Hyperions
Helios
hyperion or Helios
he cried.
After Odysseus kills the Helios' cattle, he is not sure what to do. He realizes it was a mistake and shortly afterward they kill his crew.
While Odysseus is lured into sleep by Cronus, the crew eat the cattle of Helios, even though Odysseus specifically said not too.
Odysseus is sleeping when the cattle are slaughtered.
ate the sun god's cattle.
because they ate the sun god's cattle
Odysseus was told not to harm Helios' cattle on the island of Thrinacia, as they were sacred to the god. Disobeying this warning would bring about severe consequences for Odysseus and his crew, as it did when they slaughtered the cattle out of hunger and faced the wrath of Helios.
There is no need. Golden cattle are not normal. The crew already know that these are sacred cattle. They already know the consequences, so telling them that they will all die and only he, Odysseus, will survive if they eat the cattle sounds arrogant and petty.
Odysseus was upset when his crew ate Hyperion's cattle for several reasons.His crew were under oath not to harm the cattle. Breaking an oath is a major offence in Ancient Greece and often leads to death.By eating the cattle the crew offended the sun-god Hyperion, Odysseus knew this would lead to their deaths and Odysseus would most likely have been worried that because of the crew's transgressions it would make Odysseus' desire to return home (nostos) even more unattainable because the gods would do all in their power to prevent him. (Note Odysseus HAS to return home as it is the will of Zeus for him to return home, but Poseidon wishes to delay him and Hyperion wishes to kill the crew).
They come to Helios' island. They agree to Odysseus' demand that they not eat the sacred cattle. After some days they are starving. Finally, when Odysseus is asleep, the mutinous Eurylokhos pleads with them to slaughter and eat some of the cattle.