Whose entrapment did Odysseus avoid by putting wax in the ears of his men?

The entrapment that Odysseus avoided by putting wax in the ears of his men pertains to the Sirens. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were mythical creatures known for their enchanting voices that lured sailors to their doom. Their beautiful songs would entice mariners to approach their rocky shores, resulting in shipwrecks. Aware of the dangers posed by the Sirens, Odysseus devised a strategy to protect his crew. He instructed his men to plug their ears with beeswax, ensuring they wouldn’t hear the Sirens’ tempting melody. Additionally, he had himself tied to the mast of the ship, allowing him to hear the Sirens without succumbing to their call, thus successfully passing by without disaster.

The other figures mentioned, such as Circe, Charybdis, and Calypso, present their own unique challenges within Odysseus’s journey but are not directly related to the specific use of wax in his men’s ears. Circe is known for turning Odysseus's men into animals, Charybdis is a monstrous whirlpool that threatens to swallow ships whole, and Calypso is a nymph who detains Odysseus on her island for several years.