Who is Calypso in pirates. Calypso is a mysterious image from ancient Greek mythology. Examples of the use of the word calypso in literature

CALYPSO

IN greek mythology nymph, daughter of the titan Atlanta and the oceanids Pleion (according to another version, the daughter of Helios and Perseids), the owner of the island of Ogygia, in the Far West. Calypso kept Odysseus with her for seven years, hiding him from the rest of the world, but could not make the hero forget his homeland. On Ogygia, Calypso lives among beautiful nature, in a grotto entwined with vines. She is a skilled weaver, and every day Calypso appears at the loom in a transparent silver robe. By order of Zeus, transmitted through Hermes, Calypso is forced to release Odysseus to his homeland; she helps him build a raft and supplies him with everything he needs on the road. From Odysseus Calypso had sons: Latina, Navsithoi, Navsinoy, Avson (Hom. Od. V 13-269; VII 244-266). The name Calypso ("the one that hides") indicates her connection with the world of death. Having left Calypso, Odysseus thus conquers death and returns to the world of life.

Characters and cult objects of Greek mythology. 2012

Mythology

To paraphrase the well-known phrase that all roads lead to Rome, we can say that all the answers to important questions are stored in the myths of Ancient Greece.

So, according to ancient Greek mythology, Calypso is an incomparable nymph. According to one of the versions, she is the daughter of the mighty titan Atlanta and his beloved Oceanid Pleione, according to another, the daughter of the solar deity Helios and the Oceanid Perseid. Literally translated from ancient Greek, her amazing name means "the one that hides." And she really hid it for a long time and zealously. Whom? Calypso is a mysterious character! Let's figure it out together.

Deserted island

To answer this question, you need to go to long journey to a beautiful, but lost among the endless ocean place - Ogygia. This is Calypso Island, a ghost island, the so-called navel of the earth, which lies everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

There are beautiful, dense deciduous and coniferous forests: slender cypresses, cedars, the “tree of life” - thuja, as well as poplar and alder. She herself lives in a grotto entwined with vines, at the entrance to which four sources originate, symbolizing the cardinal points.

The most colorful description of the island can be found in Homer's poem The Odyssey. But, as scientists suggest, this is not a mythical place at all. It existed and exists somewhere to this day. Only some see him as the island of Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, others - Sazani in the Adriatic. For example, Plutarch suggested that modern Ireland is the prototype for Calypso's homeland.

Odysseus is a reluctant wanderer

The name of Calypso is inextricably linked with another character - Odysseus. In the myths and poem of Homer, Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, who, as punishment for his self-confidence, was doomed by the gods to wander for twenty years. He was bold, cunning, dexterous, resourceful and daring. These qualities helped him in life, and in running the country, and in numerous battles for Troy. But, as often happens, they also interfered with him and served as the reason for his long wanderings, during which he was the first among people to set foot on earth. amazing island and met the goddess Calypso ...

A meeting

Once on the way big ship Odyssey violent storm arose. She was sent by none other than an angry Zeus - the god of the sky, thunder and lightning. He was outraged by the sacrilege of the command of the king of Ithaca, which, mad with hunger, decided on a terrible thing - to sacrifice several cows from the herd of Helios on the island. They thought later to make amends by building a temple on Ithaca in honor of Helios, the sun god. But such disobedience by the gods is not forgiven.

After a violent storm, only one person was able to survive: he caught on a wreck of a ship. For nine days he was shaken across the endless sea desert, and on the tenth he was nailed to mysterious island... The name of the survivor was Odysseus, and his savior was the nymph Calypso.

The daughter of the gods, assuming human form, warmly welcomed the wanderer. And when she got to know him better, she fell in love with him with all my heart, offered to stay with her forever and become her husband. Every day she seduced the young man with her beauty, surrounded him with incredible luxury, sang songs in her “ringing-pleasant” voice, offered the most invaluable not only for man, but also for God - immortality and eternal youth. But Odysseus's heart remained deaf to her admonitions, feelings, beauty and amazing nature around. He did not perceive himself as the king and lover of the captivating nymph. He felt like a prisoner. His spirit tormented and cried, and he sat for a long time on the seashore, yearning for his homeland and his beloved wife Penelope.

