Who was Tiresias in the Odyssey?
Tiresias. A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. Tiresias meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld in Book 11 . He shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca and allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in Hades.
What happened in Tiresias in the Odyssey?
Who was Tiresias in the Odyssey? In the Odyssey, Circe sends Odysseus to Tiresias to advise him how to get home. The prophet tells him that he will survive the trip, but if his crew touches the cattle of Helios, they will not. His crew ends up eating the cattle and subsequently die.
Where did Tiresias originate?
Tiresias was born in Thebes, son of Eueres and Chariclo, who was himself descended from Udaeus, one of the Sparti. There are several different accounts of how Tiresias became blind. One is that he came upon the goddess Athena in her bath.
Why did Tiresias become blind?
Zeus, in thanks for his support, gave him the gifts of prophecy and longevity. Another version has it that Tiresias was blinded by Athena after he saw her bathing. Chariclo begged her to help him, so Athena, instead of restoring his ability to see the physical world, gave him the ability to see the future.
What did Tiresias say to Odysseus?
Tiresias is a famous blind seer of Apollo. He gives a prophecy to Odysseus about his further journey and its end. The seer says that Odysseus’ voyage home will be full of difficulties and hardships. He warns him about the grazing herds of Helios on Thrinakia.
What is Tiresias message to Odysseus?
If they do, Odysseus’ men will die. Echoing the curse of the Cyclops (9.590-95), Tiresias warns that Odysseus himself might eventually arrive home, but he will be “a broken man — all shipmates lost” (11.130) and find his household in disarray.
What is the significance of the task that Tiresias assigns to Odysseus?
Tiresias gave Odysseus advice regarding his odyssey and how to get home safely to Ithaca. In death and while he was alive, Tiresias had the ability to give cryptic prophesies that were never wrong.
What is the significance of Tiresias?
Tiresias serves the purpose of motivating and propelling the main character Oedipus through the story. Through values such as truth, knowledge and faith, Tiresias controls the fate of Oedipus the King. Tiresias is a blind soothsayer or rather, a prophet. As a prophet, Tiresias is ordained to tell the truth.
What was Tiresias prophecy?
Tiresias warns Odysseus that he will lose all of his companions. In Oedipus Rex, Tiresias is still alive, and it is Tiresias who reveals to Oedipus the truth about who he is, and that he has inadvertently fulfilled the prophecy which warned that he would kill his father and marry his mother.
What did Tiresias tell?
Tiresias tells him that his refusal to bury Polynices and his punishment of Antigone for the burial will bring the curses of the gods down on Thebes. Hearing this, Creon curses Tiresias, calling him a false prophet who traffics in poor advice and rhetoric.
What does Tiresias predict will happen to Odysseus?
What does Tiresias predict will happen if Odysseus raids the herds of Helios? He says if any of the men touch them they will all die except for Odysseus.
What does Tiresias say to Odysseus about the rest of his journey?
Tiresias tells Odysseus that he will kill the suitors when he gets home and that he will arrive home a lot later than expected.