Jamie Mulch, and Serdar Yilmaz
The concept of the underworld is commonly associated with death and hell. It is often depicted as a mysterious kingdom of the dead characterized by darkness, torment, and cold or enormous fires. However, despite the many variations in underworld descriptions, the point of convergence is that this is a metaphysical realm. Ideally, Odyssey and Aeneid, present the ancient mythological culture of the Greek and Latin about the contentious subject of the underworld. Whereas in the modern days, the subject of death is often not welcome, the ancient Greeks viewed death as a normal aspect of their day-to-day lives. It is widely believed that Homer’s Odyssey may have inspired the writing of the Aeneid. While there are significant similarities, the differences are in the primary purpose of the poems and the setting in which they were created. This paper purposes to compare the presentation of the concept of the underworld using Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid.
The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem, traditionally attributed to Homer, which follows the journey of the hero Odysseus. The poem focuses on the mysterious activities done by Odysseus. The journey to the underworld was not smooth for Odysseus as he had to overcome different obstacles. He also meets the goddess Athena, who helps him on his journey (Homer, 2015). The Odyssey is full of adventures and dangers that Odysseus has to face as he travels back to his homeland of Ithaca. Throughout the poem, Odysseus faces numerous trials and tribulations, showing his strength and courage as he battles against his enemies. The poem also focuses on loyalty, as Odysseus is often faced with difficult decisions that require him to choose between his desires and his loyalty to his kingdom. The Odyssey also portrays human life, which focuses on the gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon as active participants in the poem’s events. They often intervene in the affairs of mortals, helping Odysseus and punishing those who wrong him. The gods also provide Odysseus with strength and guidance as he navigates his way home. The Odyssey is an epic story highlighting the importance of faith and courage in facing adversity. It is a timeless tale of a hero’s journey and the trials he must face to return to his home. Through his journey, Odysseus learns valuable lessons about loyalty and perseverance, which he carries with him to the end of his journey.
Virgil’s Aeneid is a Latin epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan warrior who escapes the ruins of Troy and embarks on a long and arduous journey to Italy, where he is destined to find the city of Rome. On the trip to the underworld, Aeneas has the opportunity to meet the dead people who were part of his life. It is similar to the case of Odysseus, who interacts with the mother in the underworld, while Aeneas interacts with the father. Aeneas is the son of the goddess Aphrodite and a mortal man and is thus seen as a symbol of the union between the gods and mortals (Page, 1914). Therefore, Aeneas cannot meet the mother in the underworld because she is a goddess. Throughout the poem, he faces many trials and tribulations, including the loss of his beloved wife, Dido, and the destruction of Troy. The Aeneid is a foundational work of Western literature and art. It is noted for its grand themes, such as fate and destiny, as well as its vivid depictions of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome.
The Aeneid and the Odyssey trips to the underworld have similar themes and activities in the poems. Ideally, both authors’ trip to the underworld describes the relationship of meeting the dead people. Apart from their family member Aeneas and Odysseus also meet their friends in the underworld. Odysseus had the opportunity to meet his old friend, who died off a roof while performing for them. At the same time, Aeneas interacts with his friend on his trip to the underworld, who sacrificed himself for the rest. Odysseus and Aeneas’s friends have similar demands for getting buried properly. In addition, Aeneas and Odysseus also have the opportunity to see King Minos in the underworld. The king performs the same duty in both poems, judging the dead. Therefore, both Aeneas and Odysseus visit the underworld because their aim at finding relevant information about those who died (Beck, 2017). The information from the dead is relevant because it would help them make the right decision in the real world.
The settings of the Aeneid and the Odyssey are also similar. Both epics take place in a mythical version of the ancient Mediterranean, and the characters travel to several different locations, including the underworld and the islands of the gods. The themes in both epics are also quite similar. Both epics explore themes of mortality and destiny and how the gods shape the lives of mortals (Beck, 2017). They both show how courage, determination, and perseverance can help one to achieve their goals, no matter the odds. Overall, the Aeneid and the Odyssey are two of the most beloved works of ancient literature, and it is easy to see why. Both epics tell the story of a great hero’s quest and contain exciting adventures, powerful gods, and important themes. While there are plenty of differences between the two epics, it is clear that Virgil drew upon the Odyssey for inspiration when writing the Aeneid.
