Who is Calypso?
Calypso was an Oceanid, a type of nymph, and the daughter of Atlas in Greek mythology. She was known for her enchantment and immortality, living alone on her isolated island. Calypso’s poignant and resonant character represents the struggle between desire and duty in Greek mythology.
What does Calypso look like?
Calypso was described as incredibly beautiful, with flowing hair, radiant skin, and a graceful presence. Her enchanting, otherworldly charm reflects her immortality and connection to nature, capturing the essence of her island home.
Where is Calypso’s island located?
The location of Calypso’s island is unknown. According to Homer, the island, Ogygia, is remote and hidden, far from the reach of mortal sailors. Homer describes it as a lush, enchanted island surrounded by the vast expanse of the sea.
When does Calypso appear in the myth of Odysseus?
Calypso appeared in the myth of Odysseus after he was shipwrecked on the island of Ogygia following a perilous journey across the vast expanse of the sea. This happened near the end of his long voyage before he continued his journey back to Ithaca.
Why was Calypso cursed?
Calypso was cursed for her involvement in the Titanomachy, the war between the Titans and Olympian gods. As the daughter of Titan Atlas, she was aligned with the losing side, so Zeus and the gods confined her to Ogygia in isolation.
How long did Odysseus stay with Calypso?
Odysseus stayed with Calypso for seven years. During this time, she offered him immortality and eternal youth, but Odysseus longed to return to his wife, Penelope, and his home in Ithaca.
Table of Contents
Calypso’s Origins, Family, and Mythological Context
Calypso was a sea goddess, or Oceanid, from Greek mythology, most famously known for her involvement in Homer’s Odyssey. She was the daughter of Atlas, the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens, and a sea nymph named Pleione or possibly a different Oceanid, depending on the myth.[1]
As the daughter of a Titan, Calypso inherited a sense of grandeur and strength, but her ties to the sea nymphs emphasized her connection to the ocean.
Her family ties, especially her relationship with Atlas, who was burdened by his punishment, contributed to her isolated existence. Calypso’s position as the goddess of the remote island Ogygia establishes her detachment from the world of gods and mortals.
This isolation defines her identity, for she was confined to her island and fated to live apart from others. Her isolation reflects themes of solitude and confinement in mythology. She was both independent and trapped, which shaped her interactions, particularly her longing to keep Odysseus with her.
Calypso and Odysseus
Calypso’s encounter with Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey centered on rescuing the shipwrecked hero and keeping him captive on her island, Ogygia, for seven years, torn between her love for him and his yearning for home.
The myth portrays themes of longing and freedom as Calypso’s paradise becomes a prison for Odysseus, revealing the tension between personal desire and the call of duty.
The Arrival of Odysseus
The story of Odysseus and Calypso begins when the Greek hero, after facing countless challenges, including his ordeals with Circe and the cattle of Helios, is shipwrecked on the isolated island of Ogygia.[2]
Calypso rescues him and brings him to her lush abode, where she is immediately captivated by his strength, enduring spirit, and longing for home. She enchants him with her singing and falls deeply in love with him and offers him immortality and a life free of suffering if he agrees to stay with her.
Despite her gifts and kindness, Odysseus remains determined to return to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope.
Calypso’s love, though genuine, becomes a source of confinement for him, as her island transforms into a beautiful yet inescapable prison.
Some later traditions suggest she bore him two sons, Nausinous and Nausithous, though this detail is not present in Homer’s Odyssey.
Calypso’s Love and Conflict
Calypso’s love for Odysseus is deep and genuine, but her internal struggle sets it apart. She offers him immortality and a life free from suffering, hoping he will choose to remain with her on Ogygia. To Calypso, Odysseus is not just a Greek hero but a kindred spirit, someone she wishes to cherish and keep by her side forever.
However, her love is in vain; Odysseus cannot abandon his dream of returning to Ithaca, his son Telemachus, and his wife Penelope.
This emotional conflict creates tension between her desire to hold onto him and her reluctant understanding that love cannot thrive if it is forced.
Unlike a simple temptress, or even a monster, as some interpretations see her, Calypso is portrayed in some accounts, such as Hyginus’s writings, as a multifaceted character whose love is sincere but ultimately unrequited.
