to run away!!! safe whatever is left before he loses himself completely ("look at all we've lost and all we've learned, every single cost is so much more than what we've earned, think about the men we have left before there's none, let's just cut our losses, you and I, and let's run")

and that's exactly the difference between eurylochus in puppeteer and odysseus in Scylla and mutiny. eurylochus wants to run away because he doesn't see another way out. he's seeing his friends disappear one after the other either to death or to magic, and he's on survival mode. whoever is left, whoever is still alive, they should leave before they aren't anymore. they all need to get home. odysseus however, he's blinded by the need to get himself home to see his wife and son. he's the one that has to get home, and to ensure that, they have to pass by Scylla's lair, because if they don't go that way, Poseidon might get them and if he does, he won't let Odysseus get out alive this time. so if 6 men is what it takes, he'll do it. it's not running away, it's sacrificing.

i think the next turning point for eurylochus is actually mutiny. but here it's important to talk about how much the journey has changed him, odysseus, and their relationship and the way they see each other. like i said, eurylochus starts the journey worried about what's up ahead and, like everyone else, thinking only about getting home. but he trusts his captain with his life in every decision he makes. he also speaks for the entire crew. odysseus also starts the journey tired and thinking only about getting to ithaca. but he's got 600 men to think about as well. as captain, their lives and deaths are on him, and with every turn, he loses more and more of these men. like it or not, he's responsible for it, even if he tried his best, even if he didn't mean for it to go in that direction; he's in charge, he's responsible. it's sorta like when parents tell the eldest kid they're the model for the younger siblings.

but in the polyphemus' cave, when odysseus panics and eurylochus has to wake him up from his unresponsive state, it's not only a blow for ody, it's also a blow for eurylochus. he relies on odysseus to carry them through and he wasn't answering. they were all going through the same thing, watching their friends die, but he was the one that's supposed to keep it together the most. alas, they're all just men. and that's when eurylochus' concerns and picture perfect of odysseus start to show and blur.

odysseus still tries his best to lead with kindness like polites showed him, taking care of everyone as he should, but with every passing day and with every hardship, it becomes more and more difficult to do so. and then, just when he thinks he's about to get the answer that will save them all, by going down to literal hell, the guy with the answer tells him he won't get home to his wife and kid (the thing that's been keeping him sane and giving him hope throughout this shit of a journey). that everything they've done, all the kindness, all the being nice, has been for nothing. he also realizes that he's taking way too long and he's losing too much, like his mom, who was left waiting. so he breaks (monster).

throughout this whole thing, he never doubted eurylochus would be by his side, and he lowkey neglects and takes him for granted. dismissing when he wants to tell him something ("whatever you need to say can wait some more, of that i'm sure" in puppeteer, and if he'd let him talk he probably would've been able to prevent mutiny, but he was too distraught and wanted time to think), and he was warned in keep your friends close too, even if he didn't know it. he was also warned by the prophet, but he still didn't know it ("i see a brother's final stand"). i think it's because while odysseus did want them all to go back home, at least during most of their travels, he mostly wanted to get home himself. deep down, he was always ready to make the sacrifices, life just hadn't forced him to make them or hadn't made the right circumstances or traumatized him enough.

eurylochus sees how the experiences change him from the outside, and what it means for the rest of them every time odysseus loses himself some more. but this is odysseus, it's his brother, the man he entrusts his life to, the man that's guided them through war and the underworld, taken them out of the weirdest troubles, and the man that's most desperate to reach ithaca. and the guy that's seemingly gotten his shit together (finally) and is ready to do whatever it takes, slay whoever now (different beast). so he'll pull through, right? he might be a monster towards the dangers that are trying to get them, but he's always done his best to protect them, so there's nothing to worry about.

