#King of Ithaca my ass

[insomniphic]

Did you base the headgear of your lore accurate odysseus on anything specific?

Honestly it was more of an amalgamation of many other interpretations of Odysseus — from beard, face structure, to hair. The hat just looked cooler than the ones that sculptors usually depict him wearing 💀

Like— look at that hat. Isn’t it just a silly hat? 💀💀 I know it’s for sailors and stuff but common

This was the post the anon was mentioning :)

[lovely-p-issues]

Fic idea - Astyanax in Ithaca

for times when my English will become acceptable because writing this in Polish feels not right sample of the story under the summary c:

Of course, I was thinking about Penelope's reaction to Odysseus showing up with a new kid (10/11 years old, give or take, Astyanax) at their doors.

I imagined it as the Game of Thrones scene when Ned Stark comes home and shows Catelyn a baby who, he claims, is his bastard. If I were her, I would lose my mind.

But I think that Odysseus explained himself chaotically, yet truly and Penelope didn't fight with the idea of raising the little prince as their own.

But Telemachus? Well, that's a hell of a different story.

He spent his childhood without his father, missing his presence and hoping to meet him one day. He lived in his shadow, as the problematic son of the absent king that everyone wanted to kill, or as a painful reminder to his mother that Odysseus wasn't around anymore and that she needed to be there for the two of them.

Now his dad is back but with a new child.

A new child who knows his father so well. Odysseus was his only parent for ten years (if we forget about 600 uncles, but they died after like 3 years? if I get it right?) and they just get themselves on an impossible level.

Odysseus knows Astyanax's nightmares (they share them).

Astyanax knows his father's past and doesn't need to ask many questions, and Telemachus does. He hates to do it because he sees Odysseus's pain, he sees Astyanax's reproachful look, like he is going to fight Telemachus if he doesn't leave their father, and-

and he sees the sad, concerned eyes of his mom.

So he doesn't ask much about those 20 years. And somehow it's even worse.

Because Telemachus doesn't know Odysseus. Because it feels weird and not home, like they are forced to be close, but they are not. Because he knew his father from songs, stories and legends, and this man is not who he heard of and he doesn't know how can he fix it.

Telemachus doesn't like to think about it but feels like he gives up on Odysseus. He spent the last 20 years of his life trying to reach that man and- Telemachus is tired.

Besides, Odysseus has another son anyway, right?

The prince of Troy, cursed boy, son of Hector, Astyanax, who also turned out to be a pain in the ass.

He knows that he can't blame the kid for his existence or even for the fact that Odysseus took him to their home.

For that Odysseus often takes Astyanax for horse rides to show him the island. The thing that Telemachus did alone.

For that, Odysseus teaches the boy how to use a sword and they laugh a lot during that. The thing that Telemachus did with strangers, got dozens of bruises, always trying to do everything he could to impress the person that wasn't there.

He doesn't blame Astyanax.

He just can't stand him.

But the boy seems to love the idea of going after him whenever Odysseus manages to pull him off for a moment. It's okay when Astyanax watches him during the trainings with eyes shining with excitement. However, it's bad when Astyanax starts to talk.

Father said I'm getting better at parrying-

When I was with father on Calypso's island-

Father does this completely differently-

Telemachus is a patient man. He waited for his father for 20 years. But sometimes he asks himself if Astyanax knows that all this talking about Odysseus, the man he missed but can't actually get to know, is such a trigger for him.

Maybe Astyanax teases him to show how much more of a son Odysseus is?

With every day Telemachus is more and more irritated. He does his best to hide it, but he can't ignore this fire burning him from the inside.

The reason for this fragile peace collapse is, relatively, very stupid.

Telemachus was tired after all day when he met Odysseus.

"The situation in the city is now calmed down,’ he informed his father, combing through his wind-tangled hair."

Odysseus nodded and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Telemachus. Well done."

Telemachus froze, not knowing what to say. He couldn't even move. Finally, he nodded, wincing slightly at the awkwardness of his every interaction with his father.

"Of course, father."

Odysseus seemed equally perplexed. However, the whole situation changed when Astyanax appeared in the courtyard where they stood.

Or, he ran into it, almost toppling over, just to get to Odysseus faster and embrace him around the waist.

"Dad, you will never believe what I found with mother in the garden!"

Telemachus watched with unhealthy interest as his father's face lit up with a smile as he listened to Astyanax's excited chatter.

A sudden anger, though senseless and petty, flared his veins. He had to avert his gaze and drive it into the ground so that no one could see his anger. His jaw was clenched tightly.

Twenty years of life based on a vague memory. An entire journey to find his father. His faith, his efforts and his devotion. All this to not be able to have one real conversation with his father. All this to watch both his parents melt down over his new, little brother. All this to stand by and watch his dreams fade away.

He no longer watched.

He walked away before he could do something stupid. Something that would distance him even further from his father.

He holed up in one of the cool and dark corridors of their palace. He concentrated on his breathing and massaged his temples.

He was an adult and knew how to deal with his feelings. Not that anyone had ever taught him that.

"Telemachus, what's wrong? You don't even know what we found in the garden, you went too fast!"

He didn't know shit about how to deal with his feelings.

"Could you, for five minutes, let me live as I lived before you came along? Five minutes without your constant footsteps and shouting behind my back. Five minutes of peace and quiet! That's all I'm asking for!"

But Astyanax took a few steps back as if frightened by Telemachus' sudden outburst. A grimace twisted his face and he squinted as if Telemachus was an extremely difficult puzzle for his quick mind.

"Why are you so angry? I don't understand."

"At this point? I'm not sure anymore. All I know is that I wasn't this angry even once before you dragged yourself home with father and decided to act as if it had all been yours forever."

Telemachus had to calm down. For bloody hell, he had just shouted at the eleven-year-old as if he was guilty of anything.

‘Are you angry about your father bringing me with him?’

Damn it.

It wasn't true. To be fair, he did not want Astyanax to die that night in Troy or be lost in the depths of the burning city.

Still, did he want him here? He let his thoughts wander before he could finally admit it to himself.

Astyanax, essentially, was not the problem. Everything else was. Telemachus was as well.

"No. There are many other things I'm angry about, but not this."

He sat down on the floor and leaned against the cool wall. He hid his face in his hands and let the anger leave him with his next breaths.

"Forgive my shouting. You got me at the wrong time, brother."

And he heard the boy slowly slide down the wall and sit down a few steps away from him.

"You should be grateful, you know?" suddenly said Astyanax. "He travelled all the world to see you and Mom."