Her offer of a new life is overshadowed by Odysseus’s strong attachment to what he has lost. As Odysseus prepares to leave, Calypso’s sorrow is profound, her grief showing the universal pain of loving someone who cannot stay.
Calypso Releases Odysseus
Calypso finally lets Odysseus go because she has no other choice.
After seven years, the gods, urged by Athena, intervene. Zeus sends HerHermes: Messenger of The Greek Godsmes to order Calypso to release Odysseus, and though resentful, she obeys.
This moment hits Calypso hard. She knows her love for him is real and deep, but the gods’ will is not something she can defy.
Her inner conflict is heartbreaking. On one hand, she wants to fight for the life she imagined with him. On the other, she understands that forcing him to stay would only deepen his pain and longing for home.
When she finally agrees to let Odysseus go, it’s a bittersweet act of love. Heartbroken, Calypso helps Odysseus build a raft and provides supplies for his journey, bidding him farewell with sorrowful words that emphasize the pain of unrequited love.
Though her heart is heavy, she chooses to support him rather than stand in his way. Her goodbye is filled with sorrow, but it also shows her strength and selflessness.
By releasing Odysseus, Calypso proves that love sometimes means letting go, even when it hurts the most. This decision, though forced by Zeus, reveals the depth of her character and the powerful emotions tied to their parting.
After the Departure
After releasing the hero Odysseus, Calypso’s emotions are a mixture of heartbreak and isolation. The command from Zeus, delivered by Hermes at Athena’s urging, forces her to let go of the man she had grown deeply in love with during his years on Ogygia.
Calypso had hoped to keep Odysseus by her side forever, offering him immortality and adorning him with gifts to ease his pain. For many years, she had created a life with him on her enchanted island, forming a deep bond of love and companionship.
Her grief after his departure transforms her island into a place of extreme isolation.[3] The loss of Odysseus, with whom she fell deeply in love, leaves her once again alone, her enchanting home now a prison of eternal solitude.
Calypso’s Characteristics and Symbolism
Calypso was described in myth as breathtakingly beautiful, with an almost supernatural charm, and her island of Ogygia, filled with lush greenery and serene waters, mirrored her allure.
Her personality was a mix of gentleness and pride; she was caring and nurturing toward Odysseus, offering him immortality to keep him with her, yet her love was tinged with selfishness, since she confined him to her island.
In some respects, Calypso is a villain, enchanting Odysseus with song and then keeping him prisoner for years. Whatever her character, good or evil, she remains a popular figure from mythology exactly because of the morally gray nature of her story.
Feminist Interpretations
From a modern feminist perspective, Calypso was a powerful and autonomous woman who challenged the traditional male-centered narratives in Greek mythology.
Unlike many female figures in these stories, she wasn’t defined by her relationship to a male hero. Calypso lives independently on her island, ruling over it without needing anyone’s approval.
She wasn’t submissive or passive, instead, she took charge of her destiny and openly expressed her desires. When she kept Odysseus on Ogygia, she flipped the usual script of male dominance by holding a man in her power.
Feminists often interpret this as a bold rejection of the idea that women should only exist to serve men’s goals.
Calypso’s ability to offer immortality also signified her divine strength, making her an equal to, if not more powerful than, many male gods and heroes.
At the same time, Calypso’s story brings attention to the double standards placed on women. When she loved Odysseus and wanted him to stay, she was framed as clingy or overly controlling.[4] Yet, male Greek gods, such as Zeus or Poseidon, often imposed their will on mortals without harsh judgment or consequences.
Calypso calls out this hypocrisy in the epic, pointing out how male gods were free to take mortal lovers without the criticism leveraged against goddesses. Feminists see this as a moment of resistance, where Calypso challenges the unfair rules of her world.
While the gods step in and force her to let Odysseus go, many interpret her as a figure of feminine defiance and independence. She isn’t just a lovestruck goddess but a symbol of strength and a critique of the societal norms that limit women’s power.
Myths and Artistic Representations of Calypso
Beyond her role in Homer’s Odyssey, some myths describe Calypso as the daughter of Atlas, symbolizing endurance and isolation, while others portray her as content with her independence on Ogygia.
