What Omen causes the heart of Odysseus to rejoice, and cause the suitors to “turn color” as they hear it?

The omen that causes Odysseus's heart to rejoice and makes the suitors turn color in Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" is the sound of Zeus's thunder. This happens while Odysseus is in his own palace, which has been overrun by suitors seeking to marry his wife, Penelope, under the assumption that Odysseus had died during his long absence after the Trojan War. At one particular moment when Odysseus has revealed his intentions to challenge the suitors, his son Telemachus sneezes loudly. Penelope laughs and sees this sneeze as a positive omen.

However, the most significant omen comes shortly after. While the suitors are plotting against Telemachus, a sign from the gods arrives in the form of a loud crack of thunder from a clear sky. Odysseus sees this as a direct sign from Zeus affirming his cause and blessing his upcoming actions against the suitors. The thunder also surprises the suitors, causing them to turn pale, as it was rare for such a sound to come from a clear sky without the typical precursors of a storm, signaling divine intervention.

This bolt of thunder is a crucial moment as it bolsters Odysseus's confidence just before the violence that ensues during his final struggle against the suitors and serves as a warning to the suitors that the gods' favor may not be with them.

Extra: The concept of omens plays a significant role in many ancient texts, including "The Odyssey." In the context of Ancient Greece, omens were seen as signs sent by the gods to communicate with mortals, often suggesting divine favor or disfavor with human actions. Omens could come in various forms: birds, thunder, lightning, and other natural phenomena were all interpreted as messages from the divine realm.

In "The Odyssey," omens are used not just as literary devices to foreshadow events but also as mechanisms to reveal the will of the gods, which was an essential aspect of Greek religious belief. The Greeks believed that the gods were intimately involved in the affairs of mortals, guiding and reacting to their actions through such signs. Observing and interpreting omens was, therefore, a critical skill for leaders and heroes like Odysseus, who needed to align with the favor of the gods for success in their endeavors.

Moreover, the event involving the thunder omen in "The Odyssey" serves to underscore the theme of divine justice. It indicates that the gods, particularly Zeus, who is associated with the sky and thunder, endorse Odysseus's cause and that the suitors will face retribution for their impiety and audacity in taking over a great hero's home and harassing his family. This scene builds tension and confirms to the audience of the epic that the story is moving towards a resolution where cosmic justice will be served.