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James Joyce’s famous novel Ulysses chronicles the passage of Leopold Bloom through Dublin during an ordinary day in 1904. The title parallels and alludes to Odysseus (Latinised into Ulysses), the hero of Homer's Odyssey (e.g., the correspondences between Leopold Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus).

Odysseus (the Greek form of the name) or Ulysses (Latin form) was in Greek mythology a legendary king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle.

King of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, and son of Laërtes and Anticlea, Odysseus is renowned for his guile and resourcefulness, and is hence known by the epithet Odysseus the Cunning. He is most famous for the ten eventful years he took to return home after the ten-year Trojan War and his famous Trojan horse trick.

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Nicknames for Ulysses: | Edit

Ully, Ulee

Meanings and history of the name Ulysses: | Edit

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Famous real-life people named Ulysses: | Edit

Hiram Ulysses S. Grant, American Civil War general and the 18th President of the United States. (changed his first name from Hiram to Ulysses)
Ulysses Dove, American dancer and contemporary choreographer.
U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr., United States Navy four star admiral.

Ulysses in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Ulysses", a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
"Ulysses", a novel by James Joyce.
"Tales of Brave Ulysses", a song performed by Cream.
"HMS Ulysses," novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean.
"Ulysses' Gaze," a film directed by Theo Angelopoulos.
"Ulee's Gold" an independent film starring Peter Fonda.
"Ulysses", a song by Franz Ferdinand