Both Odysseus and Aeneas are epic heroes, but their origins differ. Odysseus is from the Greek story The Odyssey by Homer, while Aeneas is a character in the Roman tale The Aenied by Virgil. Odysseus’s main objective is to return home after a long journey; on the other hand, Aeneas’s goal is to find a new home for himself and his family. Despite these differences, both characters have distinct fighting styles and share some similarities.
Both Odysseus and Aeneas received support from multiple gods. Odysseus, specifically, had the assistance of various gods in his journey back to Ithaca. One significant figure was Calypso, who initially held him captive but was eventually compelled by Zeus, the father of all Greek gods, to release him. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, also played a crucial role in helping Odysseus determine if Penelope still loved him. She disguised him as an old man so that he could enter the town without being recognized. Furthermore, the wind god provided Odysseus with a bag of wind that allowed him to sail back home. However, Poseidon’s involvement with Odysseus served a different purpose; it aimed to demonstrate that Odysseus relied on the gods for everything.
Aeneas did not suffer the same fate as Odysseus when it came to being held captive by the gods. Rather, his mother Venus, who is the Goddess of love, stepped in to help him. She encouraged him to stop fighting because saving his family was more important. Furthermore, Jupiter also assisted him when Aeneas’s wife informed Jupiter about his plan to end his own life. She pleaded with Jupiter to send a sign to discourage him from going through with it. Upon hearing that his father was close to death, Aeneas considered suicide.
Both fighters, Odysseus and Aeneas, possess remarkable skills, yet they approach their actions differently. Odysseus carefully strategizes and devises effective plans before launching an attack. On the other hand, Aeneas lacks this premeditation and impulsively engages in combat. However, they employ disguises as a common method to deceive their adversaries, gather information, and infiltrate specific locations without being detected.
When it comes to wisdom, Odysseus outshines Aeneas. Aeneas tends to act impulsively without considering the consequences, while Odysseus carefully strategizes his actions, leading to more positive results. It is important to mention that both Aeneas and Odysseus hold great importance in Greek and Roman literature as they play vital roles in The Odyssey and The Aeneid.