You won't scream, Telemachus said to himself. He took a breath.

"Yeah, he didn't really know me, so. I don't know if that counts."

"That's even better. I mean, he loved you anyway. All this time, he was thinking about you"

This logic was wrong, but Telemachus doesn't find enough strength to fight over it.

They stayed silent for a few minutes.

"He didn't want me, you know? He just didn't want me dead and I reminded him of you. He was also scared of what I would become if he just left me alone. And you are so awful but he wanted you from the beginning and he loves you and he was so proud and-" Astyanax put his arms around his knees, his voice breaking as he spoke his next words: "You're a terrible idiot, you know. But he still wants you."

Telemachus needed a few seconds to see that every now and then, Astyanax would rub his wet eyes with his little fists.

He wasn't ready for this, even after months of training he wouldn't be ready. He stays silent for a moment. Slowly, he puts his arms over the crying mess and draws him to his side.

"And you think that father carried you all over the world because he doesn't like you?"

"Because he's kind and he would be ashamed to tell uncle Polites what he did."

"As far I know he wasn't so nice all this time, right? But he never turned his back on you. If you don't trust me, trust that. Odysseus came with you to Ithaca, because he wants you."

Astyanax did not reply but rested his head on his side. Telemachus let him.

Later that night, Telemachus carried a tired Astyanax straight to his parents' bedroom and knocked. When confused Odysseus finally opened it, Telemachus threw the sleepy child at him without hesitation.

"Hug your bloody kid."

And he walked away. This was his moment to avoid uncomfortable questions.

Let me know what do you think. And yes, Telemachus and Odysseus have a proper conversation about being father and son, but later.

BTW sorry for all the errors, I'm so sleepy right now I barely see my screen

[nockstormbringer]

PLATONIC TELEMACHUS WITH TWIN SISTER READER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHES BASICALLY A COPY OF ODYSSEUS AND A MAMAS GIRL WHO TRIES TO KILL THE SUITORS REGULARY

Napping || Telemachus

Synopsis → Telemachus with a twinsister! Reader who is a mini-Odysseus.

Warning → The Suitors, Voilence, Abuse, Telemachus lowkey being a hypocrite, Mentions of Monsters

A/n → Oh my god, I'm finally able to post, currently in English finishing this request. These two girls in my English who are sitting right next to me are rough housing and laughing so loud, its embarrassing. 🤡

Word Count → 697

↳ Oh my god, Telemachus would absolutely dote on his sister. Doesn’t matter if she’s the elder or younger twin.

↳ Though if she is the younger twin, he’s absolutely gonna be that brother who constantly reminds her of it. Doesn’t matter place or time.

“Y/n/n, I’m just looking out for you. It’s my duty as your big brother to defend you.”

“You’ve never even been in a fight.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

↳ He’s so hypocritical too, like yeah, sure, you’ve fought monsters and won fights against men larger than you, BUT, he advises you that climbing that rock could get you hurt.

↳ He’s such a dork though, and gets excited every time he finds something he thinks you would love. Like a cool rock, maybe something that use to belong to your father before he left for the war of Troy.

↳ Telemachus no doubtably defends you against the suitors, even if you’ve proven to be able to handle them in a fight.

↳ He’s watched you fight many battles, and win majority of them, so when an altercation starts up between the suitors and/or himself, he knows you’ll be there to end the fight quickly and swiftly.

↳ He fears for the day you come of age, worried that Queen Penelope can no longer prevent you from marriage.

↳ Even so, he knows that suitors could absolutely kick his ass, so he tries to keep you away from them at all costs.

↳ Telemachus loves spending time with both you and your mother. At least once a week, there will be a day where you three just do whatever. From spa sessions, to long walks alongside the shoreline, the same one in which Odysseus promised to return from.

↳ You both are constantly told of how you both resemble Odysseus, whether with your fighting skills, personality, traits or just overall everything that made the King of Ithaca so him.

↳ More than once, have the servants been spooked, especially those who have been serving the castle from before you and Telemachus were born, because of how much you two look and even act like Odysseus.

↳ It’s one of the biggest things you two are praised for, and one of the biggest things the suitors hate about you both.

↳ After a particularly hard day, whether from a fight gone wrong, the suitors were somehow worse than usual or just feeling gloomy, you both just rest with each other.

↳ You two just sleep in either your own or Telemachus’ room, or even the garden. One time, Penelope found you two sleeping against Odysseus’ statue.

↳ Argos' so cute, he switches between sleeping in yours, Telemachus and Penelope room. Absolute cuddle bug of a dog, he's so loving.

↳ Telemachus would be torn between wanting you to accompany him to get Odysseus back. He doesn’t want you to get hurt on the journey, but he also worries for what the suitors will do.

↳ Obviously you go with him, but he was still hesitant.

↳ After that whole ordeal, big family reunion with Odysseus!!

↳ You all cried, like a lot. Penelope and Odysseus have their lovebirds moment and it sends both you and Telemachus into tears.

↳ But yay! No more suitors!

↳ Its sort of weird at first adjusting to Odysseus being home again, considering you and Telemachus hadn't actually known him before the war, but you all fall into a nice routine.

↳ Odysseus makes up for lost time and takes old man naps with both you and Telemachus, roughly 2-5 times a week. Penelope joins most days.

↳ Telemachus trains a lot, wanting to get stronger, to protect you, Penelope and even Odysseus. Your father tries telling him that he can protect all of you, but everyone can see he's getting older. Even he.

↳ But, nonetheless, Odysseus humours Telemachus, and trains with him, giving great pointers and teaching him new tricks. Most days, you join in, and Odysseus loves training with his kids.

↳ You've managed to hand their asses to both of them, leaving them with sore muscles and aching bones. Both Odysseus and Telemachus are incredibly proud of you.

↳ Overall, Telemachus tries his hardest to protect you, even if you or someone else kick his ass. <3

thank you!! ♡

[child-of-helios]

Calypso x Leo SUCKS, here is why

Look, I get why that sounds harsh, and it is, but hear me out.

First and most importantly, Calypso is a pedophile. We see her fall in love with 14 year old Percy, then 15/16 year old Leo. Already weird, right? And look, if we got some explanation as to why it would ever be okay for a titaness who is thousands of years old to fall in love with CHILDREN, maybe I could see past it.

BUT in the odyssey myth, Odysseus was MUCH older than a teenager. He was already noted to be an old wise king (who was old enough to feign madness from old age) at the START of the Trojan war. Now that war lasted 10 years and add to that the multiple years he spent traveling to Ithaca, and you got an old-ass man. So either Calypso was already a mature adult, or a child thirsting after some old dude. Sure, it happens, but weird. Let's not forget that Odysseus was married and very much still in love with his WIFE Penelope, but Calypso basically kept him hostage on her island and would not let him leave at all.

