Question

For Odysseus and his men, the loss of Helios, the sun, symbolizes a loss of what?

Answer 1

Helios (the sun god) had seven herds of oxen and seven flocks of sheep guarded by his daughters, Phaëthusa and Lampetië. Circe warned Odysseus to avoid the island no matter what as these harming these cattles will bring will down Zeus’ wrath. However, cursed by Poseidon, Odysseus and his men decided to stay on the island for a month with the condition that no one must touch the cattles. When all the cattles died, Helios was enraged and asked Zeus to cast a lightning on Odysseus’ ship. All his men died except for Odysseus.