Scylla: a monster that lives in a cliff that Odysseus must pass through on his journey hoem, each of her six heads grabs a person on every passing boat
Charybdis: another monster who lives at the base of a cliff opposite Scylla, she sucks in the water around her creating a whirlpool, and then spits it all back out, creating a geyser
Phaethusa and Lampetie: guardians of Helios's herds, Lampetie tells Helios when the crew kills his cattle
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 12 Summary
Odysseus's ship returned to Aiaia, where Circe met them with food to eat and wine to drink. She took Odysseus aside while the others were eating and told him of the dangers to come. First, she said, their ship wold pass the island of the Sirens, who bewitch everyone who passes with their music. Circe told Odysseus to plug all of his men's ears with wax before they passed the island, so no one would hear it. If Odysseus himself wanted to listen to the music, he should have his men tie him to the mast and take away his sword.
Next, Odysseus would have a descision to make about which way to go. One way would take him to the Moving Rocks that crush anything that comes between them. The other path made Odysseus sail between two cliffs. One the larger cliff, Scylla lived in a cave, waiting for shipd to pass so that she could reach each of her six heads down and grab six men from the boat. At the base of the other cliff, Charybdis lived. Three times a day, Circe said, she sucked in much of the surrounding water, and then spat it back out. Cicre urged Odysseus to sail through the cliffs at the base of Scylla's cliff, where he would only lose six of his men and not the whole ship.
Circe said that next Odysseus would come to the island where Helios kept his flocks of cattle and sheep, just like the prophet from the Underworld said. Circe told Odysseus that if he didn't harm the cattle, then he would make it home, but he will have suffered a lot. If he does harm the cattle, however, Odysseus ship and crew would be destroyed, but he might still make it home, but late and unhappy.
The next morning, Odysseus and his men set sail. Odysseus told them what Circe had said to him, and by the time he had finished, they were close to the Sirens's island. He walked around the ship, giving every man some wax to plug his ears with and then he had the men tie him to the mast. As they passed the island, Odysseus heard the Sirens's song and longed to listen. He ordered his men to untie him, but they just added more ropes. When the ship passed the island, the men untied Odysseus and unplugged their ears.
Up ahead they could see the cliffs of Scylla and Charybdis. The men were scared, but Odysseus told them that they were used to fear and that this isn't anything worse then when Odysseus was trapped in Polyphemus's cave. Odysseus did not mention Scylla and what she did to passing boats, but instead told the helmsman to steer away from the smoke and sail at the base of the larger cliff. As the men sailed below the cliff, Scylla reached her heads down and took Odysseus's six best men and ate them live and screaming for Odysseus to help them.
Once they were past the cliffs, they came to Helios's island. Odysseus told his men that he knew that they were tired, but they couldn't stop at this island. At this, Eurylochos stood up and demanded that they stop here, as the entire crew was tired and hungry. Odysseus gave in to his crew's requests, but made them swear on a solemn oath that they would not touch Helios's cattle. The men agreed to only eat the food that Circe had given them, but after a month, that food ran out and the men were starving again. One day, when Odysseus was out in the woods, when the gods made him fall into a deep sleep. During this time, Eurylochos made another speech to the rest of the crew, saying that he would rather die at sea because of the gods then die on an unknown island because of hunger. The rest of the crew agreed so they found a few of the cattle and killed and cooked them. Odysseus the woke up and smelled cooking meat. Helios found aou about the slaughter, and he prayed to Zeus to kill the men of Odysseus. Zeus calmed Helios down and told him that he would destroy Odysseus's ship with a lightning bolt.
For six days the crew feasted on the cattle, and then on the seventh they set sail again. When the island was far away, Zeus created a storm that struck Odysseus's ship and destroyed it. Odysseus,the only man left alive, created a makeshift raft to keep him afloat as the storm pushed him back the way he had come. When he reached the two cliffs again, his raft was on Charybdis's side. As she sucked the water in, Odysseus jumped up and grabbed onto an olive tree that was on the side of the cliff. He hung there until Charybdis spat his raft back out again. He jumped back on his little boat and paddled away with his arms. Odysseus drifted for nine days until the gods brought him to Calypso's island.
At this point in telling his story, Odysseus stops because Alkinoos had already heard of his time with Calypso.
