Through out Odysseus's great epic the gods help and hinder his efforts of getting home and regaining his throne as king of Ithaca. He is mostly hindered on his way back to the island of Ithaca and mostly helped when he is on the island of Ithaca.

I will be mostly looking at Poseidon's efforts too make Odysseus's journey back home a long and painful one (books 9 & 10), Odysseus's belief that Zeus is responsible for everything that happens to him on the sea (books 9 & 10), the involvement of the half gods (nymphs) (books 9 & 10) and the help which Athena gives when Odysseus returns home (books 21,22&23).

However I will also be looking at the effect of the god's actions in the past, which had effects on Odysseus's return home. I.e. Poseidon's actions which created the Cyclopses, Zeus's empowerment of Aolia who rules the wind.

Poseidon

From the second the Cyclops...