so a part of eurylochus has trouble believing odysseus would really sacrifice six of their friends, because he doesn't want to believe it. but the smartest man he knows wouldn't just tell them to "run for their lives" when he's well aware they're in a fucking boat. and he is desperate. eurylochus asks, begs, odysseus to tell him he's wrong in thinking he didn't just do what he did, because he needs his brother to not have gone completely off the path they paved at the beginning of the story ("use your wits to try and say i'm crazy and mad, that this is all a trick the gods have sent").

but he's too far gone in his tunnel vision, and eurylochus has to think of himself and the men that are left too, who also want to get to their families. and at the rate this is going, he's losing too many friends. at first, odysseus was to blame only in the "he's responsible for all of us because of his role as captain", but he never meant for their men to die and he tried with all his might to keep them safe, but as of right now, he used them as bait and let them die on purpose. he can't stay in charge if he won't fulfill his role as keeper of them. so eurylochus stages mutiny. rightfully so? maybe, maybe not. i personally think he didn't do it out of hate, he just didn't see another out. but he wasn't a hypocrite any more than odysseus was, so in my opinion, he was justified.

anyway then they get to the sun god's island. and people like to say that he shouldn't have killed them cows. and this is one of the parts were the hate makes me lowkey mad. as humans, when we're pushed to a point of heavy starvation or anything that endangers our lives, we enter survival mode, where instincts take over and we do things we wouldn't do if we were in our right minds. and that's exactly it, eurylochus and the rest of the crew weren't in their right minds anymore. they're hungry, and they don't have the willpower odysseus seems to have. they've given up after everything they've been through, and they're hungry and don't think they'll make it home anyway, so they eat the cows. eurylochus can't help it, and even after all, he still cares for odysseus, but he doesn't believe in their chances anymore ("ody, we're never gonna get to make it home, you know it's true", "i'm starving/tired, my friend"). he's past the point of hoping, he wants it all to end, and he can only think of his hunger, the one thing he can actually do something about in that moment. ("how much longer must i suffer now? how much longer must push through doubt? how much longer must i go about my life like this, when people die like this?" he repeats it in plural as well, voicing the crew)

so in the end, he kills the cow. and then odysseus gets to choose and he chooses himself. he has to see his wife and he'll take any opportunity that allows him to. he's on survival mode too, just with a different goal, the one that keeps him sane and makes him push through everything horrible that happens to him.

the odyssey is a story that shows how its characters lose themselves to sorrow, each in a different way. so neither odysseus nor eurylochus are to blame for the way they acted, life pushed them to the edge and they each responded in different ways. it wasn't fair to either of them, they're just men that can only withstand so much.

[desos-records]

Fascinated and devastated by EPIC: The Musical flipping the moral script of Odysseus' arc, yet coming to the same conclusions.

There's Classic Odysseus, who accepts that his fate and the fate of his men are out of his control. Classic Odysseus, who knowingly sacrificed six men to Scylla and accepted the cost without second thought. Classic Odysseus, who mourns his men then blames them for their own deaths because of disobedience or cowardice or hunger, comparing them to the goats herded on Ithaca.

And there's EPIC Odysseus, who from the start chafes against the will of the gods in favor of his compassion. EPIC Odysseus, who does not accept that his fate and the fate of his men are out of his control and suffers because of it. EPIC Odysseus, who is clever as ever, yet reckless with his heart.

But they are not so different as that. Troy did make Odysseus kinder. Patroclus demonstrated to them all how compassion is more honorable than any act of glory when he lied and took up arms and fought without thought to his own prestige, but only so that the slaughter of his friends would end. Odysseus saw the horrors committed after Troy's walls fell. He--the liar, the schemer, the man of many turns--understood the dishonor more than anyone and refused to repeat it for the sake of others.

They both come to understand that the wicked, vicious, ruthless aspect of their nature is acceptable when used in defense of their own. They slaughter their enemies with honor, but they will slaughter their enemies. They draw the line in the sand. Every man will be given the chance to prove their honor--hospitality and strangers, it always returns to hospitality and strangers, Zeus is the god of both and demands their sanctity--and every man who crosses that line will prove himself an enemy. And enemies will be slaughtered and sacrificed like cattle.

