The Odyssey Book V: Lines 118-143 Annotation by Homer, Translated by A.S. Kline Lyrics
In this passage is Calypso’s response to Hermes delivering her the fate of Odysseus to travel home to his native land of Ithica. Calypso is very upset and uses multiple references in her rant to try and sway the gods into allowing Odysseus into staying with her. This passage fits into the overall story because it is because of the gods saying he has to leave Calypso’s island that causes him to experience many further hardships and loss of many other men. This passage is particularly interesting to look at because of the large use of references of stories with multiple versions. It is the choice of version that allows us to look deeper into who the character is. I also chose this passage because of a particular phrase that still stumps scholars to this day, Homer’s “wine-dark sea”. I find this reference particularly interesting and made my best attempt with my strong knowledge of Greek and Roman culture, to provide insight to help better understanding. Before reading, you must have an open mind for the accounts in Greek mythology. If you are familiar with particular events that occurred in the stories of Atemis and Orion and Demeter and Iasion, then you may need to keep your mind open to the other accounts. Other accounts are used as reference in this passage and an open mind will allow you to further see the characteristic of Calypso.
‘You are cruel, you gods, and quickest to envy, since you are jealous
If any goddess openly mates with a man,
Taking a mortal to her bed.
Jealous, you gods, who live untroubled, of rosy-fingered Dawn and her Orion,
Till virgin Artemis, of the golden throne,
Attacked him with painless arrows in Ortygia,
And slew him. Jealous,
When Demeter of the lovely tresses,
Gave way to passion and lay with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed field.
Zeus soon heard of it,
And struck him dead with his bright bolt of lightning.
And jealous now of me, you gods, because I befriend a man,
One I saved as he straddled the keel alone,
When Zeus had blasted and shattered his swift ship
With a bright lightning bolt, out on the wine-dark sea.
There all his noble friends were lost, but the wind and waves carried him here.
I welcomed him generously and fed him, and promised to make him immortal and un-aging.
But since no god can escape or deny the will of Zeus the aegis bearer,
Let him go, if Zeus so orders and commands it,
Let him sail the restless sea. But I will not convey him,
Having no oared ship, and no crew,
To send him off over the wide sea’s back.
Yet I’ll cheerfully advise him, and openly,
So he may get back safe to his native land.’
References:
• Conner, Nancy. "Classical Mythology." The Many Deaths of Orion -. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .
• "Demeter." Demeter. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .
• "IASION." , IASIUS, Greek Mythology Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .
• "IASION : Demi-God of the Samothracian Mysteries | Greek mythology." IASION : Demi-God of the Samothracian Mysteries | Greek mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .
‘You are cruel, you gods, and quickest to envy, since you are jealous
If any goddess openly mates with a man,
Taking a mortal to her bed.
Jealous, you gods, who live untroubled, of rosy-fingered Dawn and her Orion,
Till virgin Artemis, of the golden throne,
Attacked him with painless arrows in Ortygia,
And slew him. Jealous,
When Demeter of the lovely tresses,
Gave way to passion and lay with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed field.
Zeus soon heard of it,
And struck him dead with his bright bolt of lightning.
And jealous now of me, you gods, because I befriend a man,
One I saved as he straddled the keel alone,
When Zeus had blasted and shattered his swift ship
With a bright lightning bolt, out on the wine-dark sea.
There all his noble friends were lost, but the wind and waves carried him here.
I welcomed him generously and fed him, and promised to make him immortal and un-aging.
But since no god can escape or deny the will of Zeus the aegis bearer,
Let him go, if Zeus so orders and commands it,
Let him sail the restless sea. But I will not convey him,
Having no oared ship, and no crew,
To send him off over the wide sea’s back.
Yet I’ll cheerfully advise him, and openly,
So he may get back safe to his native land.’
References:
• Conner, Nancy. "Classical Mythology." The Many Deaths of Orion -. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .
• "Demeter." Demeter. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .
• "IASION." , IASIUS, Greek Mythology Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .
• "IASION : Demi-God of the Samothracian Mysteries | Greek mythology." IASION : Demi-God of the Samothracian Mysteries | Greek mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. .