Zeus was not a great help for Odysseus in his journey home, at least according to Homer's The Odyssey. It was mainly Athena, his patron goddess, who helped him the most along the way, including warning him of future dangers and quelling the wrath of Posiedon.
All of Odysseus men die upon the journey home.
Odysseus begins his journey back home to Ithaca from Troy, following the long war at Troy.
The goddess Athena helps Odysseus the most in his journey back home.
to go home
Athena tells Zeus about Odysseus' situation. Zeus orders Hermes to make Calypso help Odysseus to get away. (Why did you not read book 5, your home assignment?)
Odysseus is captured by Calypso and she holds him on her island for seven years. Zeus commands her to let Odysseus go and helps him on his journey.
Athena tells Zeus that Odysseus is favored by the gods because of his resourcefulness, bravery, and intelligence. She reminds Zeus of Odysseus's loyalty to him and his role in winning the Trojan War, which should make him deserving of help on his journey home.
Well, Odysseus saved Helen, Zeus' supposed favorite daughter from Troy. Because of this, Zeus was grateful of Odysseus, as argued by Isocrates in his essay Helen, and therefore would assist him on his journey throughout the Odyssey.
Zeus did not throw a thunderbolt at Odysseus. In the Odyssey, Zeus actually sends a storm to disrupt Odysseus' journey home as punishment for his men eating the cattle of the sun god Helios. Odysseus himself avoids direct retribution from Zeus.
In the epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer, it is not Zeus who destroys Odysseus' ship, but rather the god of the sea, Poseidon. Poseidon's anger towards Odysseus causes him to send storms and obstacles to thwart Odysseus' journey home.
Zeus generally has a favorable attitude toward Odysseus in Homer's epic poems. Zeus sometimes intervenes on Odysseus' behalf, such as by sending Hermes to help him or by ensuring he eventually returns home to Ithaca. Zeus respects Odysseus for his cunning and resourcefulness, which align with Zeus' own qualities.
It's not Zeus that is disrupting the seas after Odysseus leaves Calypso's island; it is Poseidon. Athena went to Zeus to ask for his help to get Odysseus home and Zeus agreed that he would allow Odysseus to try and get home. Poseidon, on the other hand, hates the Greeks and especially hates Odysseus because he killed his son the cyclops, Polyphemus.
Odysseus hoped for a safe journey home to Ithaca for himself and his crew. By making the sacrifice to Zeus, he sought the god's protection and favor to ensure a smooth passage free from harm and obstacles.
Athena told her father Zeus that Odysseus wanted to go home to see his wife and son so Zeus told Hermes to go and tell Calypso to let Odysseus leave her island. She agreed and told Odysseus to make a boat and she gave him food and wine for his journey
In book 9 of the Odyssey, Odysseus is helped by Zeus, who sends a storm to punish the men who harmed Odysseus. The goddess Athena assists Odysseus by providing him with guidance and disguising him to protect him from danger. Attendees also receive aid from the wind god Aeolus, who gives Odysseus a bag of winds to help him on his journey home.
His journey home began after the victory at Troy.
All of Odysseus men die upon the journey home.