LB

Nostos NOTES

Nostos, Kleos, Ponos

The Odyssey Books 9-12

NOSTOS

Meaning:

  • "Homecoming" or "return"

IMPORTANCE

  • Nostos is significant in Greek culture as it reflects high levels of heroism and greatness.

Examples of NOSTOS

  • Book 1: Homer’s invocation: "Praying about a 'cunning hero, the wanderer…only Odysseus still longed to return to his home and his wife." (Homer; I, 1-16)

  • Book 5: Odysseus expresses longing: "My heart aches for the day I return to my home. If some god hits me hard as I sail the deep purple, I’ll weather it like the sea-bitten veteran I am…In war and sea. I can take more if I have to." (Homer; V, 220-224)

KLEOS

Meaning:

  • "Glory" or "Honor"

IMPORTANCE

  • In Greek culture, Kleos embodies the idea that "fame and glory" endure long after death.

  • A father has the ability to pass on his Kleos to his son.

Examples of KLEOS

  • Book 11: Achilles speaking to Odysseus: "I’d rather be a hired hand back up on earth, slaving away from some poor dirt farmer, than lord it over all these withered dead." (Homer; XI, 511-513)

  • Book 12: The Sirens’ song calls: "Come hither, Odysseus, glory of the Achaeans..." (Homer; XII, 192)

PONOS

Meaning:

  • "Pain, Suffering, Toil"

IMPORTANCE

  • Within Greek culture, it is understood that without Ponos ("pain"), one cannot achieve either Kleos or Nostos.

Examples of PONOS

  • Book 1: Penelope speaks about grief: "Phemius, you know many other songs to soothe human sorrows…stop singing this one, this painful song that always tears at my heart." (Homer; I, 356-361)

  • Book 5: Description of Odysseus: "Odysseus was sitting on the shore, as ever those days, honing his heart’s sorrow staring out to sea with hollow, salt-rimmed eyes." (Homer; V, 84-86)