In Homer’s Odyssey, Zeus describes Odysseus as, “beyond all other men in mind” (I.66). Thus we learn from the supreme being that Odysseus is no ordinary hero, he is the only hero or mortal figure in Greek mythology that scholars view as a trickster. The main sources we have for Odysseus’ adventures are in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Within these sources we learn of Odysseus’ quick wit, his association with the gods and other attributes that allow scholars to classify him as a trickster.

In Odysseus’ wanderings to return to Ithaca, he stops on an island inhabited by Cyclopes, the children of Poseidon. Odysseus believes that the Cyclopes will extend xenia, the hospitality owed to travelers in the Greek world; however, this is not the case. Odysseus and part of his crew meet the Cyclops, Polyphemos, who makes plans to eat all of Odysseus’ crew, two at a time for each meal, until they are all gone, saving Odysseus for last as an extension of xenia. Odysseus must plan a way to save himself and his companions.

Polyphemos has sealed the entrance to the cave with a large boulder that they are unable to move and therefore must not kill him or risk dying from lack of food or water. Odysseus shares wine with Polyphemos and tells him that his name is “Nobody” (IX.366). He is able to get the monster to drink enough to fall into a heavy sleep.

Once Polyphemos is asleep, Odysseus and his men twist a burning hot mast into the Cyclops’ one eye. The monster awakes in pain and anger and cries out for help from his fellow Cyclopes.

When they arrive the Cyclopes ask what is going on and state, “Surely none can be killing you by force or treachery?” (IX.406). In response, Polyphemos replies, “Good friends, Nobody is killing me by force or treachery” (IX.408). This is the response Odysseus had planned on Polyphemos giving and thus the other Cyclopes go away thinking nothing is wrong with Polyphemos. There is also a double meaning to the term ‘Nobody’ in the original Greek. The term for ‘Nobody’ is outis, but when used in the statement of Polyphemos, the conjugation of the word becomes metis, which if translated directly in this form means cunning intelligence.

Odysseus must now figure a way for his men to flee from the cave. He ties each of his men to a ram and then ties one ram on either side of the ram with the man. When Polyphemos releases his flock to graze, he feels them to make sure only his sheep and rams are leaving the cave. However, he fails to check the underside of the rams and thus Odysseus and his men are able to escape.

It is Odysseus that is attributed with the idea of the wooden horse in Virgil’s Aeneid. He is also the one chosen to remain on the shores to deliver the horse and tell of his troubles and how the other Greeks had deserted him and a few others. The master of words appears to be at a loss of them when he begins to tell his story. This heightens the illusion that what he says is true and allows the Trojans to trust a deadly enemy.

When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he does not recognize his homeland because Athena has cast shadows over his eyes to keep him distracted until she can talk to him. Athena appears to Odysseus as a young man and reveals that he is on the shores of Ithaca. Once Odysseus learns this, he begins to lie to Athena because he does not want any of his countrymen to know he has returned. Athena is not deceived and after allowing him to continue for some time, Athena reveals her identity. She enjoys Odysseus’ quick mind and smiles upon him stating, “It would be a sharp one, and a stealthy one, who would ever get past you in any contriving; even if it were a god against you. You wretch, so devious, never weary of tricks, then you would not even in your own country give over your ways of deceiving and your thievish tales. They are near to you in your very nature” (XIII.291-295).

This interchange with Athena not only shows Odysseus’ cunning, it shows his association with the goddess. Odysseus is favored by Athena and she has done everything possible to keep Odysseus safe and out of harm. Athena claims to be, “the one who is always standing beside you and guarding you in every endeavor” (XIII.300-301). She has appeared to Odysseus “in [his] devising of schemes” (XIII.303-304).

Although Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, most of the stories concerning him take place elsewhere. Odysseus travels to many different places and thus he is only associated with Ithaca at the end of his wanderings.

On one of his journeys, Odysseus had to voyage to the underworld to learn his fate from Teiresias, a prophet who had recently died (X.491-492). This underworld journey is a task very few Greek heroes have accomplished. This idea of crossing boundaries is associated with many other trickster figures. By going into the underworld, Odysseus crosses the ultimate boundary, the one between life and death, and he is able to return safely from this peril. This boundary crossing in the underworld and his association with different lands in his wanderings shows Odysseus’ liminality.