Marble statue of Odysseus, taken from a group sculptures representing him blinding Polyphemus.
Outis takes her name from a pseudonym belonging to her literary basis, Odysseus (Ancient Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς, Odysseús), the Greek war general partly responsible for the Trojan War in the Iliad (Ἰλιάς, Iliás) and eponymous hero of the Odyssey (Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia). Famous recountings of both epic poems were accredited to renowned Ancient Greek poet, Homer (Ὅμηρος, Hómēros).
'Outis' (Greek: Ουτις) was a pseudonym used by Odysseus to trick the CyclopsPolyphemus when the monster demanded the hero’s name after capturing and eating some of Odysseus’ men trapped in his cave.
‘Ουτις’ (Οὖτις), from οὐ (ou, “not”) + τῐς (tis, “somebody”), was an Ancient Greek pronoun meaning “nothing” or “nobody”.
This is referenced in Outis’ intro quote: “Είμαι... ου τις απολύτως.”, translit: “I am... nothing at all.”
Polyphemus, seeking vengeance after being blinded by Odysseus
Using this pseudonym, Odysseus and his men blinded Polyphemus, causing him to scream out “Nobody is killing me”. This only led his fellow cyclopes to ignore his pleas for help, believing he was only joking and not in any real danger at all. The cyclop’s injury eventually led him to open up the entrance of his cave where Odysseus and his men made their daring escape.
Unfortunately, in a fit of hubris, Odysseus declared his true identity to taunt Polyphemus — who upon learning his true name, prayed to his father Poseidon for retribution.
Odysseus and his men blinding Polyphemus
Polyphemus prayed to his father to curse Odysseus to “[never] reach his native land, to [never] come once more to his own house and see his friends again” and to “let him come late, in evil plight, with all his comrades dead, in someone else's ship, and find troubles in his household."
As Odysseus earned Poseidon’s ire, he obliged to his son’s request — taking on the antagonistic role of sabotaging the hero’s journey throughout the Odyssey for over 10 years of his homecoming — all because Odysseus forgone his alias, “Outis”, to prematurely gloat over his victory out of sheer arrogance.
Appearances in the Odyssey[]
“Outis”, or "Nobody" can be found in five different lines of Book 9 of the Odyssey within its Apologoi:
Firstly, line 366: "Cyclops, you asked my noble name, and I will tell it; but do you give the stranger's gift, just as you promised. My name is Nobody. Nobody I am called by mother, father, and by all my comrades." Line 369: "So I spoke, and from a ruthless heart he straightway answered: "Nobody I eat up last, after his comrades; all the rest first; and that shall be the stranger's gift for you." Line 408: "Then in his turn from out the cave big Polyphemus answered: "Friends, Nobody is murdering me by craft. Force there is none." But answering him in winged words they said: "If nobody harms you when you are left alone, illness which comes from mighty Zeus you cannot fly. But make your prayer to your father, lord Poseidon"." Line 455: "Are you sorry because that wicked Nobody brought your master down with drink and blinded him?". Lastly, line 460: "I should thus have some revenge for the harm that no-good Nobody has done me".
Outis was quite possibly an active combatant in the Smoke War, being a patent-war veteran who was able to instantly recognize the Smoke War's battlefield when she relived Gregor's memories in Canto I.
Outis' emblem for reference
Her pocket watch that is featured in her personal emblem has the Greek phrase: "Εγω εχω μια οικογενεια. Ειχαν την δικια τους" inscribed onto it.
When translated, it reads "I have my family. They had theirs."
Pocket watches were the most common type of watch in 16th century until the invention of the wristwatch and transitionally the trench watch, which replaced the pocket watch's use in the military during World War I due to the pocket watch's design deeming it impractical in combat.
Outis's icon depicts the Trojan Horse, a ploy used by Odysseus that led to the downfall of Troy and victory for the Greeks. As a metaphor, it represents an offering that may look innocent, but in actuality has a malicious purpose which may bring harm to the receiver.
Outis' sword, called a Kopis, was known to be the state weapon of Sparta. This is a reference to Penelope, Odysseus' wife, who was a Princess of Sparta.
