Calypso – the nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia, and detained Odysseus for seven years!

Summary

In this video, we delve into the story of Calypso, a minor goddess from Greek mythology, best known for detaining Odysseus on her island during his journey home. Calypso falls in love with Odysseus, offering him immortality, but he longs to return to his wife. After seven years, Zeus commands Calypso to free him. The video explores Calypso’s role in the Odyssey, her heartbreak, and the legend surrounding their time together. Stay tuned for more engaging mythological content.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Calypso is a minor goddess in Greek mythology, best known for her role in Homer's *Odyssey*.
• 🏝️ She lived on the island of Ogygia, where she detained Odysseus for several years.
• 🌟 Calypso is often depicted as the daughter of Atlas, though other sources differ in her parentage.
• ❤️ She fell in love with Odysseus and offered him immortality if he stayed with her as her husband.
• ⏳ Odysseus, despite sharing her bed at night, longed to return home to his wife, Penelope.
• ⚔️ The hero's captivity on Ogygia lasted seven years according to Homer, but other sources suggest different durations.
• 🕊️ Athena eventually intervened by asking Zeus to command Calypso to release Odysseus, which she reluctantly obeyed.
• 🚤 Calypso provided Odysseus with materials to build a boat and gave him provisions for his journey home.
• 👶 Some ancient sources claim that Calypso bore two sons with Odysseus, named Nausithous and Nausinous.
• 😔 Calypso's fate after Odysseus' departure is unclear, with some stories suggesting she yearned for him, while others state she may have committed suicide, although this is unlikely for an immortal.

Q & A

Who is Calypso in Greek mythology?

Calypso is a minor goddess in Greek mythology, primarily known for her role in Homer's *Odyssey*. She is famous for detaining Odysseus on the island of Ogygia.

What is Calypso's lineage according to different sources?

Calypso is generally considered the nymph daughter of Atlas, but other ancient sources also identify her as the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys or the daughter of Nereus and Doris.

How does Calypso come into prominence in the story of Odysseus?

Calypso becomes prominent when Odysseus is shipwrecked on her island, Ogygia, after losing his ship and crew. She rescues him and keeps him on the island for several years.

What offer does Calypso make to Odysseus?

Calypso offers to make Odysseus her immortal husband, granting him eternal life and unaging beauty, but he refuses because he longs to return to his wife, Penelope.

How long does Odysseus stay on Calypso’s island?

Odysseus stays on Ogygia for seven years according to Homer, although other sources suggest it might have been one or five years.

Why does Odysseus refuse to stay with Calypso despite her beauty and offer?

Odysseus refuses to stay with Calypso because, despite her beauty and her offer of immortality, he longs to return home to his wife Penelope and views his stay on Ogygia as imprisonment.

How is Odysseus ultimately freed from Calypso's island?

Athena, Odysseus's ally, appeals to Zeus, who sends Hermes to order Calypso to release Odysseus. Though reluctant, Calypso complies and provides Odysseus with materials for a boat and provisions for his journey.

How does Calypso react to Zeus’s command to release Odysseus?

Calypso feels that she is being unfairly treated, as it seems to her that male gods are free to take mortal lovers while goddesses are not granted the same freedom.

What children are said to be born from the union of Calypso and Odysseus?

According to some sources, Calypso bore two sons, Nausithous and Nausinous, while others mention Latinos and Telegonos, though these two are often attributed to Circe instead.

What happens to Calypso after Odysseus leaves the island?

In some versions of the myth, Calypso commits suicide after Odysseus's departure, though this is considered unusual for an immortal. Others say that she simply yearned for her lost love, looking out to sea.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Calypso and the Odyssey

The video introduces the mythological figure Calypso, a minor goddess in Greek mythology. She is known for detaining Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years. The video encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content. Calypso is described as a nymph, daughter of Atlas, and is considered one of the most beautiful immortal goddesses. Despite her beauty, she chose to live on an island. When Odysseus, the Greek hero, arrived after many trials, Calypso rescued him and took him to her home, which is described as both a cave and a palace surrounded by nature. Calypso fell in love with Odysseus and offered to make him her immortal husband, but he longed to return to his wife Penelope. He spent his days longing for home while sharing Calypso's bed at night. Athena eventually intervened and had Zeus command Calypso to release Odysseus, who provided him with a new boat and provisions for his journey home. It is also mentioned that Calypso may have had sons with Odysseus, and there are varying accounts of her reaction to his departure, including the claim that she committed suicide, though this is unusual for an immortal.