Ruthlessness is mercy--mercy for Penelope and Telemachus and Laertes who have suffered by his absence, who survived twenty years unprotected and three years under siege only by Penelope's cleverness. Not even to mention Ithaca and its people left without a king. Who else could have saved them? With Laertes too old and Telemachus too young and Penelope confined to only her loom and her tongue as weapons.

Were they worth the deaths of 600 soldiers? 108 young men? 12 enslaved women?

Athena, and through her the epic itself, declares that they are worth the bloodshed, for they are on the right side of the line.

[queenmuzz]

Ares watching Odysseus slaughter all the suitors squatting in his house: PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE LET ME BE HIS PATRON GOD!

Hermes, watching as Odysseus tricking the suitors that he’s a harmless old man to get into his palace: I think I’d be a better patron, plus I’m his great-grandfather.

Hera, watching as Odysseus does all this to see his wife and son again after two decades of voyaging: AHEM.

[ofowlsdinosaursanddragons]

“When does a man become a monster?”

After listening to “Odysseus” a lil’ too much and having a mammalian super predator hyperfixation. I decided to make a monster!Odysseus design based on bears, The night feeder, theropods like acrocanthosaurus and Doshaguma from Monster Hunter.

I’d imagine that Odysseus gets this form during 600 strike and from injuring Poseidon, he ingests some of the god’s ichor. Which mixed with the lingering magic from the holy moly back on Circe’s island. During the Odysseus song, he slowly turns more and more into his monster form. After the slaughter, Odysseus goes feral and kidnaps Telemachus and disappears into the wilderness. Now Athena and Penelope must try to revert the effects of the old kong’s affliction before it’s too late.

[kirbytuna]

currently thinking about an epic au with hestia.

because like. imagine odysseus' intense yearning to return home catches the attention of her at some point. she sees how homesick he is, and she takes pity on him and watches over him from time to time, even starting to enjoy being in his presence and seeing him talk to others about his love for his wife and his love for the warmth of his home.

at some point, she appears before him. she asks him to tell her all about his wish to go home, what he loves about his home, his family, his wife and son, his mother and father, growing up, all of it. and he does, and she finds that she enjoys his response. in return, she occasionally appears to him for comfort/protection.

another little tidbit. In my mind, i think that the olympians (and other gods) would show great respect towards hestia in epic. as the eldest daughter of rhea and cronus, they all see her either as an actual sisterly figure or they see her as somewhat of a parental presence. that being said, you do NOT want to make her disappointed.

so imagine what happens when poseidon pulls up from the ocean, glaring down upon the exhausted crew. he does the whole speech thing and reveals that he's polyphemus' father. right as he's about to yell his final words to odysseus, hestia appears.

and she has the biggest most disappointed expression on her face that would bring the strongest gods to their KNEES.

it takes just one little "what do you think you're doing to that poor man?" for poseidon to DROP that trident. he tries to explain himself, speaking of how odysseus broke into his son's home and killed his sheep first. to which hestia amazingly replies, "you're right, yes, but odysseus had offered him the wine, correct? and by accepting the wine, polyphemus made the trade. the laws of xenia were enacted, seeing as he indirectly accepted the agreement. yet, he still chose to slaughter six of his men, including his best friend. shouldn't your son be the one to be punished?"

poseidon tries to argue back, he really does, but hestia is still giving him the look that could even make zeus apologize. so he just mumbles a quick "'m sorry." and turns to odysseus. "I'm not done with you yet. this isn't the last you'll—" "an ACTUAL apology, please?" "...I'm leaving." and he just goes underwater and leaves.

that's where the story would end I guess, but I still have alot more thoughts about routes this au would take so PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT !! I'll post more about this au soon

(here's pt 2 !)