Homer's Women

Odysseus

Nigel Bruce

Jul 31, 2023 • 2 min read

Odysseus from a group sculpture representing Odysseus blinding Polyphemus. Marble, Greek, probably 1st century AD. From the villa of Tiberius at Sperlonga. Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Sperlonga.

There are thousands of images of Odysseus in sculptures and statues, paintings, tapestries, pottery, coins. I have selected a few of my favorites here. The red-figured pottery below (stamnos) shows Odysseus passing the Sirens.

Below is a detail of a Roman marble statue of Odysseus (Ulysses) from the 2nd century AD.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Venice. Photo: Mark Landon

And could that be Odysseus below? This is a kylix, a large drinking cup held with two hands.

Attributed to the Briseis painter, sometime between 480 and 460BC

An irreverent take by German painter and writer Lovis Corinth of the scene where Odysseus returns home to Ithaca in disguise and fights the court beggar:

Lovis Corinth: "Odysseus Fighting the Beggar" (1903), National Gallery Prague

There is a modern Odysseus on display in Forte dei Mar on the Tuscan coast, created by Czech-German sculptor Anna Chromý, who was mentored by Salvador Dalí. It is called Controvento, literally "Against the Wind," which seems apt. She has a similar one on display in Monaco.