Now let's get to Percy, he got blamed for not making sure that the gods kept their promise??? Good sir that is a 16 year old who just got out of a WAR and had his memory stolen, of course he didn't check with the gods. ITS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY! He shouldn't be held accountable. Also let me remind you that Calypso wanted him when he was 14. Not a good look.

And finally, we get to Leo. Poor poor Leo. A boy who was oh-so starved for love that he took anything he could get, and that's my explanation as to why Calypso x Leo ever happened. Honestly, I adored Leo. I had a crush on him (still kinda do shhh), I won't lie. However, I also adored Annabeth but since her and Percy are amazing together, I could get behind Percabeth. But Caleo? Hell no. Sure, they have a fun dynamic, but it's more of a sibling dynamic in my opinion. I would've rather had Leo x Khione or something. Maybe Leo x Echo cause that would've been adorable. But Caleo??? No. He should've never gone back for her. Leave her to rot.

Secondly, Calypso is simply a jerk. And I'm the type of person who adores asshole characters when done right. Octavian is great because he's an irredeemable asshole AND he gets karma. But Calypso? She's a bitch and gets such a kindhearted boyfriend in return. Like I said, she tried to pressure a (married) man into sleeping with her and is simply a dick to Leo (HER BOYFRIEND) and I could understand if they were siblings, cause siblings are dicks to eachother with love underneath, but she just sucks. She immediately hated him, which she has reason to do after what happened to her, but even after that she was just horrible to Leo. I seriously don't see why he loves, likes, or even tolerates her.

In conclusion, I hate what Rick did to Leo. I adore his stories like no other (which is why I'm so passionate about this), but he really fumbled the bag here. Calypso is just not a good fit for Leo.

Personally I really do prefer Leo x Jason, Leo x Nico or even Leo x Echo. And yes it does sound weird for me to say that considering that I call Calypso a pedo, but I could see Echo not being able to age normally because of being stuck with Narcissus. Echo x Leo is in my opinion much better than Calypso x Leo.

Um sorry- that was really mean but I needed to say that.

On a lighter note I saw this really long worm which was cool! :D

[streets-in-paradise]

Artists of Deception - Odysseus x Wife!Reader

Troy (2004) Oneshot

Requested by @blackedropedreaper

" (...) For Odysseus: (reader is female) Y/n is his wife and most trusted adviser. They're sitting in the hills, she's playing a lyre, while he's looking after the sheep and petting his dog. They're having a good time, but are soon interrupted by the messengers of king Agamenmon(?)."

Sure! This one is shorter than the last one, but i feel it plays quite nicely with the movie scene.

Warnings: None

Summary: Used as you are to participate in most of your husband's schemes, you gladly join him in the humble welcome phrank he has planned for the heralds of Agamemnon.

Tags: @yerevasunclair

It was a quiet moment, like a calm before the storm. The mycenaeans have arrived, surely to deliver demmands of their king regarding the war against the trojans that was about to be unleashed. Rumours kept your kingdom alert and your husband was already informed of their presence, but he decided he wasn't going to let then come down from their ships unbothered. Being tricked by the king was sometimes an informal part of hospitality on Ithaca and not everyone was a aware that his queen enjoyed phranks as much as him. Your minds worked as one and when it was about fooling people, you were able to play them like the sweet music on your lyre while waiting in the hills.

Odysseus brought his dog to play his own acting part as guardian of a few sheeps you had arround you. Disguised as you were, you appeared to be a happy couple of peasants enjoying of a rest from the day's work and that was exactly what the heralds of Agamemnon thought when they stumbled with you.

You stopped playing, allowing them to speak.

" … We heard King Odysseus is hidding in the hills. "

There was no story previously planned and part of the fun was participating of his improvisations, so you let your husband speak first.

" Odysseus? That old bastard drinks my wine and never pays. "

You laughed in a way that allowed them to interpret your amusement as agreement of his insults.

Both were disconcerted, but only one of the messengers awkwardly replied him.

" … You must respect your king, friend."

Odysseus faked indignation with great naturality.

" Respect him? I want to punch him in the face! Allways chazing my wife, trying to tear her clothes off. "

The mycenaeans were too weirded by the whole situation, but you understood it was your call to join the fun.

" He should listen to the complains of the people instead of staring at my breasts everytime he steps inside the tavern." You commented, with equal disdain. " That piece of shit has no respect for anyone … He may punish the carriers of messages if they give him bad news. "

" That, if they chatch him sober. " Odysseus recalled, going deeper into the details you introduced. " Everyone thinks he is some sort of mad genius, but that's because the foreigners meet him only when he isn't drunk off his ass. "

" Take off the genius and stay with the madness, Odysseus is a fraud! The reputation he has harvested is completely false. "

" He is an useless bureaoucrat! I doubt he really does Greece any favors. "

The heralds understood they weren't going to get any usefull information from the two subjects who despised their king, so they intended to leave.

As they did, Odysseus began to mock them.

" I hope Agamemnon's generals are smarter than his emisaries! "

They turned back inmediately, their cluelessness and shock becoming your delight as you started to finally release your first chuckles.

" Are you ???"

He smiled mischievously at them before delivering the confirmation.

" You want me to help you fight the trojans. "

They realized of their mistake and rushed to correct it bowing with great respect.

" Forgive us, King Odysseus. "

You noticed their tension and tried to help from that front.

" Don't worry, you never stood a chance. We are artists of deception. "

Odysseus remembered that proper presentations weren't made on your side and quickly corrected that.

" She is my wife and most trusted advisor. Whatever you want to discuss with me, you can say it in front of her."

You smiled pridefully as they followed the gesture they just had with him, honoring you equally as they should.

" And I guess you came to take him away from me sooner just because your king can't stand doing his own deals with Achilles. "

The situation had happened before, you were perfectly aware of how the mycenaean king handled his most strategical but broken political relationship.

" He asks about you everytime we meet, regardless of how most times i'm there to persuade him." Odysseus joked as a way to calm you. " And he will keep us all safer if he fights on our side. "

The heralds smiled awkwardly, considering their mission accomplished.

" They better bring you home as soon as they can before this will start, or I will do the travel to Phtia myself and drag Achilles by the earlobe like the damn child he is. "

" Lovely, isn't she? " He commented to the newcomers. " This woman is the love of my life. With such fierce queen i will not have to worry too much about the state of my kingdom."

