"The Odyssey" is about the Hero Odysseus (Odi-si-use) who has been away from Home for years together fighting in the long terrible Trojan war. The Epic is about his return to Home and the hardship he faces on his way.
I am bewildered by the similarities that exist between Indian and Greek mythology. While the source of Hindu mythology are the Epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha believed to have written sometime during 6th c BC; one of the oldest reference literature of Greek mythology is "The Odyssey" by Homer.
I have to admit, I have not yet Googled on the chronology and the root of all similarities but am writing to let out the mystic lava in me. Here they go!
The Gods of both mythologies:
- are of two types - the Good and Bad. The ones who do and support the Good and the ones who do exactly the Opposite. To cite a few, they are Hydra, Lamia (Demons) and Zeus, Athene (Gods). They are termed as "Suras" (Gods) and "Asuras"(Demons) in Sanskrit.
- are innumerable in number. As you turn the pages of "The Odyssey", you get interwoven by the brothers, sisters, kith and kin of the lord of all Gods - Zeus, who is very much the like the Indra in Hindu mythology
- have superior powers (common, that is why they are called Gods:-!) They do turn into any other form/size, say from a Human being to a Fish or to a Flower. There are instances where Goddess Athene disguises herself into a Passerby, a Girl and many other forms. The Hindu Gods too disguise themselves in innumerable avatars
- do curse and bless the far inferior Humans. The Greek God “Poseidon” curses the subject traveler Odysseus and makes his life miserable on his way back Home
- savor an immortal drink! It is called Ambrosia which is similar to Amrut
- have life saving herbs at their disposal - It is called Moly which is again similar to Sanjivini
- have specialized tasks. The Gods of Sea are Poseidon and Varuna; Gods of Sun are Apollo and Surya; Gods of death are Thanatos and Yama
- live in a heavenly abode. Greek Gods live in Mount Olympus and the Hindu ones in Mount Meru
- accept Offerings from the far inferior Humans. While the fact of Offerings are common, the Offerings by themselves are diametrically opposite! They are largely of animal sacrifices in Greek mythology: "Hecatombs" (100 Oxen), while the sacrificial rites in Hindu mythology are driven more by "Homas" (sacred fire)
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Wondering whether Zeus and Indra are lost brothers in the Kumbh meLa!