Sing in me Athena, and through me tell of the many characteristics obtained by Odysseus, that prove to be menacing during his travels. His curiosity, glory-seeking ambitions, and Hubris seem to be especially troublesome to the great king throughout Homer's, The Odyssey.
Curiosity proves to be one of his worst qualities; he could have saved his men much heartache during their travels, if he hadn't been so curious. As they sailed up to the Kyklops" Island they had an awful feeling, they wondered if the people of this island would be god-fearing, civilized creatures. As fate had it, they weren't, but they were lucky enough to tread into a Kyklops" cave while he was amiss somewhere. Odysseus" men were for taking the beasts stocks and animals and leaving, but Odysseus" curiosity was fatal to some of his men. Odysseus admits, "Ah, how sound that was! Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer-no pretty sight, it turned out, for my friends."(9. 247-250) His friends, and the people around him eventually became familiar with his curious nature. Kirke told Odysseus of the Sirens, and what he must do to surpass the Sirens; put beeswax in his men's ears so they could not hear the sweet song of the Sirens. Although during is year long stay with her she learned of his fatal curiosity and knew he would want to listen to the song. Therefore she carefully instructed the great seafarer to tie him to the mast so he could listen to the song, but not be drawn off his path to his kingdom. Odysseus survived his great odyssey to Ithaka, but he could have been saved a great amount of grieving, if not for his curiousity.
Odysseus would like to get home more then anything in the world, yet his glory-seeking ambitions seem to get in the way of his homecoming numerous times throughout the story. When Odysseus and his men reach the land of the Kikones, The men raid the city of Ismaros with Odysseus" leave, and they stay in the city carried away by greed, until the Kikones drive them out.