Liberation

Seven years have passed. Athena was the first to notice the disappearance of the hero of the Trojan War. She decided to help him and went to Zeus. The latter listened carefully to her request for the release of Odysseus and agreed to help. Hermes volunteered to become the messenger of the order of Zeus. He went to the island and conveyed the desire of the supreme god to the nymph. Calypso agreed to let her lover go. No matter how hard it was for her to part with him, it was even more unbearable to see the torment and anguish of the captive.

She helped him build a raft and equipped him with everything he needed: clothing, fresh water, bread and wine. And she sent a fair wind in pursuit.

Thus ends the last adventure of the king of Ithaca before the long-awaited arrival in his homeland. And now do not hesitate to say that Calypso is a nymph who unrequitedly loved Odysseus.

Seven years on the island of Ogygia. The land that Odysseus nailed to turned out to be an island. It was called Ogygia and belonged to a nymph named Calypso. The island was beautiful, its mistress was beautiful. Calypso lived in a grotto entwined with a grapevine, ripe bunches of grapes themselves asked for a mouthful. Four springs with crystal clear water flowed near this grotto, dense forests grew around them, in which wonderful birds sang songs.

The goddess Odysseus was hospitable; she gave him rich clothes, fed him and gave him drink. She liked the wanderer so much that she invited Calypso to Odysseus to become her husband, promised immortality and eternal youth. Refused Odysseus, remained faithful to his Penelope.

For seven long years Calypso did not let him go, and for all seven years Odysseus went ashore every day, sat there for hours, looking at the sea, yearning and crying. Finally, the Olympian gods took pity on Odysseus, decided that it was time to return him to his homeland. They sent Hermes to Calypso with the order to release Odysseus.

Poseidon's wrath. Sad Calypso came to him and said: “I let you go home, Odysseus! Build yourself a raft, and I will send a fair wind. " Odysseus was delighted and began to cut trees for the raft. For four days he worked tirelessly - now the raft is ready, a mast with a sail is fixed on it, a fair wind blows it. Gave Calypso Odyssey supplies for the road and said goodbye to him forever. For eighteen days Odysseus' raft sailed on the sea. Already the shore appeared ahead, but Poseidon noticed the raft. He was angry: the gods secretly wanted to help Odysseus. Poseidon grabbed the trident and struck the sea with it; huge waves rose, winds flew from all directions. An unknown death awaited Odysseus; It seemed to him enviable now the fate of the heroes who had fallen with glory at Troy. Waves tossed the raft from side to side; here one of them covered Odysseus - and he was in the water. Odysseus would have drowned, but the sea goddess Leucothea saved him - she gave her wonderful veil that keeps a man on the water.

Poseidon was pleased: he managed to finally harm the hated hero. I looked around and went down to my underwater palace.

Help of Pallas Athena. At that moment, Pallas Athena came to the aid of Odysseus: she calmed the sea, helped to get to the coast. The hero found a pile of dry leaves there, buried himself in it to protect himself from the night cold, and plunged into a deep sleep.

Visiting the Faeakians. The land that Odysseus climbed to was an island. The brave sailors-Feakians lived on it. From end to end they plowed the endless sea in their ships and always provided assistance to pilgrims. They were ruled by king Alkina and queen Aretas, wise and hospitable. That morning, the royal daughter Nausicaä decided to wash her clothes. She collected it and went to the sea with her friends and slaves. The young maidens washed their clothes, laid them out to dry, and started a ball game. They played merrily; but Athena was invisibly present among them. With a powerful hand, she hit the ball - and it flew into the sea. All the girls screamed loudly at once, and Odysseus woke up from their screams. Covering himself with branches, he left the shelter. Mud and algae covered him from head to toe, the girls scattered in fright, Nausicaa alone remained in place. Odysseus turned to her: “Oh, beautiful maiden! You are not inferior in beauty to the immortal goddesses! Take pity on me, give me at least some rag to cover my nakedness! May the gods fulfill all your desires for this help! "

Nausicaa summoned the slaves, ordered them to give Odysseus clothes and feed him, then invited them to follow her. Soon Odysseus found himself in the palace of Alkinoy; as one asking for protection, he sat down on the floor by the hearth. But Alkinoy picked him up, sat him at the table next to him. He promised Odysseus a ship, but in the meantime he made a magnificent feast in honor of his arrival. The king saw that Odysseus did not want to give his name, and did not ask him about it.