[sillypuppetmeister]

HEYA!

It’s me, the great Antinous (and future king) of Ithaca!! (and the only person on this island that matters >:) )

AND this is my sick ass blog

Age: 20-28

Pronouns- Any (too busy being awesome and winning over Penelope to care so use whatever)

Family- My father is.. (sighs) Eupeithes. My sister is the VERY AWESOME @little-birdie-cass If you hurt her I will pummel you.

@lizzzzzzzzzzzzzz---lol is my adopted little sister. Don’t even think about hurting either of them. Our pets are Pythia, Lycan, Phobos and many many many other creatures.

Appearance: hot and gorgeous and amazing.

sighs. he has dark curly hair tied in a ribbon. combination of designs. wears an eyepatch after the.. incident.. with Penelope. Wears bracelets and jewellery, lots of furs and cloaks and gold.

Death count: NONE!! because i’m awesome. Okay… except for… the siren. @totally-penelope-and-not-a-siren

.. okay. twice.

…. three times. courtesy of @odysseus-of-ithaca-is-lost

He’s died four times, but he’s stopped counting now. thank you @im-not-getting-paid-for-this (and for the fifth time, @the-prettiest-flower too)

IIIII.

Six times??? I think we’ve all lost track.

And…

Eye count: … 1, thanks to @penelope-is-waiting.

But ALAS! I will continue in my GRAND QUEST! For her lovely hand in marriage.

White/Default colour text- OOC! Person behind this silly little guy. I’m 18+ y/o and I also use any pronouns (with a preference for it/itself). My main account is @captain-will where I share art and general silliness.

Both accounts share some suggestive/nsfw stuff so viewer discretion advised👍

Nothing explicit on this account, no imagery but keep it in mind. Also both me and Antinous swear like sailors.

If you’re uncomfortable with anything I post or say, tell me and poof! it will be gone.

Red- Antinous! A 20-28 year old suitor of Penelope from The Odyssey (Specifically my version of him, based on the original epic and my own headcanons, with references to Epic the Musical but he is NOT the epic the musical version. as my friend once put it about a different character, “he is a scumbag not a monster”).

Son of Eupeithes. Has some very.. complex.. emotional ties with his father (hates him).

Sometimes his posts will also come with this symbol🐺. Doesn’t mean anything, it’s just cool.

i don’t have a boyfriend but if i did his name would be eurymachus of ithaca son of polybus ( @eurymachus-of-ithaca) and our many boyfriends

i don’t habe another boyfriend named @aris-not-ares he gets all of the kisses

no i don’t have a crush on telemachus i just. i

And I’m fucking PUMPED to be here 🐺🐺🐺🔥🔥🔥

#antin’s antics -> In character posts >:)

#eury yaps -> Antin’s lover / QPR

#leodes prays -> priest suitor

#ctessipus chats -> Ctesippus of Same, 19, another suitor

#amp’s tunes -> Amphimedon, another suitor

#Pei heals -> Peisander, doctor friend of the suitors

#antin sillies -> In or out of character depending, sometimes just answering asks as moi.

#rb -> Out of character reblogs

#me-> it’s a me

[armed-water-man]

ooc: Js realized I never made a intro thing for poseidon so yeahhh

hiii this is a poseidon rp account.

(anything said in character is not meant to actually offend anyone. If i did IM SORRYYY)

“Ruthlessness… is mercy upon…ourselves!….”

. . .

“ DIE “

Soo umm ooc posts will be this normal text thingy

And in character posts will be this text thingy!!

And I added other colors for more emotions >:D

Blue stuff: Casual emotions, neutral/chill (can also be used for angry posts but not to too much of an extent) (at times it can be italic but if its in parentheses then its an action)

Black/White Stuff (depends on whether your on light or dark mode 😭) : Enraged/Extra angry poseidon stuff (poor poseidon :( )

Pink stuff: Strong feelings of affection OR Gratitude ig idk man. (I haven’t used pink alot when posei is talking to his wife cs when I say strong feelings of affection.. I mean STRONGGGG. And anyway its mainly used for graditute or when he’s really happy abt something.)

the family tree ig 😭

My wife: @queenofthedeep (Amphitrite)

My childrennn(some but not limited to):

@yourfavoriteearthshaker

@orion-will-kick-your-ass

@urbestestwindgod

My brother…:

@thunder-pants

people i dont like (POSEIDON NOT ME) :

@odysseus-reigning-king-of-ithaca

@odysseus-of-ithaca-is-lost (yes their all odysseus 😭😭)

@iamyourdarkestmoment (also odysseus)

@reigningprinceofithaca (telemachus)

ppl ik:

@lizzzzzzzzzzzzzz---lol

@island-prisoner

other:

@ares-the-godofwar

@thementallyunwellapollochild

@dionysus-god-of-all-things-wine

@cabin-12-resident-daddy-issues

@lady-artemis

@ask-estelle

@youareawarriorofthemind

@youcanrelaxmyfriend

@tartarus-andchaosisheretoo

@what-if-im-the-monster-irl

[leynaeithnea]

( Last song I'm so sad I wanted to keep doing this foreveeeer)

Alright , thunder bringer!

( For this one I really need to study your post bc when I listened to it I did not understand for the life of me what the heck Zeus was talking about other than sexually harassing a concept apparently?? )

Don't get me started on Zeus' part bc it makes me feral, it's so him!! It's so well done!! I hate it bc he's such a filthy scum and he'd fuck anything that breathes!! Jorge got him so right that whenever I focus on the words ( and not the sick ass beat ) I immediately feel super uncomfortable

Acknowledging Odysseus only when he's done with his whole monologue is so Zeus honestly

"why do I think they'd lose " DUDE THEY JUST STABBED HIM DID YOU NOT SEE THAT??

