“Mercury Ordering Calypso to Release Odysseus” is a oil paint on canvas piece of art by Gerard de Lairesse housed in the Rijks Museum. The piece shows Calypso, Odysseys, Mercury, and a small child child. This piece is based off one of Odysseus’ adventures on his home in the Odyssey. For the first seven years of his journey Odysseus has been imprisoned on the island of Ogygia by the nymph Calypso. She fell madly in love with Odysseus and forced him to remain with her on the island of Ogygia as a prisoner and immortal husband. Eventually Odysseus’ patron goddess Athena comes to his aid and convinces Zeus to compel Calypso to free him. Zeus orders his messenger Hermes to tell Calypso that the Olympian gods have determined that she must free Odysseus. Calypso sends an unhappy and angry message back to Zeus that is unfair that the gods do not allow the goddesses to have affairs with mortal, while the gods are continuously having affairs immortals. Despite her anger Calypso eventually allows Odysseus to leave. She helps Odysseus to build a raft and then gives him food and wine for his journey.
Photo by Julia Comerford
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