Keywords

💡Calypso

Calypso is a minor goddess in Greek mythology, best known for her role in Homer's *Odyssey*. She detains the hero Odysseus on her island, Ogygia, for several years, offering him immortality if he stays with her. Despite her beauty and the paradise-like setting, Odysseus longs to return home. Calypso’s character highlights themes of temptation, captivity, and the struggle between love and duty.

💡Odysseus

Odysseus is the central character in *The Odyssey*, known for his intelligence and resourcefulness. He is shipwrecked on Calypso’s island after many trials on his journey back from the Trojan War. His longing to return home to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope, underscores the themes of loyalty and perseverance despite challenges and temptations.

💡Ogygia

Ogygia is the mythical island where Calypso lives and where she detains Odysseus for several years. The island is described as a paradise, with beautiful surroundings such as streams, birds, and trees. However, for Odysseus, Ogygia becomes a prison, symbolizing the conflict between the idyllic and the desire for freedom.

💡Nymph

A nymph in Greek mythology is a minor female deity often associated with natural features like forests or rivers. Calypso is described as a nymph, which ties her to nature and beauty. Her allure and connection to the island’s natural splendor contrast with Odysseus’ desire to return to human civilization and his family.

💡Immortality

Calypso offers Odysseus immortality if he stays with her and becomes her husband. Immortality here represents a form of eternal beauty and pleasure, yet Odysseus refuses the offer because he longs to return home to his mortal life. This concept explores the human desire for meaningful connections and the acceptance of life's limitations.

💡Zeus

Zeus is the king of the gods in Greek mythology. In the story, he is persuaded by the goddess Athena to command Calypso to release Odysseus. Zeus’ decision demonstrates the hierarchy of divine power and the control the gods have over human destiny, showing how Odysseus’ fate is intertwined with the will of the gods.

💡Athena

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, is an ally of Odysseus. In the story, she intercedes on his behalf, asking Zeus to command Calypso to release him. Athena’s intervention reflects her protective role over Odysseus, guiding him throughout his journey and symbolizing divine wisdom and justice.

💡Hermes

Hermes is the messenger god in Greek mythology. He is sent by Zeus to deliver the command to Calypso to free Odysseus. Hermes’ role as a mediator between gods and mortals highlights the communication and power dynamics among the gods in Greek mythology.

💡Penelope

Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, who remains faithful to him during his long absence. Odysseus’ longing to return to Penelope symbolizes his loyalty and the strong bond of marriage, contrasting with the temptation offered by Calypso. Penelope represents home, stability, and the human desire for reunion with loved ones.

💡Homer's Odyssey

*The Odyssey* is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus’ long journey home after the Trojan War. Calypso's role in detaining Odysseus is one of the many trials he faces. The epic explores themes of heroism, fate, loyalty, and the struggles between human desires and obligations.

Highlights

Calypso is a minor goddess in Greek mythology

Calypso is known for detaining Odysseus on the island of Ogygia

Calypso is the daughter of Atlas and is considered one of the most beautiful nymphs

