Abstract

This paper examines the semantics and the narrative function of Calypso’s island, which can be understood as a locus amoenus. The description moves from the inner cave of a lovely nymph outward to the surroundings of the seductive landscape. Hermes’ pleasure at the scene stands in contrast to the disinterested attitude of Odysseus weeping on the shore, which anticipates his rejection of the nymph. The connections between this scene and the weeping Achilles looking out over the sea in a similar setting further define this contrast as a central theme of the Calypso episode. The semantics of the locus amoenus in Od. 5 is paralleled by the Sirens’ meadow, which stands in juxtaposition with their seductive voice.