Next, Odysseus would have a descision to make about which way to go. One way would take him to the Moving Rocks that crush anything that comes between them. The other path made Odysseus sail between two cliffs. One the larger cliff, Scylla lived in a cave, waiting for shipd to pass so that she could reach each of her six heads down and grab six men from the boat. At the base of the other cliff, Charybdis lived. Three times a day, Circe said, she sucked in much of the surrounding water, and then spat it back out. Cicre urged Odysseus to sail through the cliffs at the base of Scylla's cliff, where he would only lose six of his men and not the whole ship.
Circe said that next Odysseus would come to the island where Helios kept his flocks of cattle and sheep, just like the prophet from the Underworld said. Circe told Odysseus that if he didn't harm the cattle, then he would make it home, but he will have suffered a lot. If he does harm the cattle, however, Odysseus ship and crew would be destroyed, but he might still make it home, but late and unhappy.
The next morning, Odysseus and his men set sail. Odysseus told them what Circe had said to him, and by the time he had finished, they were close to the Sirens's island. He walked around the ship, giving every man some wax to plug his ears with and then he had the men tie him to the mast. As they passed the island, Odysseus heard the Sirens's song and longed to listen. He ordered his men to untie him, but they just added more ropes. When the ship passed the island, the men untied Odysseus and unplugged their ears.
Up ahead they could see the cliffs of Scylla and Charybdis. The men were scared, but Odysseus told them that they were used to fear and that this isn't anything worse then when Odysseus was trapped in Polyphemus's cave. Odysseus did not mention Scylla and what she did to passing boats, but instead told the helmsman to steer away from the smoke and sail at the base of the larger cliff. As the men sailed below the cliff, Scylla reached her heads down and took Odysseus's six best men and ate them live and screaming for Odysseus to help them.
Once they were past the cliffs, they came to Helios's island. Odysseus told his men that he knew that they were tired, but they couldn't stop at this island. At this, Eurylochos stood up and demanded that they stop here, as the entire crew was tired and hungry. Odysseus gave in to his crew's requests, but made them swear on a solemn oath that they would not touch Helios's cattle. The men agreed to only eat the food that Circe had given them, but after a month, that food ran out and the men were starving again. One day, when Odysseus was out in the woods, when the gods made him fall into a deep sleep. During this time, Eurylochos made another speech to the rest of the crew, saying that he would rather die at sea because of the gods then die on an unknown island because of hunger. The rest of the crew agreed so they found a few of the cattle and killed and cooked them. Odysseus the woke up and smelled cooking meat. Helios found aou about the slaughter, and he prayed to Zeus to kill the men of Odysseus. Zeus calmed Helios down and told him that he would destroy Odysseus's ship with a lightning bolt.
For six days the crew feasted on the cattle, and then on the seventh they set sail again. When the island was far away, Zeus created a storm that struck Odysseus's ship and destroyed it. Odysseus,the only man left alive, created a makeshift raft to keep him afloat as the storm pushed him back the way he had come. When he reached the two cliffs again, his raft was on Charybdis's side. As she sucked the water in, Odysseus jumped up and grabbed onto an olive tree that was on the side of the cliff. He hung there until Charybdis spat his raft back out again. He jumped back on his little boat and paddled away with his arms. Odysseus drifted for nine days until the gods brought him to Calypso's island.
At this point in telling his story, Odysseus stops because Alkinoos had already heard of his time with Calypso.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 11 Characters
Theban Teiresias: a prophet in the underworld that Circe send Odysseus to find
Anticleia: Odysseus's mother, died while he was at Troy
Heracles: a hero who completed twelve tasks for King Eurystheus, which included taking Hades's three-headed dog from the under world, and then returning it
Anticleia: Odysseus's mother, died while he was at Troy
Heracles: a hero who completed twelve tasks for King Eurystheus, which included taking Hades's three-headed dog from the under world, and then returning it
The Odyssey - Book 11 Summary
When Odysseus and his men reached the shore, they set sail. After a long time they reached the river of Oceanos, which was the boundary of the world. Odysseus made a pit in the ground and prepared the sacrifice just as Circe instructed him to do with honey, milk, wine, water, barley, and blood from a black ewe and a black ram. When the sacrifice was finished, ghosts crowded around the pit, wanting to drink the sacrifice, but Odysseus wouldn't let them until the prophet Circe told him to find, ThebanTeiresias, came. As Odysseus waited for the ghost, he saw other ghosts, like his mother, who had been alive when he left Ithaca, and one man of the crew.
