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Odysseus is the image of the mature, tough and cunning warrior. His appearance does not inspire fear with size, but respect with intelligence and endurance.
Here is how the king of Ithaca is described:
1. Physical structure: "The Broad-shouldered"
Odysseus has a specific physique, which Homer describes in detail in the "Iliad":
Torso and shoulders: He is extremely broad-shouldered and has a powerful chest. When sitting, he looks more majestic than many, but when he stands up, it is noticeable that he is slightly shorter than heroes such as Ajax or Agamemnon.
Legs: He is described with shorter legs compared to his powerful body, which gives him stability and the appearance of a man firmly on the ground.
Beard and hair: He is usually depicted with a thick, dark beard (often grayed by salt and age) and curly hair. In the Odyssey, Athena often beautifies his appearance, making his hair fall in curls like hyacinth flowers.
2. Expression and gaze
His appearance exudes deep thought. He is often described as standing with his head bowed and his gaze fixed on the ground before speaking. But once he speaks, his voice is strong and his words are like a snowstorm, causing people to forget his appearance and obey his mind.
3. Clothing and transformations
Odysseus is the "chameleon" of mythology:
The royal appearance: He wore a heavy purple cloak (chlamys), fastened with a gold buckle depicting a dog biting a deer - a symbol of his agility.
The beggar's disguise: Upon his return to Ithaca, he was transformed by Athena into an old man with rags, wrinkled skin, and cloudy eyes, so that he would not be recognized by Penelope's suitors.
The scars: His most characteristic scar is the scar on his thigh from a boar's tooth, obtained while hunting in his youth. It is by this that his old nurse Eurycleia recognizes him.
4. Attributes
Unlike Heracles with his mace, Odysseus is a master of the bow. His enormous bow is so tight that only he has the strength and technique to bend it and stretch its string.
