Calypso is a figure from Greek mythology, most famously known from Homer’s Odyssey. She is a nymph, often described as the daughter of the Titan Atlas, though her parentage varies in some accounts. Calypso is most remembered for her role in the story of Odysseus.
Calypso in The Odyssey
In The Odyssey, Calypso resides on the remote, paradisiacal island of Ogygia. She encounters Odysseus after he is shipwrecked and washes ashore. Calypso takes Odysseus in and falls in love with him, offering him comfort, care, and even immortality if he agrees to stay with her as her husband. However, Odysseus longs to return home to Ithaca and to his wife, Penelope.
• Calypso keeps Odysseus on Ogygia for seven years, delaying his journey.
• Eventually, the god Hermes arrives with a command from Zeus to release Odysseus. Although reluctant and heartbroken, Calypso obeys and helps Odysseus build a raft to leave her island.
Symbolism of Calypso
• Temptation and Delay: Calypso represents the temptations that can divert heroes (or humans) from their ultimate purpose or journey.
• Loneliness and Immortality: Her offering of immortality contrasts with Odysseus’s desire for mortal life, love, and home.
• Female Power: Calypso’s power over Odysseus highlights the theme of female dominance in mythology, where women—like Circe and the Sirens—play pivotal roles in the hero’s journey.
Literary and Cultural Legacy
Calypso has appeared in many literary works and adaptations beyond The Odyssey. Her story resonates with themes of love, loss, and the struggle between the ideal and the real. Writers often explore her loneliness and the tragedy of loving someone who ultimately leaves.
In modern times, Calypso’s name has also been associated with the vibrant Calypso music of the Caribbean, though the connection is mostly etymological and symbolic of beauty and exotic allure.