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Kalypso entered the annals of Greek prehistory because she aided Odysseus when he came to her island as a destitute wanderer. After the Trojan War ended (circa 1240 BCE), Odysseus sailed for home as did the other Achaian Greeks after they defeated the Trojans and looted Troy.
Odysseus was not the only returning warrior to have difficulties ... many were delayed or killed before they reached their homes. Odysseus's voyage home became an epic journey filled with supernatural beasts and deadly obstacles. An encounter with a cannibal Cyclops precipitated Odysseus's problems with Poseidon, lord of the sea. Odysseus blinded Poseidon's Cyclops son ... Poseidon swore revenge.
Zeus, Poseidon's brother, would not let Poseidon kill Odysseus so Poseidon designed a series of horrific ordeals to plague Odysseus and his comrades. As the challenges got deadlier, more and more of Odysseus's crew were lost until finally, all were dead. Alone and without hope, Odysseus washed ashore on the island of Ogygia ... Kalypso's home.
Ogygia was the Navel of the Sea which might be interpreted to mean a variety of things but I feel comfortable in assuming that Kalypso's island was simply in the middle of Okeanos (Ocean). The actual location of Ogygia has remained a mystery ... most serious readers place the island somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea west of Greece. There are indications that Ogygia was in fact east of Greece.
One substantial indication as to the eastern location of Ogygia is the fact that when Odysseus sailed from the island, Kalypso told him to keep the constellation of Ursa Major (the Bear) on his right ... that would mean the constellation would have been in the north as Odysseus sailed westward towards Greece.
Odysseus was utterly destitute when Kalypso found him but his rugged good looks and noble character soon affected the lonely goddess and she fell in love. Odysseus stayed with Kalypso for seven years but they were long, sad years for Odysseus. He resigned himself to the fact that there was no escape from the island but he still constantly longed for his wife and son. Kalypso offered Odysseus immortality and eternal youth but he refused to accept her offers.
During their time together, Kalypso and Odysseus had two sons—Nausithoos and Nausinoos. Perhaps they had a third son named Telegonos but he might have been the son of the Dread-Goddess Kirke (Circe) and not Kalypso.
Poseidon was determined to perpetuate Odysseus's punishment ... likewise, the goddess Athene was always looking for ways to help Odysseus. When she reminded Zeus that Odysseus had been on Ogygia for seven years, Zeus sent his son Hermes with a message for Kalypso ... she was to allow Odysseus to leave ... furthermore, she was to give him the assistance he needed to build a seaworthy craft.
Hermes arrived on Kalypso's island and was given a warm welcome ... he and Kalypso drank nectar and ate ambrosia. Finally, he told her of his mission and gave her Zeus's command. At first Kalypso was indignant ... she reminded Hermes of the many gods and goddesses who had taken mortal lovers and wondered why she could not keep Odysseus. Hermes told her that Zeus was adamant ... she must help Odysseus leave Ogygia and she was not permitted to use her charms to detain him.
Kalypso accepted her fate and agreed to let Odysseus leave unhindered. By that time, Odysseus was a cautious man. He had endured much trickery at the hands of the Immortals and did not believe Kalypso would actually help him. To ensure her sincerity, Odysseus made Kalypso swear a great oath on the waters of Styx ... the most sacred and binding oath an Immortal could make.
Kalypso sincerely swore the oath and gave Odysseus the tools he needed to build a seaworthy raft. When it came time for him to leave, Kalypso in her loving nature, gave Odysseus provisions and sent him on his way with a fair wind to speed him home.
The Odyssey
Theogony
Catalogue of Women
Hymn to Demeter II
Telegony
The Argonautika by Apollonius of Rhodes
Description of Greece by Pausanias