Odysseus

Odysseus, one of Greek mythology's most renowned heroes, earned fame through his role in the Trojan War and his ten-year journey home. Known to Romans as Ulysses, he features prominently in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Most accounts name him as the son of King Laertes of Ithaca and Anticlea, though some tales claim his true father was the cunning Sisyphus. Trained by the centaur Chiron, Odysseus proved his early courage by slaying a dangerous wild boar, though the encounter left him with a distinctive scar.

Upon becoming king of Ithaca, Odysseus married Penelope, niece of King Tyndareus of Sparta, after cleverly resolving the crisis of Helen's many suitors by suggesting an oath of mutual protection. The couple had a son, Telemachus, before Odysseus was called to war.

Despite attempting to avoid the Trojan War by feigning madness, Odysseus was exposed and joined the Greek forces. He served primarily as a strategist and diplomat, ultimately conceiving the famous Trojan Horse that secured Greek victory. During the war, he located Achilles, mediated conflicts between leaders, and gathered vital intelligence.

His return voyage to Ithaca, delayed by Poseidon's anger, stretched into a decade-long odyssey. After losing his crew and treasures, he finally reached home after twenty years, where he had to defeat his wife's suitors to reclaim his kingdom. Various traditions offer different accounts of his final years, including death by his unknown son Telegonus, marriage to Queen Callidice of Thesprotia, or exile following conflicts with the suitors' families.