The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The Odyssey features the main character Odysseus, a great warrior and ruler, who goes through an arduous journey back home. Homecoming can be referred to as nostos, a Greek value that is commonly portrayed throughout this epic. Odysseus' ultimate goal throughout the epic is to achieve nostos. Although nostos means "homecoming," it can also be attributed to returning things back to the way they were, as Odysseus tries to do when he returns to his kingdom after a prolonged absence. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the preeminent Greek value portrayed is nostos.
The first scene in which Odysseus desires to attain nostos is on Calypso's Island. She is holding Odysseus captive because she wishes for him to be her husband. Although she is profoundly beautiful, Odysseus desires to return home to his family. "there on the headland, sitting, still, weeping, his eyes never dry, his sweet life flowing away with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home, since the nymph no longer pleased" (Book 5, P. 157, Lines 167-170). The great warrior Odysseus is ironically portrayed as a weak person, based on phrases such as "weeping" or "his eyes never dry". Here Homer is implying that nothing is worth more than for a warrior to return home, or more importantly his family. Despite that Odysseus has lived lavishly with Calypso for the past seven years, he still longs to see his family once again and complete his journey by returning home. A deeper meaning that Homer may be portraying is that living a luxury lifestyle may be a nice distraction from what really matters, however, what really matters should take prevalence over everything, in this case Odysseus' return home. Moreover, a disruption in nostos is shown when the god of the seas, Poseidon, stirs up a storm that dismantles Odysseus' ship.
