#also the fact that many of his epithets start with πολυ- (poly-)

[lyculuscaelus]

Thinking about the double meanings in Odysseus’s epithets. Specifically, about πολύτροπος (polytropos) and πολύαινος (polyainos) these two.

Thinking about how πολύτροπος could mean both “much-turned, much-traveled” and “of many devices”, since the word τρόπος (tropos) has the meaning of either “turn of direction” or “turn of mind” (or “trope”). So polytropos is referring to both Odysseus’s wanderings and his resourcefulness at the same time. (What a great epithet to start a poem.)

Thinking about how πολύαινος could mean both “much-praised” and “of many tales”, since the word αἶνος (ainos) has the meaning of either “praise” or “tale, story”. So polyainos is referring to both Odysseus’s fame in Achaea and his life of many tales (or even further, his telling of many tales). There’s more. What if πολύαινος is interpreted as πολυ- (poly-) + αἰνός (ainos)? The word αἰνός means either “dreadful, dire” or “overwhelming, unendurable” in Homeric context. This way polyainos could be translated as either “much-dreaded” or “much-overwhelmed, beyond endurance”, which is referring to Odysseus’s dreadful figure (to some) and his sufferings (or comically, his overwhelming charm personality which is beyond endurance) respectively. (Or this might just be me reading too much into the epithet itself)

And I’m perfectly normal about this fresh old man why do you ask

[katerinaaqu]

Similarly sounding words were a thing for homeric writing (and later on). And it was used by the ancient Greeks as a proof that words were connected to each other meaningfully (an example is Aristotle comparing the word ήθος aka "virtue" and έθος aka "habit" in order to prove that being virtuous is a matter of learning and habit and not bloodline)

As someone pointed out how the name he gave to Polyphemus ούτις aka Nobody sounds very similar to μήτης which means "brain" "mind" or "wisdom" (also one other of Odysseus's epithets πολύμητις aka "one of much wisdom" or "of many wiles")

I would argue also that πολύτροπος if taken from the context of τρέπω aka "to turn" or sometimes loosely "deflect" can be another of "man of many turns" aka someone who traveled a lot, who got deflected from his course way too much.

Euryclea also said that he was "much prayed for" (πολυάρητος) however the term αρά means both "prayer" but also "to pray against" aka "to curse". So Odysseus is both "much prayed of" and "much cursed" which also indicates the curse he received from Polyphemus and the curse fallen upon him even before that when he took over Troy with ploy or when according to some parts of the Epic Cycle the Greeks sacrificed Polyxena to Achilles against the will of the gods only because Achilles demanded it.

Πολύτλας aka "the one who suffers much" also sounds similar to the later greek word τάλαντο which stands for a metric system for metal and later a coin for wealth and later on gave the name to "talent" aka the exceptional ability of one person in a field. So one can say he is both "the one who suffers much" or "the one with much wealth" (quite possibly literal too after Phaeakes but also symbolic wealth) as well as "the man of many talents"

Yup totally normal hahaha 😆 😂 there are quite a few epithets in Homer with the compartment πολύ and most of them are used on Odysseus some of them almost exclusively.

Thinking about the double meanings in Odysseus’s epithets. Specifically, about πολύτροπος (polytropos) and πολύαινος (polyainos) these two.

Thinking about how πολύτροπος could mean both “much-turned, much-traveled” and “of many devices”, since the word τρόπος (tropos) has the meaning of either “turn of direction” or “turn of mind” (or “trope”). So polytropos is referring to both Odysseus’s wanderings and his resourcefulness at the same time. (What a great epithet to start a poem.)

Thinking about how πολύαινος could mean both “much-praised” and “of many tales”, since the word αἶνος (ainos) has the meaning of either “praise” or “tale, story”. So polyainos is referring to both Odysseus’s fame in Achaea and his life of many tales (or even further, his telling of many tales). There’s more. What if πολύαινος is interpreted as πολυ- (poly-) + αἰνός (ainos)? The word αἰνός means either “dreadful, dire” or “overwhelming, unendurable” in Homeric context. This way polyainos could be translated as either “much-dreaded” or “much-overwhelmed, beyond endurance”, which is referring to Odysseus’s dreadful figure (to some) and his sufferings (or comically, his overwhelming charm personality which is beyond endurance) respectively. (Or this might just be me reading too much into the epithet itself)

And I’m perfectly normal about this fresh old man why do you ask