Gods and Monsters in Homer’s Odyssey

Images & Videos

oil painting "Poseidon at Sea" by an unknown Italian artist, c. 1640, from a private collection. Central figure is the bearded sea god Poseidon enthroned in a shell chariot pulled by four sea horses through waves, holding a trident and golden orb amid tritons, nereids, cherubs, and rocky shores

Minerva appearing as Telemachus to Odysseus

Illustration of a Greek warrior in armor next to large text reading "Who's who in the ODYSSEY" on a blue background.

A large wooden Trojan horse is labeled with a blue box reading "FICTION" and an arrow pointing to it, illustrating myth versus reality in Homer's Odyssey.

Etching by Theodoor van Thulden shows Odysseus's men slaughtering Helios's sacred cattle on a ship, with Helios in a chariot and Neptune threatening in the foreground.

Sandro Botticelli: Birth of Venus

Edward Burne-Jones: The Wine of Circe

Odysseus's encounter with Polyphemus

Gods and Monsters in Homer’s Odyssey: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

Gitanjali Roy
Gitanjali Roy is deputy managing editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media.

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Added media.	Gitanjali Roy	Jul 09, 2026
	New article added.	Gitanjali Roy	Jun 12, 2026