Question

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.

What does this excerpt most suggest about the beliefs of
the ancient Greeks?
Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
The bows went plunging at the gust; sails
cracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.
We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards,
unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore
worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining.
O They believed that nature's strength was wholly
uncontrollable.
O They believed that nature's wrath could never be
overcome.
O They believed that the gods were frequently unfair in
their actions.
They believed that the gods often punished people for
acting badly.

Answer 1

O They believed that the gods often punished people for acting badly.

Step-by-step explanation:

Homer's epic narrative poem The Odyssey tells the journey of Odysseus from after the Battle of Troy and his journey back home to Ithaca. The whole book covers the decade long journey, along with numerous encounters with the gods and monsters alike.

The given excerpt from Book IX of the poem is when they were treated with great winds by Zeus after they attacked and killed the people of Cicons. Odysseus admits that from that point onwards, their journey was met with numerous natural obstacles that the god Zeus seemed to have sent to 'attack' them, punish them for their bad deeds. This event shows that the ancient Greeks believed that people were often punished by the gods for any bad acts or deeds they may have done.