Term Papers on Greek And Roman Heroes: Odysseus And Aeneas

Term Paper Title	Greek And Roman Heroes: Odysseus And Aeneas
# of Words	1432
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.73

Greek and Roman heroes: Odysseus and Aeneas

     Throughout history many heroes have come and gone. Every culture has their own view of what constitutes a hero. In the epic the Odyssey, Odysseus is the famed hero. In the Aeneid Aeneas is the hero. The cultures from which these stories came, Greek and Roman respectively, have many similar and different views on what they believe a hero should be. Odysseus and Aeneas   are both kind to enemies and brave. The two heroes are different in their personalities. Odysseus is quick-witted and tends to think of himself at times, while Aeneas is a little nieve and thinks more of his family and the well being of his city rather than himself.
     Odysseus and Aeneas share the traits of loyalty and bravery as heroes. Odysseus shows bravery when he goes after his men, trapped by Circe. When Eurylokhos comes to Odysseus and tells him of the men "vanishing" in Circe's "palace," Odysseus doesn't even hesitate to go help his men. He says,
      When I heard this, I slung my...
      broadsword on,...
      and said 'Come take me back the way you came'
      (10. 278-280)
Eurylokhos begs with Odysseus not to go for fear that he too may vanish. Odysseus simply says,"Let me go as I see nothing... but to go." (10. 290-291) Odysseus is willing to go save his men, even if it means he may risk his own life in the process. Aeneas shows his bravery when he goes back to the dangerous city at war to look for his wife Cruesa. He says,
          I went back
          into the city again,...
          ready,...for any danger. (II. 766-768)
There were Greeks all around the city, ready for attack, but Aeneas still yelled out his wife's name over and over. He didn't care if he got caught, he just wanted to find his wife. Being courageous and loyal was part of a strict code the Greeks subscribed to , according to the book Classical Greece. The Romans as well took loyalty and courage as important traits. According to the book, The Decline of Rome, "Government was very important to Romans. Rome was the 'fatherland' and they lost their independence to stay loyal to it." (Vogt 17)
     Greek and Roman heroes, Odysseus and Aeneas both have a history of being kind to enemies. According to the book Classical Greece, part of the Greek strict code of conduct is "being courteous (even to enemies)" (Bowra 49) Odysseus shows this trait of being courteous when he is kind to Circe to get his men free and changed from swine back to men. Odysseus also shows courtesy to the Cyclops when he gives him some of his finest wine. The book Classical Greece also says that the Romans learned much about philosophy and art from the Greeks.
          Young Romans went to study at The University of
          Athens, and educated Romans looked to Greeks as
          their masters in philosophy, science and fine
          arts.(Bowra 11)
This may explain why Aeneas too was kind to enemies. When the young Greek man comes to Aeneas and his men telling them his pity story to get the Trojan horse inside the city, Aeneas has pity for him. Even though the young man is an enemy to the Romans, Aeneas still pities him and treats him courteously.
     Unlike Odysseus and his clever quick-witted ways, Aeneas is quite gullible and nieve and doesn't seem to be as clever. Odysseus shows his quick-wit when he devises a plan for him and his men to escape the Cyclops' lair.
      I drew on all my wits...
      until a trick came...
      three abreast...
      I tied them [Cyclops' rams]...
      then slung a man under each...
      to ride to safety. (9. 441-450)
It is important in Greek culture that their heroes are intelligent, quick-witted and able to dabble in trickery but not fall for it. Aeneas on the other hand has a very nieve and gullible personality. He and Priam believe the stranger that was being held  hostage by Trojan shepherds. When the stranger tells them of how the horse was built as a gift and persuades them to bring it onto the city, Aeneas, Priam and many of...

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