Odysseus, the main character of The Odyssey, certainly qualifies as an epic hero. He has help from numerous characters, defeats a handful of supernatural enemies, and is known by many individuals from across the land. These three qualifications are what set apart a normal character in a story from a true epic hero.

Throughout Odysseus's long journey to his home in Ithaca, many minor characters help him in any way they can. For example, Hermes knew that Odysseus would not be able to withstand the magical powers of Circe, and so Hermes gave him the Moly plant. This plant allowed Odysseus to drink the potion that Circe had given him without turning into a pig, which in turn gave Odysseus the chance to retrieve his crew and eventually leave the island. Later on in the story, Odysseus receives a life saving tip from Athena. She tells him that...