( ring your ears until you're deaf with fear goes unbelievably hard btw) " you must learn to fear and respect the gods. You will learn to fear us, your pride has no chance against me, I'm the king of the gods" how does it feel to be so right all the time??? BECAUSE YOU ARE. Also the angst of being once again, just like with Poseidon, completely at the mercy of this powerful being that you cannot escape in any way while Ody's whole thing is being able to escape anything askskdkaks aaaaaahhhhh the great king of Ithaca being powerless it hurts so good

" You or your crew " DEAD I'M DEAD CALL AN AMBULANCEEEE

The callbacks to the horse and the infant , just a man, THEN PENELOPE JOINING IN, this is too cruel honestly

Also my personal headcanon has always been Ody hallucinating penny so that the idea that she will take the suffering from him gives him strength to do this impossible thing, BUT IF IT'S ZEUS IMMA THROW HANDS that is just so mean it's not allowed I don't allow it

HIS REASON REALLY DOES BECOME THE BLAME * punches the air* * chews on the walls * *screams in eternal anguish *

The fact that his men are so pissed and so deeply betrayed that they still try to take him down with them in a fit of anger... yeah this sucks

" There's no way he'll get home right?" HOW DARE YOU FINISH LIKE THIS I'VE GOT CHILLS OH MY GOD

( you don't have to repost this whole thing, I just wanted to go crazy about thunder bringer with you lol )

period. Why would I ever not post this, I love your reactions and insights so much!! This was a great journey with you, new friend, we will continue this in hopefully about two months (praying the pattern of two months between releases will be kept up and that we get the next saga around early september

[thaliajoy-blog]

I love how my french ass just keeps mishearing stuff in Epic the Musical. I present to you "the rainy king of Ithaca", "the blood we share it never dries", "deep down I would betray the world to see my son & wife", "a foal who won't run", and even "ruthlessness is mercy upon our shores"...

[jennyandvastraflint]

Xena Reactions S2Ep19. Welcome to an episode of me absolutely HATING Odysseus 😂

Homer? As in... The guy who wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey?

"You have to learn to smell the flowers"

"I want you to close your eyes" awwww

"I'M HAPPY TO BE ON DRY LAND"

"I want you to have a sense of peace" djdhdhf

Pls Xena just chilling, smelling the flowers

Ooookay, now we help him

The girls kick assss

Ulysses!?? ODYSSEUS!?

KING OF ITHACA SJDHDSHD (Reigning king of ITHACA, neither man nor mythical, I am the infamous.... ODYSSEUS)

POSEIDON SHGJDHDB

Yes well Odysseus, maybe don't FUCKING BLIND HIS SON.

Oof... Xena he fucked up, please. I'm kinda with Poseidon on that one ✌️

Odysseus. I have read your Odyssey... 😂 You FUCKED UP.

Yippie, they mention the Troy episode

Gabrielle, no. It's bad enough that Circe and Calypso inexplicably have a thing for this guy.

Nah, Ulysses don't you dare hurt Gabrielle...

UH. "The last time I saw her she was a child" that sounds like pedophilia... I'm guessing they were both 17...... Else it's still fucking weird

SJFHDHD GABRIELLE

Poor her tho...

Shddh okay she's knocking then over

"Hey boys. I want in on the fun too." YEAAA

Lots o' fighting, ye

I just fucking hate Odysseus. For personal reasons, and also because that guy LAME UGLY (no offence ig)

Oh he was shot because he's an idiot.

ULYSSES. NO. YOU HAVE A WIFE... ffs Penelope deserves better 🙄 We should get Penelope a nice wife

Poor Gabrielle is seasick

Oh, several days you say? YOUR STUPID ASS NEEDED TEN YEARS.

Past the sirens. Just lock Odysseus up

"You mean this isn't rough???" yeah mood

TYING HIM UP SHDHSHS

Odysseus your mind is in the GUTTER.

Gabrielle "Please kill me" Babygirl

Oh why hello Sirens 👀

Poseidon works with them

Gabrielle is like "Nah. Not this. Pls. I'm already sick"

TOSS HIM IN I WANT HIM TO DIEEE

Oh he's such an idiot...

Do the sirens not have a song for lesbians 😂

OH. XENA SINGS. NEAT. Yes well that's a siren song I'd follow

BWAHAHA GABRIELLE WAS SUMMONED BY XENA'S SINGING (or at least that's how I see it)

Ulysses stop fucking FLIRTING..... 🙄

Xena is like :|

Ulysses you are a moron. Fuck off. She's a lesbian.

"Or my ideal of her" hmmmm well...

"Do you think I'm crazy?" YES.

Ulysses Gabrielle is Xena's soulmate...

EW. WHAT IS THIS DISGUSTING STRAIGHTNESS. YUCK. I need to bleach my eyes

Poor Gabrielle :( Had to hear Ulysses making out with Xena

"Gotten used to feeling miserable" :(

"I need to know" THE CLOSEUPS

YOU'LL FOLLOW YOUR HEART YOU'RE PART OF MY HEART

Gabrielle taught Xena how to love 🥺

Urgh I Don't FUCKING LIKE Ulysses

Gabrielle smooching the land sjfhsbd mood tho

"I carved that when I was five" Xena is like :|

No, SHE'S NOT DEAD. I KNEW ITTTT

Ulysses fuck off

Oh the suitors

NO THIS IS NOT POSEIDON'S WORK. YOU'RE JUST A FUCKING MORON. Sorry I just hate Ulysses

PENELOPE AND THE CHALLENGE!!!

Blah blah yea, piss off. "I don't love Penelope" blah.

"I'm not in love with you" "I don't believe you >:("

HA. HER CALLING HIM OUT. AS SHE SHOULD

Gabrielle heard. I think they should kiss about it

Oh the doggo recognised him

XENA HELPED HIM SHDHDHSS

"Because I am Ulysses" aha. He'll kill all the suitors...

Gabrielle my dear girl knocked a guy out with the throneee

🙄 Ffs I don't FUCKING LIKE YOU.

"Does she love you" DON'T FUCKING PUSH PENELOPE ASIDE LIKE THAT. YOU SUCH SM. PENELOPE DESERVES A BETTER SPOUSE

Boo, I hate Odysseus.

"She's quite a woman standing up to all those pirates" dbfhfhd The way they're gay about Penelope XD

ODYSSEUS SUCKS ✌️ I think Poseidon deserves to have killed him. As a treat.

Yeah not a huuuge fan of that episode either, I just have personal beef with Odysseus...

[slettlune]

alright paris the musical liveblog let's gooooooo

FIRST HALF! watch me lose all principles whenever i think a melody is nice

like idk man the poster for this gives me that HE ONLY DID IT FOR LOVE thing with paris that doesn't appeal to me, that's why i haven't checked it out before. i feel they're gonna turn him into a hapless but sympathetic hero. bet there won't be an oenone. but here we go

IT'S SO EIGHTIES. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS EIGHTIES. oh this is good actually

when homer (!) is dramatically presenting all the main players, in my mind i can't help but see them strike sassy poses as the spotlights hit them, their sequins flashing. "agamemnon! of mycenea!"

