who or what functions as a symbol in this passage?
a the sea
b dawn
c zeus
d the ships
now zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
the bows went plunging at the gust; sails cracked and
lashed out strips in the big wind.
we saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped
the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore worn out
and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third dawn came with ringlets shining. then we
put up our masts, hauled sail, and rested,
letting the steersmen and the breeze take over.
i might have made it safely home, that time,
but as i came round malea the current
took me out to sea, and from the north
a fresh gale drove me on, past cythera.
nine days i drifted on the teeming sea
before dangerous high winds.