Odyssey's Tale. The feast was merry; here came the blind singer Demodok. He sang a song to please the feasting. He sang about the glorious exploits accomplished by the Greeks at Troy, oh dead heroes, about the cunning Odyssey and the wooden horse ... As a mesmerized guest listened to him: he remembered his former glory, and tears flowed from his eyes. Alkina noticed them and asked: “Who are you, a stranger? Why are you shedding bitter tears? Maybe your friend or relative died near Troy, and you grieve for them? " Odysseus answered him: “I am Odysseus, king of Ithaca. I will tell you about what happened to me since the fall of the great Troy ”.

The story of Odysseus lasted the whole night: now, as if spellbound, the tsar and his guests listened. And the next morning they equipped a ship, loaded it with rich gifts. Faster than the wind he rushed along the waves of the sea, and at the early dawn of the next day the shores of Ithaca appeared. Odysseus slept when the ship approached his native shores. The Phaeakians carefully carried it to the shore and laid it on the sand. They left all the gifts there, while they themselves set off into return trip... But Poseidon was angry with them for bringing Odysseus home; the island of the Theacians was already close, however, the ship was not destined to reach it. Poseidon turned this ship into rock - such was the revenge of the formidable god.

At the council, the immortal gods decided that Athena should help Telemachus return home unharmed and prevent the suitors from attacking him. Hermes, however, must fly to the island of Ogygia and command the nymph Calypso to let Odysseus go. The Thunderer immediately sent Hermes to Calypso.

Putting on his winged sandals and picking up a wand, quick as thought, Hermes rushed from Olympus. Like a sea eagle, he flew over the sea and in the blink of an eye reached Ogygia. This island was beautiful. Plane trees, poplars, pines, cedars and cypresses thrived on it. The lawns were covered with lush grass, and the grass was fragrant with lush violets and lilies. Four springs irrigated the island, and streams ran from them whimsically meandering between the trees. There was a cool grotto on the island; the nymph Calypso lived in it. The whole grotto was overgrown with vines, and ripe bunches hung from them. When Hermes entered the grotto, Calypso sat and weaved a blanket with a marvelous pattern with a golden shuttle. Odysseus was not in the grotto. He sat alone on a cliff at the very shore of the sea, gazing into the distance. Tears poured Odysseus, remembering his native Ithaca. So he spent whole days, sad and lonely.

Seeing the incoming Hermes, Calypso stood up to meet him. She invited him to sit down and offered him ambrosia and nectar. Satisfied with the food of the gods, Hermes gave the nymph the will of the king of the gods and people of Zeus. Calypso was saddened when she learned that she must part with Odysseus. She wanted to keep him on her island forever and grant him immortality. But she could not resist the will of Zeus.

When Hermes left Calypso, she went to the seashore, where the sad Odysseus was sitting, and said to him:

Odysseus, dry your eyes, do not lament anymore. I let you go home. Go get an ax, chop trees and make a sturdy raft. You will set off on it, and I will send you a fair wind. If it pleases the gods, then you will return to your homeland.

Goddess, - answered Calypso Odysseus, - you are not preparing a return to your homeland for me, but something else. How can I cross the stormy sea on a fragile raft? After all, a fast ship does not always swim safely across it. No, goddess, I will only dare to board the raft if you will give me the unbreakable oath of the gods that you do not plan to destroy me.

They say the truth, Odysseus, that you are the smartest and most far-sighted of mortals! - Calypso exclaimed, - I swear to you by the waters of Styx, I do not want your death.