In art and literature, from Renaissance paintings that depict her as a temptress to modern works like Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses,” where her island becomes a symbol of stagnation, Calypso’s story evolves to reflect themes of enduring spirit, loneliness, and feminine power.
Calypso in Art and Literature
Calypso’s story has inspired artists and writers for centuries, particularly during the Renaissance, when Greek mythology was a favorite subject.[5]
Painters like Jan Brueghel and Claude Lorrain often depicted her as a beautiful, mysterious figure. These works focus on her divine beauty and the poignant reminder of her isolation, representing both temptation and captivity.
Renaissance art often focused on the romantic and seductive aspects of Calypso, emphasizing her role as a goddess who fell in love with Odysseus for many years but faced the boundless tribulation of unrequited affection.
Her story is a poignant exploration of themes such as desire, loyalty, and the tension between freedom and confinement, ideas that fascinated artists of the time.
Modern Influence
In modern literature and media, Calypso’s character has been reimagined in fascinating ways.
Writers such as James Joyce referenced her in his novel Ulysses, using her as a metaphor for stagnation and the allure of comfort over challenge, echoing Odysseus’s longing to return home.
In contemporary novels, she is often portrayed as a complex figure, balancing her power with her vulnerability.
In popular culture, Calypso appears in movies, TV shows, and even music, where she is sometimes shown as a misunderstood character. For instance, in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, she is a sympathetic figure who bears the weight of divine intervention and her eternal imprisonment.
Some versions suggest Calypso bore Odysseus’s children Telegonus and Latinus, further entwining their fates, though most accounts agree that Circe mothered them.
Across all these mediums, Calypso remains a powerful and enchanting yet tragic symbol of love, freedom, and the complexities of human (and divine) relationships. These modern interpretations explore her emotional depth and inner struggles, making her more relatable to today’s audiences.
Calypso’s Legacy in Greek Mythology
Calypso’s impact on Greek mythology goes far beyond her brief role in the Odyssey. The tale begins with her as a goddess who represents the tensions between love, freedom, and isolation.
Calypso fell in love with Odysseus when he found refuge on her island, and her story explores the complex dynamics of power in relationships; she has the ability to keep him with her forever, but ultimately, she must let him go.
This balance between her divine strength and emotional vulnerability makes her a deeply human-like figure, even though she’s a goddess. This duality has made her a fascinating character for artists, writers, and scholars. Some see her as a symbol of temptation, while others focus on her isolation and the sadness of unrequited love.
Some myths, including those that describe her as the daughter of Nereus, add depth to her character and tie her more closely to the primordial sea.
Over time, Calypso has come to clarify the struggles of independence, showing how freedom can sometimes feel like loneliness. Modern interpretations often reclaim her as a feminist icon, celebrating her independence and her challenge to the gods’ hypocrisy.
Whether viewed as a lonely goddess or a symbol of empowerment, Calypso’s legacy endures as a reminder of the complexities of love, power, and what it means to be truly free.
Wrapping Up the Story of Calypso, the Powerful Greek Enchantress
The mythology of Calypso is rooted in our understanding of a longing for sacrifice and the pain of loss.
Calypso manifests the complex struggle between freedom and desire, where her love for Odysseus, both a prison and treasure, reflects the difficult balance between personal longing and the necessity of sacrifice.
References
- Greek Gods & Goddesses. February 13, 2017. “Calypso.” https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/calypso/.
- Witt, C., and F. Younghusband. n.d. “The Wanderings of Odysseus.” The Cattle of Helios. Latin from Scratch. Accessed date: December 13, 2024. https://latinfromscratch.com/classical-culture/wanderings-odysseus-witt-younghusband/cattle-helios/.
- Lang, Jeanie. n.d. “Stories from the Odyssey Told to the Children.” Heritage History. Accessed date: December 13, 2024. https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=langjean&book=odyssey&story=calypso.
- McCarter, Stephanie. January 30, 2018. “Is Homer’s Calypso a Feminist Icon or a Rapist?” Electric Literature. https://electricliterature.com/is-homers-calypso-a-feminist-icon-or-a-rapist/.
- Trudgill, Peter. May 10, 2023. “Calypso, from Myth to Music.” The New European. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/calypso-from-myth-to-music/.