In Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, Hyperion is not directly mentioned as a character. Instead, he is a Titan from Greek mythology, often associated with the sun. In the context of the Odyssey, Hyperion is significant because he is considered the father of Helios, the sun god. Helios plays a crucial role in the narrative, especially in Books 12 and 13, where his cattle become a point of contention and ultimately lead to Odysseus’s crew suffering dire consequences.
In the story, after being warned not to harm the cattle of the sun god, Odysseus’s men, driven by hunger and folly, feast upon them. This act of defiance angers Helios, who demands retribution from Zeus, leading to the destruction of Odysseus’s ship and the loss of his crew. Therefore, while Hyperion himself does not appear in the Odyssey, his connection to Helios and the consequences of disregarding the divine authority surrounding him are integral to the themes of respect for the gods and the reverence for natural order within the poem.