Odysseus: Traits of an Epic Hero On Odysseus' twenty year journey, he uses many of his traits to get back to Ithaca. Odysseus and his men fight the Cyclops, the Sirens and have to resist the temptation of the honeyed plants. A great epic hero, like Odysseus, needs to have numerous traits. Odysseus' traits are strength, intelligence and self-confidence. Odysseus is strong in many different ways. He is strong in his mind, heart and physical strength. His physical strength is an important trait for his trip home. One case would be when he holds himself to the bottom of a sheep to escape. His men were tied to the bottom of the sheep and he was the last one left so he had t