"ulysses! of ithaca! / longs for peace and security" i don't know if i like that as the main trait he's introduced with but okay let's see how he works in this paris-centered narrative

'head without a heart' IS SO GOOD. ohh it's just the kind of eighties' vibe i like.

oh this this framing might place the blame of the trojan war more at paris' feet than helen's, which i like, but also that he's just a stupid youngster, and that's interesting too: "Not some mad messiah of destruction and fire / Just a lovestruck youth"

ohhh and i LOVE paris interacting directly with cassandra! he never seems to do that in any adaptations. "Sister, please don't grieve / I've learned my part to the letter"

'straight ahead': HOLY SHIT GET HYPE. it's so extremely "cool protagonist is finally gonna live his life" opening number. it's weird to have paris be that kind of protagonist. but also it makes me think about how this poor shepherd boy was the WORST guy to make an ambassador, like cassandra IS right about that.

ugh i don't like when they put the weird histrionic plot stuff in the middle of a cool-ass song.

i'm dying at the others screaming at paris while he's like "the sea and sky :D my friends and i :D what could go wrong, what could -AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

paris falls in love with helen at first sight and assumes she's aphrodite. does aeneas know paris is weird about his mom. oh my god i just realized EVERYBODY'S weird about aeneas' mom, that's gotta be exhausting for him

"i married young, in love with power" oh it's one of those where helen's unhappily married. sigh. okay.

OH the way 'business' takes off after agamemnon's evil laugh. i'm appalled at the characterization but i'm just gonna have to roll with it because the music in this thing rocks

THERE HE IS! QUAST-PATROCLUS. who's like "ummmmm wHY are we having a meeting without my bestie achilles here"

OHH AGAMEMNON TRICKED ACHILLES SO HE WOULDN'T APPEAR AND BE VOTED COMMANDER. okay if we're doing evil agamemnon at least he's clever

oh this is a rum tum tugger-ass achilles omg. ohh i hate this but it's so funny. weakest character song so far

ahahaaa ulysses looking at paris' rags and telling him "To gain entry by disguise is an excellent ploy / I shall remember that, prince of Troy"

i enjoy helen being kinda exhausted by the whole thing. "Stop your adoration, I don’t need complications / I'm not a goddess, I am king Menelaus’ wife"

evil agamemnon using the abduction for his own political gain. hm. that makes sense actually (as long as he's evil i mean)

oh now 'thief in the night' establishes that menelaus really loves helen, i didn't expect that from this kind of framing. how is this gonna end now

HELEN HAS SUDDENLY KILLED SOMEONE? WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN SONGS??

"I love her / I believe she loves me" I WISH SOMEONE WOULD ASK HER. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO MAKE SURE.

jon english who wrote this also plays hector and does NOT give himself enough songs to go ham on, god his voice is so good when he's PUSHING IT

[starcrossedjedis]

Actual footage of me coming up for air after being stuck in planning / plotting / hyperfixation hell for days xD

So the plan was that Athena - curious about the "human experience" and intrigued by Odysseus for the virtues they share - offers him personal mentorship in exchange for a place in his crew for the duration of his journey home to Ithaca under the guise of a Trojan girl named Thea... and things happen.

Now that I have been busy brushing up on the Iliad and Odyssey (and being stuck in an "Epic The Musical" spiral as it's the current hyperfixation of the heir to my ADHD) I am having doubts as to the plausibility of this set up.

Because I have a feeling that a lot of the stops and pitfalls that make the Odyssey would be reduced to three minute discussions of the "yeah no maybe let's not to that, I know everyone's very hungry but there are ONE EYED GIANTS WHO EAT HUMANS on that island sooooOoooo" variety xDD

So, new and improved set up - in the prologue Athena is furious after witnessing Odysseus' men desecrating her temple in Troy and Zeus offers to punish them/teach them a lesson. She tells her father to pick Odysseus for punishment since it was his men and thus his responsibility.

Zeus puts the infant son of Hector in Odysseus' path, telling him he has to kill him (knowing full well that the child must remind the man of the son he left at home; the son he saved by going to fight another king's war).

But because he is this story's male protagonist (and because I am a wuss who always skips "Just a Man" because it makes her too sad), Odysseus dosn't kill the boy. He instead takes him out of the city and leaves him to grow up with a pair of farmers (probably telling them some sad tale about a Trojan girl who fell when the city got sacked and how the child didn't deserve to die blablabla).

Athena, while still iffy about her temple, is intrigued by the fact that a general, who is very much responsible for the fall of Troy, would spare this child, even though he was told the boy would grow up to avenge his father and his city.

Long story short, she wants to spend some time with this human - nothing new to the Gods as they always crave what mortals have, but unique to Athena, who has always - always - kept her distance to the human world, because she felt that it would have been unwise to get too close to them (can we blame her, look at her dad).

However, there are rules to these "Human Experieces"

she gives up her physical link to Olympus, there is still a spritual/telepathical of sorts connection with the other gods, but no "magic" / no "sees all, knows all" / no "blink and you're outta here / flick your favourite human pet out of harm's way"

her "human" form might be immortal (since it's not realy a human, but only a guise for her to "wear"), but that is as far as being a goddess will get her - she is still a great warrior and exceptional with many a weapon, but she is neither superhumanly strong, nor is she immune to being decked in the face (which is relevant as she duels Odysseus for a place in his crew)

no intervening, no straight up telling the humans what to do to save their asses, she may offer guidance, she may assisst, but she cannot point blank tell ppl to just shoot the cyclops in the eye

And that's why even with Athena on board, the Odyssey doesn't get reduced to to three minute discussions of the "yeah no maybe let's not to that, I know everyone's very hungry but there are ONE EYED GIANTS WHO EAT HUMANS on that island sooooOoooo" variety... ^^

Also, it's been too much thinking and hyperfixating so I can't tell if that's actually better or worse.

HELP x'D

[daylesspax]

Dolled up and depressed Odysseus for the win

So uhh, yeah, I took this idea and ran with it

To be honest I just wanted to draw him in flowy fabric and all pretty… but yeah, as much as I love Ody being a sopping wet stray, I like him dolled up too <3

Some design notes:

I did some brief research (from credible sources) of Ancient Greek fashion to make his Ogygia design

What he’s wearing is a chiton (the white tunic/shirt he’s wearing) that is under a himation (the big ass blanket wrap lol) which is often how kings/upper class are depicted. These clothings are often decorated well with elaborate designs (the shells on the himation, the beading+shells to have the weight rest nicely over the body, etc.)

