Wednesday 6 May 2015

Calypso

Calypso1
In Greek mythology, Calypso was described as the daughter of Titan Atlas.   

Calypso
                            Calypso lived in the remote island of Ogygia, where she was ousted as a prisoner because she supported her father in the battles between Titans and Olympians. When Zeus sent a storm that destroyed Odysseus's ship and drowned all his remaining companions, Odysseus was washed ashore on the island of Ogygia.  
Calypso and Odysseus

                    Calypso fell  in love with Odysseus and wanted to make him her immortal husband and give him the eternal youth. But Odysseus did not accept her generosity,as he was dreaming about going back to his Ithaca and his wife, Penelope. Calypso was so much in love with him that despite his refusal of her offers, she kept hoping and seducing Odysseus. Eventually, she made him her lover.

                         During the day the inconsolable Odysseus sat on the Ogygian shore, giving himself to tears and heartache as he looked across the sea, and at night Calypso took him into her cave, a lovely place with many trees and a garden where she had sex with him. In some version Calypso gave birth to two sons-Nausithous and Nausinous. In other version, Calypso bore Odysseus a son, Latinus. 
                              For many years (about 7 or 9 years) Odysseus remain in island of Ogygia, as a prisoner and lover of Calypso. Goddess Athena, who never desert her favorites asked Zeus to save Odysseus from Ogygia and Calypso. Zeus sent the messenger of the gods, Hermes, to persuade Calypso to let Odysseus go. 
Calypso and Hermes

Calypso then gave him leave to make a boat, and promised to stock it herself with bread, water and wine, and send a following wind so that he may reach Ithaca without difficulties. And as Odysseus could not believe what he was hearing, and instead suspected some mischief, she gave him the greatest and most solemn oath that the gods can take:
"Now let Earth be my witness, with the broad Sky above, and the falling waters of the Styx ... that I harbour no secret plans against you ..." 
                             Straight away after this oath, Calypso, disregarding the fact that just a little while ago she had protested against Zeus' decision, told Odysseus that she did this because after all she had a righteous mind and a heart that, not being indeed of iron, had compassion. 
Calypso had both negative and positive connotation in Greek mythology......as a concealer and seductress, Calypso is a negative symbol, but as a rescuer she is a positive one.
Calypso2
In Greek mythology, Calypso was described as one of the Oceanid daughters of Tethys and Oceanus.
Calypso3
In Greek mythology, Calypsoas was described one of the Nereid daughters of Nereus and Doris.

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1 comment:

  1. thanks. this website helps me dig deeper into mythology as I read the Percy Jackson book series

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