The stories of epic heroes remain important to many cultures, Greek in particular. These stories of heroic men not only entertain, but teach people the morals and values ​​that most epic heroes exemplify, such as intelligence and courage. For an epic hero, characters are usually of noble birth, favored by the gods, perform great deeds, and have flaws. These stories are told in a heightened style and take place in grand settings. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, fulfills these traits and is considered a prime example of an epic hero. Its story is told in Homer's Odyssey and Iliad. However, Odysseus' journey sets him apart from other epic heroes. Most heroes follow the hero's journey, in which the hero begins in the ordinary world, is called to destiny, crosses the threshold, overcomes obstacles, receives help, defeats the unbeatable, and then returns home. Ulysses does not strictly follow this typical structure because his return home is one of the greatest challenges of all. Odysseus encounters the first trait of a hero, to begin with, being of noble birth. Although Odysseus is not a descendant of the gods, like some epic heroes, he is the king of Ithaca. Odysseus is a strong leader and is loved by his servants, many of whom remain loyal to him while he is away. Odysseus holds Ithaca very close to his heart. During his journey, he wishes to return to the land of Ithaca to be with his wife Penelope. Heroes are often associated with a group of people or land, as Odysseus is associated with Ithaca. The next stretch, being favored by the gods, Odysseus meets, but not completely. The goddess Athena particularly favors Odysseus. Athena constantly watches over Odysseus and makes frequent appearances to guide him. For example, Athena appears... in the center of the sheet... toe because the purpose of her journey is to return home. His true homecoming occurs when he reunites with Penelope and her father Laertes. He is finally with the people who love him and are faithful to him, and the conflicts are over. However, not everything is as it once was. Many of Ithaca's greatest men are dead, killed for their lust. Even the servants died for not being faithful to their master Ulysses. There is almost another outbreak of violence between the people of Ithaca and Odysseus for killing the suitors, but Athena puts an end to the violence. Peace is restored in Ithaca. In summary, Odysseus is a unique character, but he has all the traits of an epic hero. His journey follows a hero's journey, but differently than most other heroes. His heroism and unique journey are the reasons The Odyssey has been popular thousands of years since its origin.