Then Odysseus saw the ghost of the prophet. The prophet recognized Odysseus and asked him what he was doing at Hades's house and told him to back away from the offering so that he could drink it. When Teiresias had finished drinking, he told Odysseus that God would make his journey home difficult because Poseidon was mad at him for blinding Polyphemus. Despite this fact, Teiresias said that Odysseus would still make it home, but he will have suffered a lot before that time. The prophet said that Odysseus and his men would find themselves on the island of Thrinacia, which is where Helios kept his cattle and sheep. If Odysseus and his men did not touch Helios's herds, then they would all make it home safely. If not, then Odysseus would still make it home, but his crew and ships would not. Odysseus would then arrive home late in someone else's ship to find men in his house forcing his wife to marry one of them. The prophet said that Odysseus would kill them all, however. After doing that, Odysseus must sail until he finds a country where the people do not know the sea and do not add salt to their food. When he gets there, Odysseus must make a sacrifice to Poseidon of a ram, a bull, and a boar-pig. This would reconcile him with Poseidon. Teiresias said that Odysseus would die at sea when age was his "only burden". The prophet also told Odysseus that any ghost he let drink from the sacrifice would tell him the truth, but if he didn't, then they would go away.
Odysseus let his mother's ghost drink from the sacrifice and she asked him what he was doing in the Land of the Dead. Odysseus said that he was coming home from Troy and he got lost and was still trying to make his way home from Ithaca. He asked his mother why she had died. She replied that she was so sad that he was gone, that she had died of grief. Odysseus's wife was still at home, but he days were filled with tears. His father was still alive, but stays in the country. When Odysseus heard this, he was very sad and wanted to hug his mother, but he couldn't because he was only talking to her spirit, not her body.
During their conversation, a group of women had surrounded Odysseus and his mother, wanting to taste the sacrifice. First Odysseus met Tryo, who gave birth to Pelias and Neleus, then Antiope, who's sons created the stronghold of Thebes. Next came Alcemene, who was Heraclese's mother, then there was Epicaste, Chloris, Pero, Leda, Iphimedeia, Phaidra, Procris, Ariadne, Maira, Clymene, and Eriphyle. Odysseus stopped his story, saying that he could not name all that he saw and that it was time for bed anyway.
Arete and Alkinoos asked Odysseus to stay another day so that they could hear the rest of his story. Odysseus agreed to stay another day and Alkinoos commended Odysseus for his wisdom and asked him if he had seen any of his comrades from Troy there. Odysseus said that he saw Agamemnon who told his story of his travel home and his murder by Agisthos. Agamemnon lamented his death and bemoaned his wife's turn of loyalty. Agamemnon asked about his son, Orestes, and how he was. Odysseus said that he did not know and told him that it is not good to babble.
Odysseus saw Achilles. Achilles asked how his his father his son were. Odysseus replied that he hadn't heard anything of Achilles's father, but his son, Neoptolemos had fought with Odysseus, and that he was an excellent soldier and that he wasn't wounded at all when he came out of the wooden horse at Troy. After Achilles heard this, he walked away, happy that his son had made a mark on the world. After his talk with Achilles, Odysseus wanted to see the rest of the dead. He saw in the Fields of Punishment Tytos, Tantalus, and Sisyphos. In asphodel Odysseus saw Orion and Heracles. After a while, Odysseus decided to go back to his ship because he was scared that Persephone might send a monster after Odysseus.
Then Odysseus saw the ghost of the prophet. The prophet recognized Odysseus and asked him what he was doing at Hades's house and told him to back away from the offering so that he could drink it. When Teiresias had finished drinking, he told Odysseus that God would make his journey home difficult because Poseidon was mad at him for blinding Polyphemus. Despite this fact, Teiresias said that Odysseus would still make it home, but he will have suffered a lot before that time. The prophet said that Odysseus and his men would find themselves on the island of Thrinacia, which is where Helios kept his cattle and sheep. If Odysseus and his men did not touch Helios's herds, then they would all make it home safely. If not, then Odysseus would still make it home, but his crew and ships would not. Odysseus would then arrive home late in someone else's ship to find men in his house forcing his wife to marry one of them. The prophet said that Odysseus would kill them all, however. After doing that, Odysseus must sail until he finds a country where the people do not know the sea and do not add salt to their food. When he gets there, Odysseus must make a sacrifice to Poseidon of a ram, a bull, and a boar-pig. This would reconcile him with Poseidon. Teiresias said that Odysseus would die at sea when age was his "only burden". The prophet also told Odysseus that any ghost he let drink from the sacrifice would tell him the truth, but if he didn't, then they would go away.
