The Odyssey is an epic poem.
Odysseus ( [ oʊˈdɪsiəs , _ oʊˈdɪsjuːs ] Ὀδυσσεύς , Ὀδυσεύς [ odysse͜ús ] ) , also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( [ juːˈlɪsiːz ] , [ ˈjuːlɪsiːz ] Ulyssēs , Ulixēs ) , was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer 's epic poem the Odyssey . Odyssey . The poem mainly focuses on the Greek hero Odysseus ( known as Ulysses in Roman myths ) , king of Ithaca , and his journey home after the fall of Troy .