Ulysses facts for kids

Ulysses is the Latin name for Odysseus, a very famous hero from ancient Greek stories. He was known for being super smart and clever, especially during the Trojan War and his long journey home afterward.

Who Was Odysseus?

Odysseus was the king of a small island called Ithaca. He was married to Queen Penelope and had a son named Telemachus. Odysseus was not just a king; he was also a brave warrior and a very cunning thinker. His adventures are told in an epic poem called the Odyssey, written by the ancient Greek poet Homer.

The Trojan War and the Clever Horse

Odysseus played a huge part in the Trojan War, which lasted for ten long years. This war was fought between the Greeks and the city of Troy. The Greeks tried many ways to capture Troy, but the city's walls were too strong.

It was Odysseus who came up with the brilliant idea of the Trojan Horse. The Greeks built a giant wooden horse and pretended to sail away, leaving the horse behind as a "gift" to the Trojans. But inside the horse, Odysseus and other brave Greek soldiers were hiding! The Trojans brought the horse inside their city walls, thinking they had won. That night, the Greek soldiers snuck out of the horse and opened the city gates for the rest of their army. This clever trick helped the Greeks finally win the war.

Odysseus's Long Journey Home

After the Trojan War ended, Odysseus and his men began their journey back to Ithaca. However, their trip home turned into an epic adventure that lasted another ten years! They faced many dangers and challenges, often because they angered the gods.

Some of the amazing creatures and challenges Odysseus encountered included:

• The Cyclops Polyphemus, a giant one-eyed monster. Odysseus had to use his wits to escape from his cave.
• The beautiful Sirens, whose enchanting songs lured sailors to their doom. Odysseus had his men tie him to the mast of his ship so he could hear their song without being tempted.
• The sorceress Circe, who turned some of his men into pigs.
• The terrifying monsters Scylla (a six-headed monster) and Charybdis (a giant whirlpool).
• The goddess Calypso, who held him captive on her island for seven years.

Despite all these hardships, Odysseus never gave up hope of returning to his family. When he finally arrived back in Ithaca, he found his palace taken over by men trying to marry his wife and take his throne. With the help of his son Telemachus and a few loyal servants, Odysseus fought to reclaim his kingdom.

Ulysses in Modern Times

Because Odysseus was such a famous and important character in ancient stories, his Latin name, Ulysses, has been used for many other things throughout history. It shows how much his story has inspired people over thousands of years.

Here are a few examples:

• Ulysses (spacecraft): This was a real spacecraft launched by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It was sent to study the Sun from different angles.
• Ulysses (novel): This is a very famous and important book written by an Irish author named James Joyce. It tells the story of one day in the life of a character in Dublin, Ireland, but it's inspired by Odysseus's long journey.
• "Ulysses" (poem): This is a well-known poem written by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It's about an aging Ulysses who feels restless and wants to go on new adventures.
• Ulysses (1954 movie): This is a movie from 1955 that tells the story of Odysseus's adventures, starring the famous actor Kirk Douglas.

These examples show how the ancient tale of Odysseus, or Ulysses, continues to be important and inspire new stories, science, and art even today.