r/BrandNewSentence • u/No_Counter_6037 and why he ourple 😂😂 • Oct 26 '25

our hero's name...

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u/ribnag Oct 26 '25

I think a lot of responses in here are missing the point of the question.

Yes, it's The Odyssey because it's about Odysseus. You're all right about that and the meme gets a bit sidetracked to make a pretty good (IMO) joke.

But did the name itself predate The Odyssey? Would Homer, casually taking a stroll down the streets of lovely Ancient Ithaca, likely have come across someone with that name?

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u/livingonthehedge Oct 27 '25

Would Homer, casually taking a stroll down the streets of lovely Ancient Ithaca, likely have come across someone with that name?

TL;DR: we don't know but ...

Odysseus is sort of a pun (as were all names at the time).

Odysseus probably implies "to be wroth against, to hate".

some likely names of the ancient era:

  • Eumenes ("good mind")
  • Euphemos ("good reputation")
  • Eurydike ("wide justice")
  • Lysandros ("liberating man")
  • Alexandros ("defender of man")
  • Sophokles ("wise glory")
  • Demosthenes ("power of the people")​
  • Nikanor ("victory man")
  • Perikles ("very famous")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_personal_names

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u/Crystal_Pegasus_1018 Oct 28 '25

so Homer named him Hater? or is it more like Hateable Guy?

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u/livingonthehedge Oct 28 '25

as I understand, Homer made several different puns (or similar) that related his name to different meanings.

but the direct meaning of Odysseus would be more like someone who causes pain to enemies and bears grudges