Homer, an extraordinarily gifted writer, used a plethora of symbols throughout The Odyssey. They are important to the reader because they convey the poem's hidden context. The epic's key symbols, their meanings, and their worth are listed here. Penelope's cloak is a prominent motif in the epic. It appears in several places during the course of the poem as a symbol of hospitality that invites guests into the hero's home. The word penelope also means "unconquerable" or "immortal." Thus, the cloak represents fame or glory. The Odyssey contains many other symbols, including: Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare; Calypso, a beautiful nymph who became the mistress of Odysseus; Circe, a powerful witch who turned men into pigs; the Sirens, beautiful female musicians who lured passers-by to their death with their singing; the Styx, the river that separated Earth from Hades; and Zeus, the king of the gods. Homer used these symbols in order to create stories with deeper meaning. For example, he could have described Odysseus' journey as taking place over months or years instead of just ten days. This would not have been as exciting or mysterious as using symbols, so Homer chose this alternative route for reasons unknown.