The goddess Calypso is "the one that hides"

Ancient Greek mythology, which became the ancestor of the philosophy of the Hellenes, gave birth to many gods and mythical creatures. Some of them used to love, others worshiped for fear, and there were those that only the initiated knew. In many ways thanks to the poems of Homer, information about the diversity of ancient Greek legends and myths have survived to the present day in an almost unchanged state. Not at all in the best light appears in the stories of Homer the goddess Calypso, although in fact her role in Greek mythology was more significant and important than the ancient poet showed.

Majestic Calypso: who is she?

The Greeks knew how to create a special world in their myths, in which everything was very closely interrelated. They endowed their gods with extraordinary abilities, but at the same time they allowed the fact that higher beings can manifest purely human weaknesses. Therefore, the main gods of Greece have so many children from mortal women and goddesses.

Parentship of Calypso is attributed to several gods. According to one of the versions she is the daughter of Atlanta and Oceanides, on the other - her father can be considered Ocean. But in any case, Calypso, the pagan goddess of the seas, took a special place among the gods of Olympus. She had a lot of mutually exclusive qualities, which seemed to the Greeks quite natural, considering that Calypso was also a nymph. Nymphs were the most amazing creatures in Greek mythology, able to combine the magic and vulnerability of the human soul.

The Meaning of Calypso in Greek Mythology

Scientists argue about the importance of Calypso in the life of Hellenes to this day. Some experts give her the role of an ordinary nymph, who lives on a secluded island. But others argue that to consider this topic is much deeper.

The name that the goddess Kalipso received at birth is fraught with a very deep sacral meaning. In Greek, it means "the one that hides." If we analyze all the features of the mythology of the Hellenes, then we can safely say that Calypso, the goddess of the seas, was simultaneously a deity who controlled death. This explains some isolation of her life on a distant and lost island, which is unusual even for nymphs and dryads.

Calypso endowed with many positive qualities:

• She was strikingly beautiful;
• Could turn into a mortal woman;
• Perfectly mastered many musical instruments;
• Weaved canvases of stunning beauty;
• Controlled the sea currents and winds;
• All the sea inhabitants and many animals on land obeyed her.

Surprisingly, even the main gods of Olympus did not possess this number of qualities at the same time. Such love and reverential awe of the ancient Greeks, which evoked Calypso - the goddess of the seas, could envy even Zeus and Poseidon. They exiled the beautiful woman to a remote place away from Olympus.

Calypso: a mythical goddess and an amazing nymph

Ancient Greek mythology clearly separated the main gods of Olympus from the lower creatures having divine roots. But the nymphs were something extraordinary. The goddess Calypso was a nymph, which explained her phenomenal abilities and abilities.

The word "nymph" from Greek is translated as "maiden". Therefore it is easy to imagine that nymphs were young and beautiful virgins, personifying various natural forces. They were an integral part of everything alive, without nymphs, flowers and trees could not grow, nor would rivers flow. His nymphs had islands, valleys, mountains and forests. The most important and ancient of them were water nymphs. It is to them that the goddess Calypso belongs.

Her origin determined the further life of the nymph - she had to live in a mysterious island grotto near four sources with the purest water, which symbolized the sides of the world.

Calypso - the goddess of the sea, who owns the power of the nymph

As already mentioned, the nymphs were very powerful sorceresses, many natural phenomena submitted to their power. Most of the aquatic nymphs were guarded by all kinds of sources that were beating from under the earth. Many of these sources had healing power, so nymphs began to attribute glory to healers. They owned the secrets of life and death and could even resurrect those people who greatly liked them.

Nymphs were able to predict fate, and it is not surprising - in ancient times, rivers and springs were used as an aid to divination. Young girls, dreaming of the groom, often went up into the mountains and threw into the source the alleged names of the beloved. If a piece of paper with a name quietly floated and did not roll over, then the girl was predicted an early marriage. Equally often, the river was the last argument in judicial disputes, when the associated suspect was dumped in stormy waters. In the event of his death, it could be argued that the gods carried out justice and the man was guilty.

The nymphs were fragile and tender, but in anger they could deprive a person of reason, which was considered the most cruel punishment in ancient times. Although, repent of the deed, they in exchange gave the madman a secret knowledge about the nature of things. So there were predictors and soothsayers.

Surprisingly, the nymphs were not considered immortal creatures. Their life was finite, like the nature of which they were a part. Therefore, the nymphs tried every day to live in joy and joy, and did not deny themselves a love affair with ordinary men.

Calypso and Odysseus - part of the poem of Homer

Homer told the goddess of the seas to the whole world in his Odyssey. He sang Calypso, who saved the hero Odysseus after the shipwreck and led him to his home on the island of Oggi. There, in the magical grotto, she appeared to him in all her glory and offered Odysseus herself as a wife. The navigator refused, but spent on the island for seven long years. The goddess Calypso did not let him go and every evening entertained with dances and hymns, hoping to eclipse the memories of her home.

Disappearance of the hero after seven years, Athena noticed and told all about Zeus. He quickly found Odysseus and sent a messenger to Calypso with an order to help the brave traveler to get home. By this time, the goddess of the sea gave birth to several children from Odysseus and was very much in love with him, but the will of Zeus submitted, releasing the hero to his native shores.

Interpretations of the myths about Calypso

Homer only touched on a small part of Calypso's stories. But the future fate of the goddess is not traced either in poems or in other sources. Sketchy information about Calypso is found in various myths and stories. For example, some ancient Greek myths tell us that the goddess Calypso was very sad after the departure of Odysseus and after a few years committed suicide.

Other stories tell us that Odysseus was just one of the heroes who came to the island of Ogigi as punishment for the obstinate goddess who had once taken an untenable position in the war of the gods and titans. Once in a thousand years, the beautiful Calypso rescues the hero and falls in love with him, but he rejects the goddess, and her heart is broken down for a thousand years.