These epic poems share many similarities, but there are also distinct differences. The protagonists of these epics are quite different. Ideally, on their trip to the underworld, Odysseus saw people who had grief in their lives. Odysseus’s observation focuses on the people who had died and still had wounds, for instance, warriors who got killed in the battleground. At the same time, Aeneas in the underworld sees people who died of love. In the process, he meets Dido, for whom they have feelings for each other.
Further, the trip to the underworld is different for Odysseus and Aeneas. Ideally, their trip to the underworld for Odysseus focuses on the dark moments he has to experience. I found Odysseus’s trip to the underworld involved painful moments where he had to lose his companions and learn about their mother’s death. Odysseus’s trip to the underworld also involves several worries about what will happen to his wife and son. Therefore, the trip brings out the dark moments in life and the pain and worries experienced. Odysseus’s dring force to visit the underworld is based on his love and worries for his family.
On the other hand, Aeneas has a different drive which takes him to the underworld. Aeneas’s aim in the underworld is to discover a new state. The visit to the underworld focuses on political affiliations and the drive to find a new empire. Aeneas is different from Odysseus because he does not use love as a force in determining his mission to the underworld. Aeneas mainly focused on finding a solution that would make Rome a powerful empire in terms of wealth, size, and power (Beck, 2017). Unlike in Homer’s Odyssey where there is a lack of clarity in the representation of the underworld, Aeneas’ quest to the underworld exposes us to a more vivid image of the socio-political structures of the underworld. Therefore, the themes explored in each epic are also quite different. While the Aeneid focuses on the founding of Rome and the destiny of its people, the Odyssey focuses on Odysseus’s journey home and the importance of perseverance.
Odysseus and Aeneas are two of the most iconic figures in classical mythology and are known for their epic journeys to the underworld. The journeys of these two heroes to the underworld symbolize bravery and determination and signify the importance of understanding the afterlife and the realm beyond human existence. Odysseus’ journey to the underworld is recounted in the Odyssey and is an integral part of Homer’s epic poem. After being warned by the prophet Tiresias of the dangers ahead, Odysseus musters all of his courage and plunges into the underworld to seek the counsel of the dead. During his visit, Odysseus can gain insight into the afterlife and understand the importance of mortality. He also learns the fate of his loved ones and can gain a greater appreciation for the things he will one day lose.
Aeneas’ journey to the underworld is recounted in Virgil’s Aeneid and serves as a reminder of the importance of fulfilling one’s destiny. After being commanded by the gods to leave his beloved city of Troy, Aeneas must gather his courage and face the dangers of the underworld to discover his destiny and fulfill the gods’ will. Aeneas’ journey to the underworld serves as a reminder of the importance of following one’s fate despite the obstacles that may stand in the way. The journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas to the underworld are symbols of bravery and determination that remind us of the importance of understanding the afterlife. They serve as a reminder of the power of mortality and the importance of fulfilling one’s destiny. Ultimately, these two heroes’ journeys to the underworld serve as a reminder of the power of courage and the necessity of accepting the things we cannot control.
In conclusion, there is substantive coherence between Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid to make an inference that Homer might have influenced the writing of Aneid eight years later. However, despite the discussed similarities in terms of the modalities of the voyage to the underworld and the interaction between the living and the dead, the major point of deviation is in the motive behind the descent of the two characters. Also worth mentioning, Virgil seems to have achieved to enable his audience to visualize the existence of the underworld more tangibly through systemic and structural detail that Homer had not in the Odyssey. Even so, the similarities seem to outweigh the differences, especially from the perspective of themes fostered and lessons learned from how the underworld is depicted in both works of literature. For instance, one critical takeaway point is the fact that who and what we are as living does not change even in death. Old grudges and affections continue to exist between the living and the dead. Such a revelation hopes to urge the living to live their best lives and mend their relationships while still alive for the afterlife mirrors the world of the living.
Davina Russell – University of Notre Dame
drussel3@nd.edu
davinaxps@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davina-russell/
Davina Russell was born and raised in Kingston Jamaica. She has a particular interest in a potential dual degree in Aerospace Engineering and Graphic Design.
