Sparta and Athens: two of the most important city-states of the Greek empire and home to two of the most different visions of life. Homer writes a brilliant tale about war soldiers returning home from war to these city-states, but it centers on a single hero, Odysseus. Odysseus fought valiantly during the Trojan War, but as he is returning home, countless challenges change his course and delay him for years and years. Odysseus displays many different traits as he faces these challenges, leading us to believe that he is actually from a major city-state. The only question left is whether he is from Sparta or Athens. From the Odyssey there are many carefully crafted quotes that point directly to Odysseus originating from Sparta. Whereas Penelope, Odysseus' wife, had substantial freedom in managing the family estate while her husband was away and Odysseus displayed considerable skill with the sword, bow and in war; therefore, Odysseus is undoubtedly from Sparta. During the time that Odysseus was absent from the family, Penelope was incessantly bombarded with suitors; she faced the challenge of fending off suitors away from her home and family by being a loyal and faithful wife. Penelope had an arsenal of different tactics to drive away these suitors and she had the means to exact them. This is a great example of his power and authority. In Sparta, if the husband of a family leaves for war, the man's wife receives wide freedom in managing the estate. (Beck p. 131) This freedom for Spartan women is extremely similar to the rights Penelope received. He held the position of head of the estate for approximately twenty years during which Odysseus was at war and during his return. This peri...... half of the document ......us came from Sparta. Not only are Spartan men known for their ferocity in battle, but also for their bonds between comrades; Ulysses demonstrates all this through Homer's epic. This is undoubtedly a true inspirational story, following a hero through all his downfalls and uprisings. Homer's Odyssey is one of the greatest sagas of ancient Greece and is a tale worth taking to heart. As for how Penelope had room to devise methods to protect her family and property, as well as Odysseus' natural skill with the sword, bow, and wits; it is, without a doubt, by Sparta.Works CitedBeck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia I. Shabaka, eds. History of the world: models of interaction. New York: McDougal Little, 2009. 128-31. Print.Homer, . The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girous, 1998. Print.