Calypso returned with Odysseus to the grotto. There, during the meal, she began to persuade Odysseus to stay. She promised immortality to Odysseus. She said that if only Odysseus knew how many dangers he had to endure along the way, he would have stayed with her. But Odysseus' desire to return to his homeland was too strong, no promises could make Calypso forget his native Ithaca and his family.

The next morning Odysseus set about building the raft. Odysseus worked for four days, chopping down trees, cutting logs, tying them up and knocking them down with boards. Finally, the raft was ready, and the mast and sail were fixed on it. Calypso gave Odysseus supplies for the road and said goodbye to him. Odysseus dismissed the sail, and the raft, driven by a favorable wind, went out to sea.

For eighteen days, Odysseus had already sailed, determining the path along the constellations - the Pleiades and the Big Dipper. At last the land appeared in the distance - it was the island of the Phaeakians. At this time, the god Poseidon saw the raft of Odysseus, returning from the Ethiopians. The lord of the seas was angry. He grabbed his trident and struck the sea with it. A terrible storm arose. Clouds covered the sky, winds the sea, flying from all directions. Odysseus was horrified. In fear, he envies even those heroes who died gloriously at Troy. A huge wave hit the raft of Odysseus and washed him into the sea. Odysseus plunged deep into the abyss of the sea, he swam with a force. The clothes given by the nymph Calypso at parting prevented him. Nevertheless, he overtook his raft, grabbed hold of it, and with great difficulty climbed onto the deck. The winds threw the raft violently in all directions. Now the fierce Boreas drove him, then Noth, then the noisy Evre played them, and, having played, he threw Zephyra. Like mountains, waves piled up around the raft.

The sea goddess Leucothea saw Odysseus in such danger. She took off under the guise of a dive from the sea, sat on the raft of Odysseus and took on her real image. Turning to him, Leucotheus ordered him to take off his clothes, throw himself from the raft into the sea and swim to the shore. The goddess gave Odysseus a wonderful veil that was supposed to save him. Having said this, she took the form of Leucotheus's dive and flew away. However, Odysseus did not dare to leave the raft. But then the god Poseidon raised a huge, like a mountain, a wolf and brought it down on the raft of Odysseus. As a gust of wind blows a pile of straw in all directions, so the wave scattered the logs of the raft. Odysseus barely had time to grab one of the logs and sit on it. He quickly tore off his clothes, tied himself with Leucothea's veil, threw himself into the sea and swam to the island. Poseidon saw this and exclaimed:

Well, now that's enough for you! Now sail the stormy sea until someone rescues you. Now you will be pleased with me!

So exclaiming, Poseidon drove his horses to his underwater palace. Pallas Athena came to the aid of Odysseus. She forbade all the winds to blow, except for Boreas, and began to calm the raging sea.

For two days Odysseus rushed along the stormy sea. Only on the third day did the sea calm down. From the top of the wave, Odysseus saw land nearby and was terribly happy. But when he was already swimming up to the shore, he heard the sound of the surf. Waves roared between the coastal cliffs and underwater rocks. The death of Odysseus would have been inevitable, he would have been smashed against the cliffs, but even here Athena-Pallas helped him. Odysseus managed to grab onto the rock, and the wave, rushing back, with force tore him off the rock and carried him out to sea. Now Odysseus swam along the coast and began to look for a place where he could swim ashore. Finally, he saw the mouth of the river. Odysseus prayed to the god of the river for help. God heard him, stopped his current and helped Odysseus get to the shore. A mighty hero came ashore, but the long voyage weakened him so much that he fell senseless to the ground. Odysseus came to his senses forcibly. He took off the coverlet of Leucothea and, without turning around, threw it into the water. The veil swam quickly and returned to the hands of the goddess. Odysseus, on the side of the coast, found two densely overgrown olives, under which there was a pile of dry leaves. He buried himself in the leaves to protect himself from the night cold, and the goddess Athena plunged him into a deep sleep.