Odysseus let his mother's ghost drink from the sacrifice and she asked him what he was doing in the Land of the Dead. Odysseus said that he was coming home from Troy and he got lost and was still trying to make his way home from Ithaca. He asked his mother why she had died. She replied that she was so sad that he was gone, that she had died of grief. Odysseus's wife was still at home, but he days were filled with tears. His father was still alive, but stays in the country. When Odysseus heard this, he was very sad and wanted to hug his mother, but he couldn't because he was only talking to her spirit, not her body.
During their conversation, a group of women had surrounded Odysseus and his mother, wanting to taste the sacrifice. First Odysseus met Tryo, who gave birth to Pelias and Neleus, then Antiope, who's sons created the stronghold of Thebes. Next came Alcemene, who was Heraclese's mother, then there was Epicaste, Chloris, Pero, Leda, Iphimedeia, Phaidra, Procris, Ariadne, Maira, Clymene, and Eriphyle. Odysseus stopped his story, saying that he could not name all that he saw and that it was time for bed anyway.
Arete and Alkinoos asked Odysseus to stay another day so that they could hear the rest of his story. Odysseus agreed to stay another day and Alkinoos commended Odysseus for his wisdom and asked him if he had seen any of his comrades from Troy there. Odysseus said that he saw Agamemnon who told his story of his travel home and his murder by Agisthos. Agamemnon lamented his death and bemoaned his wife's turn of loyalty. Agamemnon asked about his son, Orestes, and how he was. Odysseus said that he did not know and told him that it is not good to babble.
Odysseus saw Achilles. Achilles asked how his his father his son were. Odysseus replied that he hadn't heard anything of Achilles's father, but his son, Neoptolemos had fought with Odysseus, and that he was an excellent soldier and that he wasn't wounded at all when he came out of the wooden horse at Troy. After Achilles heard this, he walked away, happy that his son had made a mark on the world. After his talk with Achilles, Odysseus wanted to see the rest of the dead. He saw in the Fields of Punishment Tytos, Tantalus, and Sisyphos. In asphodel Odysseus saw Orion and Heracles. After a while, Odysseus decided to go back to his ship because he was scared that Persephone might send a monster after Odysseus.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 10 Characters
Aiolos Hippotades: the king of The Island of the Winds, tries to help Odysseus get home, but the crew's greed spoil it
Antiphates: the king of the Giants, tries to kill Odysseus and his men to eat them
Eurylochos: one of the men that Odysseus sends on the first expedition on Aiaia, he is the only one on that trip who is not turned into a pig
Circe: a sorceress that changes men into animals, hosted Odysseus and his men for a year before she told them to go to the Underworld to visit the house of Hades
Antiphates: the king of the Giants, tries to kill Odysseus and his men to eat them
Eurylochos: one of the men that Odysseus sends on the first expedition on Aiaia, he is the only one on that trip who is not turned into a pig
Circe: a sorceress that changes men into animals, hosted Odysseus and his men for a year before she told them to go to the Underworld to visit the house of Hades
The Odyssey - Book 10 Summary
Next, Odysseus and his men came to the island of Aiolos Hippotades. There the men spent a month, feasting with the king and his family. When Odysseus finally decided to leave the king's company, he asked for help. The king killed an ox and made it into a bag. In this bag he stored winds that would push Odyseus's ship back towards Ithaca.
The men set off, with Odysseus sailing so that they could get home as soon as possible. After ten days of sailing, they could finally see Ithaca again. That night, Odysseus fell asleep while steering, as he had not slept since they left Hippotades. His men started wondering what was in the bag that Odysseus had been given. They decided to take a look and see, and if it was gold to take some. When the men opened the bag, the wind that came out pushed them all the way back to King Hippotades's house. Odysseus approached the king, and apologized and asked for more help. The king was outraged that Odysseus and his men would dishonor the gods like this.