The rest of the embellishments like his laurel crown, collar/necklace, and bracers are inspired the descriptions in ‘Time’s Curse’ by ‘mydnyteraven’ on AO3 (check it out!) (also: during the cliff scene in ‘Love in Paradise’ will probably include him tearing off the jewelry out of anger, frustration, etc.)

I believe in at least one of my sources they said that Greeks often stayed barefoot when they’re home so… Calypso probably forces him to be barefoot

He has super long hair! Seven years is a long time! And Calypso probably prefers playing with his hair and braiding it and braiding flowers into it even though Ody doesn’t like it (and he will probably get a dramatic scene of chopping his hair off, Mulan-style)

Calypso put him in ‘her’ colors! (I’ve always imagined Ody to be blue-coded) showing, once more, the lack of control he has

His Ogygia clothes are much more fancy/gaudy than he’s used to, his clothing much more on par with a god’s! Ithaca (as far as I know) is a modest kingdom and thus, he wore modest clothing even as a king and he’s never wanted to wear more than that

It was a pretty long process to get him to this point, he clung to his rags until he physically couldn’t (or Calypso forced him) and he was just gradually forced to keep compromising until it wasn’t worth it to fight her

And that’s all I could think of so I hope you all appreciate my thoughts on this concept <3

I know people really like disheveled Odysseus but like, wouldn't it be worse if during his stay at calypso's island he's the most cleaned up and groomed he's ever been during his voyage. His hair is long and silky smooth, his beard is trimmed, his clothes are pristine and hang nicely from his body. Calypso treats him like a prized possession, and how could she possibly let it (her pet? her toy?) get unkempt and scruffy? Idk something about him having a complete lack of agency and no choice in even the way he looks and his stay in a supposed paradise reflecting on his person

[unhinged-as-hell]

Why would you be scared of me?

My name's Lilly Darhk. I'm a daughter of Poseidon, adopted daughter of Odysseus, Penelope, and Hector anddddd Legacy of Styx(just don't ask). I'm a ✧female✧.My pronouns are she/her, fuck if I know my sexuality.

I'm currently possessed by Nyx, Scylla, Styx, and Hera(how am I alive? We'll never know). A Champion of Athena(my dad's proud of me for thattt) and Achilles.

Reside in Itacha now! I used to live at Camp Half-blood though. I still go to Camp pretty often. Usually I train the newbies. More often, I just kick them down on their ass.

Keep the hellhounds away from me, or I swear to Hades, I will kill them. Sorry, the only hellhound I'm okay with is Mrs. O'Leary and I prefer staying away from her too.

Currently on a self appointed quest of getting as many bows from as many gods as I can so if you're a god or if you know a god who can give me a bow tell me please- gimmeeee.

My fatal flaw? I've been told it's my pride. I can't imagine why.

For weapons, I got two bracelets. Ones for my daggers, the other for my bows. There's a full quiver on there, too. Just flick, and there in my hand. Pretty neat.

My kill count? Monsters or mortals? Do you really want to know? Next is death count. Haven't died yet miraculously. How many times I've almost died is a whole other thing.

Key:

Nyx(purple, bold) Scylla(blue,bold) Styx(red,italic) Hera(orange,italic)

Lilly(normal)

Face Claim:

Something about @/demigod-jack-hearth...

The peeps I knoww:

They, like, possess me: @primordialgoddessofnight , @werelonelydemonsfromhell , @heraaaaaaaa

Champions of: @achilles-the-greatest

My bio dad: @that-little-fucking-shit

Dad, who adopted me: @odysseus-of-ithaca-is-lost

Another version of the dad that adopted me that I don't like as much: @odysseus-reigning-king-of-ithaca

Other dad who looked at me and was like 'That one' (he regrets it every day): @paris-you-idiot

My mom, who was completely okay with ody adopting me and didn't question it at all(which i still find kinda weird): @penelope-is-waiting

My sister from Poseidon: @daonedaonlyskh

My other sister from Odysseus: @reigningprincesstofithaca

My psychotic adoptive brother: @reigningprinceofithaca

Other version of my brother, less insane more sad: @telemachus-of-ithaca

Other other version of my brother, but he's 12 and adorable! (And if anyone hurts him... you better hope you die before I get to you) @telemachus-is-lost

Other other other versions of my brother are 10 noww: @young-telemachus

Other other other other version of my brother and he has horrid taste in men: @the-prince-telemachus

Other other other other other version of my brother who thinks he's Shakespeare or that arrow Apollo dealt with: @ithacas-prince

Other other other other other other version of my brother except Poseidon took him or something: @taken-by-the-seas

Other other other other other other other version of my brother who..wait that isn't right... Not traumatised???? I don't know how this is possible: @youre-fatherless-im-not-hehe

Other other other other other other other other version of my brother who's 15 and just...i don't know how to feel about him if I had to kill a Tele I'd probably kill him: @another-telemachus-wont-hurt

My brother from Poseidon, who's an idiot: @forbiddensonoftheseagod

My cyclops brother, very tall, very blind and does not know what small talk is: @my-baseballs-are-humans

Ma boyfriend, who's very awesome, and if anyone hurts him, I will make sure you die a very slow death. :D @madson-of-hermes-notluke

Fellow Luke defender😌 @childofthewargod

My boyfriend's half sister(who's also my friend ig): @hispanic-child-of-hermes

Nyx possesses this dude, too. Oh, and there's also his husband: @idontloveanybodythatsmypower

There's more people I know-

Cool art of meh :3

Stuff about Lilly... (1)

Moodboard...

~~~

~~~

No NSFW. DNI if you're zionist, transphobic, homophobic, racist, sexist, a nazi, xenophobic, or otherwise

[taming-horses]

why do you hate Heinrich Schliemann??

it’s 1868, and you’re a horrible businessman who thinks he’s an archaeologist. and for some reason, people in 2022 call you the ‘father of archaeology’

heinrich schliemann is FASCINATED by Greek mythology and the works of homer, and fancies himself enough of an expert to go gallivanting around the greek islands and to turkey in search of troy. frank calvert, local expert and archaeologist, shares with him that he believes hisarlik to be the most likely site for the historical troy. by 1870, Schliemann has excavated the site at hisarlik and claimed SOLE credit for the discovery, despite only digging there after being heavily persuaded by calvert.

by 1869, he’s been awarded a phd by the university of Rostock for his topographical analysis of Ithaca - the vast majority of which were simply translations of another authors work. we’re beginning to see a pattern here.

more taken by the homeric stories of treasures buried at troy than any historical investigation, Schliemann immediately sets to finding such prizes. he confidently misidentifies several riches with the self-assurance only a rich man in an unfamiliar field can muster, naming them the mask of agamemnon and Helen’s jewels. he writes that his wife sofia carried several of the treasures out of the dig site in her shawl, which was bullshit. he smuggled them out of turkey instead of handing them over to turkish officials, which he was later sued for. what fun.