Odysseus arrives at Ogygia after losing his final ship and men

Calypso's home is described as both a cave and a palace, a beautiful place

Calypso falls in love with Odysseus and offers to make him her immortal husband

Odysseus refuses Calypso's offer as he longs to return to his wife Penelope

Odysseus is confined on the island for seven years according to Homer

Athena intervenes to help Odysseus return home

Zeus commands Calypso to release Odysseus

Calypso reluctantly provides Odysseus with materials for a new boat

Calypso and Odysseus's time together is said to have produced several sons

Some sources claim Calypso committed suicide after Odysseus's departure

Others say Calypso yearned for Odysseus, gazing out to sea

The video concludes with a quote by Aristotle about using one's tools and soul

The video encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content

Transcripts

welcome everybody to another video finch

in greece reloaded today we will talk

about the famous calypso the name for

left on the island of ohia and detained

this source for seven years by the way

if you liked the video please hit the

like button and subscribe to our channel

so stay tuned for upcoming videos

calypso is the name given to one of the

minor goddesses of greek mythology and

is of course primarily famous for hyrule

in homa's odyssey for galipso is the

name of who at one point prevents

odysseus from returning home calypso is

generally considered to be the nymph

daughter of atlas by an unnamed woman

although in other ancient sources a

calypso is named as both enochianite

daughtofocianos and thetis and the nerid

daughter of nereus and thoris although

this could be three different calypsos

the nymph daughters of atlas were named

amongst the most beautiful of all

immortal goddesses and calypso was no

exception calypso though did not display

her beauty as part of the retinue of one

of the more famous goddesses like many

other nymphs for calypso had made her

home upon the island for a year calypso

comes to prominence when the greek hero

desoise arrived upon a year odysseus had

already faced many trials and

tribulations upon his return journey

from troy the latest misfortune that

odysseus faced had seen the loss of his

final ship and man when zeus had

destroyed them to appease to helios

odyssey survived by fashioning a raft

from the remnants of his ship for nine

days odisoys had drifted and peddled

before washing up on the shoreline of

ouija on the 10th day calypso would

rescue the shipwrecked hero and odysseus

was nursed within the home of the

goddess the home of calipso has been

referred to as both a cave and a palace

but in either case it was said to be a

beautiful place surrounded by trees

vines birds animals and babbling streams

later imaginings of the palace of

calypso would see the nymph to also have

female attendants herself as she nursed

of this source so calypso fell in love

with the greek hero and was soon

offering to make the king of ithaca her

immortal husband such an offer of her

talent is spent with an unaging beauty

might sound unmissable but odysseus

refused the goddess offer thorough

dussus was still longing to return home

to his wife penelope so at night

odysseus would share calypso's bed but

every day he went to the shoreline

looking out in the direction of ithaca

despite the beauty of his companion and

his surroundings or this was simply

viewed to ye as a prison and for several

years odysseus would remain the length

of odysseus confinement was seven years

according to houma also others say that

odysseus was on a year for only one or

five years eventually the goddess athena

who was an ally of odysseus came to the

rescue of the greek hero for athena went

to her father zeus to ask that he

command calypso to release her captive

lover zeus agreed to athena's request

and herms was dispatched to pass on zeus

command whilst calypso would welcome the

arrival of hamz she would not welcome

the news that the messenger got brought

calypso felt that she was being unfairly

treated for it seemed to hear that the

male gods of mount olympus go to as they

pleased with mortals and yet goddesses

were not allowed the same sort of

freedom of course zeus himself had

abducted ganimede and the trojan prince

was still to be found upon mount olympus

serving the ambrosia nectar calypso

though ultimately had no choice and so

the goddess taught this soyuz that he

was now free to live calypso would

indeed provide auditions with materials

for a new boat as well as provisions for

a long journey across the sea those in a

short time odysseus was leaving oye and

calypso behind the time that odysseus

and calipso spent together was said to

have brought forth several sounds for

the goddess hessiate would state that

calypso bore two sons nafsithus and

nafsinus whilst other ancient sources

also named latinos and elegons as sons

of calypso although these two are more

commonly named as sons of kirke in the

fabule the claim is made that calipso

committed suicide after the departure of

odysseus although an immortal committing

suicide would be virtually strange

others simply say that calypso yearned

for his last love looking out into the

open horizon of the sea in the direction

that the tissues had departed let us

finish with the following saying

each art must use its tool each body its

soul aristotle that being said remember

guys to hit the like button and to

subscribe to our channel it would help

us a lot thanks for watching and stay

tuned for upcoming videos