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Nostos

Figure riding a sea turtle, probably depicting an ancient Greek fable similar to Odysseus' Return to the Homeland (Nostos)

Nostos (Ancient Greek: νόστος, romanized: nostos) is a theme used in Ancient Greek literature, which includes an epic hero returning home, often by sea. In Ancient Greek society, it was deemed a high level of heroism or greatness for those who managed to return. This journey is usually very extensive and includes being shipwrecked in an unknown location and going through certain trials that test the hero.[1] The return is not only about returning home physically, but also focuses on the hero retaining or elevating their identity and status upon arrival.[2] The theme of nostos is brought to life in Homer's The Odyssey, where the main hero Odysseus tries to return home after battling in the Trojan War. Odysseus is challenged by many temptations, such as the Sirens and the Lotus-eaters. If Odysseus had given into these temptations it would have meant certain death and thus failing to return home.[2] Nostos is used today in many forms of literature and movies.[3]

  1. ^ Bonifazi, Anna (2009). "Inquiring into Nostos and Its Cognates". American Journal of Philology. 130 (4): 481. doi:10.1353/ajp.0.0078. S2CID 170154511.
  2. ^ a b Alexopoulou, Marigo (2009). The Theme of Returning Home in Ancient Greek Literature: The Nostos of the Epic Heroes. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. pp. 2–5.
  3. ^ Clauss, James J. (2008). "Hercules Unchained: Contaminatio, Nostos, Katabasis, and the Surreal". Arethusa. 41: 51. doi:10.1353/are.2008.0007. S2CID 161942734.

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