.
The first two threats that Odysseus faces are both of his own doing. Odysseus, a rather overconfident individual, incurs the wrath of Poseidon by mocking the sea god and boasting of his own superiority. Needless to say, Poseidon was none too pleased and decided to teach the mortal hero a hard learned lesson. To do this, he intends to steer Odysseus from returning back to his family by turning the ocean's tides against him and his men. In book five of The Odyssey, Homer perceptively describes the contempt Poseidon feels towards Odysseus in the following passage:.
But now Poseidon, god of the earthquake, saw him-.
just returning home from his Ethiopian friends, .
from miles away on the Solymi mountain-range.
and it made his fury boil even more.
He shook his head and rumbled to himself,.
"Outrageous!" Look how the gods have changed their minds.
about- while I was off with my Ethiopians.
Just look at him there, nearing Phaecia's shores.
where he's fated to escape his noose of pain.
that's held him until now. Still my hopes ride high-.
I'll give that man his swamping fill of trouble!" (310-320) .
Odysseus' next supernatural encounter is with the colossal Polyphemus. Polyphemus is a brutish cyclops, who also happens to be a shepherd and the son of Poseidon. Odysseus and his men decide to make camp on Polyphemus' island and also decide to help themselves to some of his sheep. Initially, Polyphemus appears to be an endearing host, however, he later becomes hostile and devours the first of Odysseus' crew. He intends to trap them all in his cave and feast on them to his heart's content. Later, Odysseus and his crew band together to set a trap for Polyphemus so they can incapacitate him and ultimately escape.