(the inconsistency of his documentation of his findings are also a common theme, which in archaeology is a Big Fucking Deal. none of the items he claimed were king priams treasure were noted in his documentation. big red flag)

additionally, his lifelong obsession with the Iliad led to him attempting to identify the layer of the city itself. in this, he was about 1000 years too early, as his contemporaries easily identified. which would be fine, if we weren’t taking into account the actual troy that was a few layers above his misidentified one. so how did he go about his excavating?

HE BLEW UP TROY. WITH FUCKING DYNAMITE.

so in his highly subjective desire to uncover evidence of a homeric troy, not only did he steal priceless artefacts from a historical site, document his findings extremely sketchily and take the credit for another man’s groundbreaking discovery, he blew up what was most likely the actual, historical troy. in naming his discoveries as helen’s jewels and prisms treasure, he put his own spin on anything he found just to make it link into his theories about the Iliad. also, for the purpose of showboating when showing off to the public.

father of archaeology my ass.

[dootznbootz]

YOU.🫵👁👁 You get it.

(Tags by @throwawaybog)

Honestly delving into that, I read the whole "I sleep on a cloak on the floor of Eumaeus' house Don't remember exactly but yeah" and "I don't want to take a cot even though offered" when he's a beggar and instead sleeping outside as a weird "If I'm on Ithaca, I sleep in my goddamn bed or on the floor". Yes, he wants to listen to the suitors but??? He could've asked for another cot or something.

If he has that mindset, him letting her sleep in THEIR bed, if that's what he wants to be the only bed he sleeps on in Ithaca, he takes an answer. He lets HER have it despite wanting to be in it as well. He will only have their marriage bed if she's in it with him!!! I know that Ancient times while yeah, still sexist, weren't AS sexist as often portrayed. As just because a society behaves that way, doesn't mean every individual follows through. And it's most likely that there was respect for women in cases, I mean Odysseus himself understands he will scare Nausicaa and covers himself despite Ancient Greece being chill with nudity. AND also is the only dude who wanted Lesser Ajax stoned for what he did to Cassandra (like, dude's NOT a "feminist" by modern standards, Ancient Greece had slaves but he does respect women.) He still technically could've just taken the bed and made Penelope sleep in a cot or even just pulled a "Paris of Troy" and just told her, "Get in it."

Even AFTER she accepts him and he's all excited to get to smooching, she does a metaphorical "Grab him by the scruff" and is like "Yes, we'll get to smooching in a bit but what was that about a prophecy???" He didn't NEED to tell her, but he DID simply because she ASKED.skldjf s

HE CALLS HER A FUCKING KING!!!

From what I know, men back then did NOT call women by the masculine term as that's basically saying "Hey, she's the boss of me and I'm fine with that" as, you know, sexism. Even using the masculine term for things other than the king was considered basically calling yourself lesser than. "I'm just her boytoy" vibes. Or literally "Barbie is everything. He's just Ken."

“Lady, no man living on boundless earth could find fault with you. And your fame extends right up to spacious heaven, as it does for an excellent king who fears the gods and governs many courageous people, upholding justice. His black earth is rich in barley and in wheat, and his orchards are laden down with fruit. His flocks bear young and never fail, while seas yield up their fish— all this from his fine leadership. With him his people thrive."

(Johnston, Book 19)

Even when he wakes up to go see Laertes, he talks about how she doesn't need him to tell her what to do as she's so smart

"And this, my dear, is what I wish for you to do, though you are too wise to need my instructions."

(Rieu, Book 23)

I like the thought that he only told her "what to do" because she was kind of barely awake and she just grunts at him and curls back up in the blankets and he kisses her head before he leaves...Also that Athena was in owl form and was swooping down at his head to get his ass moving as he kept trying to snuggle and smooch because that's really fucking funny to me. "You can hang out more later, go see your fucking dad!"

She is the Water Wife™ and he is fucking THIRSTY

I saw something that said that if Odysseus had to choose between himself VS. Penelope and Telemachus he'd always choose himself. How he'd be miserable and he would try to weasel his way out of it but if it really was no other option he'd still do it and...

Odysseus is an incredibly selfish man, that's not wrong. And he definitely has his cruel streak. But his whole thing is his near-unconditional devotion and loyalty to his family while basically being a rat bastard to everyone else. He literally puts himself in danger for them multiple times, even just in their NAME multiple times.

But this is the same man who pretended to be INSANE for at least a MONTH so he wouldn't have to leave them. I guess you could say it's because he's a coward or because of the prophecy but if he didn't care he wouldn't have saved his son. But even with all that, to have a mad king? That leaves your kingdom vulnerable. There could've been a fucking usurping. Ithaca doesn't have much fertile land and yet he destroys some of it. Even then in some versions, it's him literally running to scoop up his baby, "hearing thundering hooves past his head". Putting himself in danger in multiple ways as SAVING HIS SON MEANT HE WAS GOING TO WAR. WAR ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU'LL COME BACK FROM.

EVEN IN THEIR NAMES, HE PUTS HIMSELF IN DANGER FOR THEM. Calypso asks what is so lovely about his wife that makes him not want her, a beautiful goddess. Said goddess has been abusing him for years yet he still says that he will ALWAYS go back to them putting himself at risk just DEFENDING Penelope and he's literally dragged back to her grotto immediately after. He even tells her the only way he would stop trying to get to them is if he were dead.

He is deeply hurt by her rejection but even then HE ASKS FOR A SEPARATE BED. He calls her cruel and stubborn and he's tearing up but he never threatens her despite her rejection could literally end bad for him. Paris for example, after Helen rips into him about how Menelaus was the better man and warrior who didn't back down, he basically tells her "Hey! You should be happy your husband's alive! ...Get in the bed."

Like??? he puts them first often, even if it means his own discomfort!!!

I don't think he would let Penelope or Telemachus suffer so he would be free. That feels like the fucking Tele-GONE-y to me. You can keep his "rat bastardness" there because if he was for example, being dragged to Hades or something, he'd give Penelope a look and they'd probably have a plan for him to get out ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ He's sometimes said to be the son of Sisyphus. Who's to say he wouldn't do that as well? And if it was him "doomed to eternal damnation". He'd be trying the whole time to get back to them. (that'd...honestly be a perfect punishment for him.)

Idk, They're selfish about practically everything but each other