The relationship between humans and gods in The Odyssey revolves around power. One of the main examples of this is Poseidon trying to prevent Odysseus from going home. Zeus first explains their relationship when he explains, “No, it’s the Earth-Shaker, Poseidon, unappeased, forever fuming against him for the Cyclops whose giant eye he blinded…And now for his blinded son the earthquake god— though he won’t quite kill Odysseus— drives him far off course from native land” (1.81-1.90). This quote proves that a mortal-immortal relationship is very powerful and that not even another god can get involved. A nonviolent example of a human-god relationship is when Hermes helps out Odysseus before he gets to Circe’s palace. When Hermes sees him, he asks, “Where are you going now, my unlucky friend— trekking over the hills alone in unfamiliar country? And your men are all in there, in Circe’s palace, cooped like swine, hock by jowl in the skies. Have you come to set them free? Well, I warn you, you won’t get home yourself, you’ll stay right there, trapped with all the rest. But wait, I can save you, free you from that great danger. Look, here is a potent drug. Take it to Circe’s halls— its power alone will shield you from the fatal day” (10.310-10.319). This quote proves that the gods were powerful enough to help humans at times, when others were not. Later, near the end of the book, Athena stops the battle between the angry suitor parents and Odysseus when she says, “‘Hold back, you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war! Break off—shed no more blood—make peace at once!’ So Athena commanded. Terror blanched their faces, they went limp with fear, weapons slipped from their hands and strewed the ground at the goddess’ ringing voice” (24.584-24.588). This quote proves that the goddess was so powerful that the humans feared her because they ran away when she said to stop.
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