So, Odysseus and his men sailed on, lost again. After seven days of sailing, they reached a place where night and day came and went quickly. The ships entered a harbor, and Odysseus sent two men ahead to see who the natives of the land were. When they entered the castle of the rulers, they found the queen, who summoned her husband from a town meeting. They were both giants, and grabbed the men to eat for supper. Two got away, but the other was not as fortunate. The men ran back to the ships under fire of rocks thrown by the giants. Odysseus loaded as many people as he could on his ship and sailed away, leaving some of the others.
The next island the one remaining ship reached was Aiaia, where Circe lived. Odysseus pulled his boat into the harbor, and the men sat there lamenting the loss of their companions for two days. On the third day, Odysseus decided to go hunting in the woods. There, he managed to bring down a stag which he carried back to the ship. This lightened to the mood of the men and they all gathered to eat the animal. After they had finished eating, Odysseus split the remaining men into two groups. One, captained by Eurylochos was sent to explore if anyone lived on the island.
Eurylochos's group set off and soon found the house of Circe in a dell. Around her house were wolves and lions that approached the men, but did not harm them. These animals happened to be men that Circe had lured into her home and bewitched them into forgetting their homes and turned them into animals. Odysseus's men heard the sound of Circe singing as she worked at her loom, and were entranced. All of them except Eurylochos decided to go and see who the singer was. They were welcomed in by Circe who offered them something to drink. Eurylochos hing back outside and watched, sensing a trap. Circe put drugs into the drinks of the men that made them forget their home. When they had, she taped each one woth her wand, turning them into pigs.
Eurylochos, seeing this, ran back to the ships to tell Odysseus. Eurylochos recounted the entire tale to Odysseus, who decided to go find Circe for himself. Before Odysseus entered the dell, Hermes appeared to Odysseus, warning him of his fate if he were to go any farther. Odysseus insisted that he must push on, so Hermes gave him a charm to protect him and told him how to avoid Circe's punishments. The charm would protect Odysseus from the drugs and Circe's magic. To make Circe afraid of him, he must rush at her with his sword as if he were going to kill her. At this, Hermes said she would ask Odysseus to sleep with her, but must make her promise first that she would never try to do any harm to him. This being said, Hermes left Odysseus on his own.
Circe welcomed Odysseus into her house, and offered him the usual drugged drink. After tapping him with her wand, Odysseus did what Hermes sid and rushed at her with his sword. At this, Circe fell to her knees and said that he must be Odysseus if he could withstand her magic. She asked him then to put his sword away and sleep with her instead. Odysseus remembered what Hermes had said, and made Circe promise not to do Odysseus any harm first.
When Odysseus still didn't eat, she asked him why, as she had promised not to hurt Odysseus. Odysseus said that he had no apatite for food when his friends were prisoners. Circe opened the pen where Odysseus's former men were, and turned them back into men, but younger then they were before. Circe then told Odysseus to bring up the rest of his men from the shore and let them stay in her house.
When Odysseus reached his ship again, his men were overjoyed at seeing him again. When Odysseus told them that they were going to stay with Circe, they were wary, but eventually agreed. When they reached Circe's house again, she gave them all baths and gave them food. Odysseus stayed on Circe's island for a year, when at last one of Odysseus's men reminded them that they still had a home in Ithaca they needed to go to. That night, Odysseus asked Circe to help him get home. She agreed and told first he must go to Hades's house first. This made Odysseus sad and he sobbed on the floor, but when recovered, Circe told him how to get there.
The next morning, Odysseus awakened his men and told them the plan of going to the house of Hades. The crew was also depressed with the news of the extra voyage, but Odysseus told them it must be done. They gathered their things, and then headed toward their ship to sail away.
The men set off, with Odysseus sailing so that they could get home as soon as possible. After ten days of sailing, they could finally see Ithaca again. That night, Odysseus fell asleep while steering, as he had not slept since they left Hippotades. His men started wondering what was in the bag that Odysseus had been given. They decided to take a look and see, and if it was gold to take some. When the men opened the bag, the wind that came out pushed them all the way back to King Hippotades's house. Odysseus approached the king, and apologized and asked for more help. The king was outraged that Odysseus and his men would dishonor the gods like this.
So, Odysseus and his men sailed on, lost again. After seven days of sailing, they reached a place where night and day came and went quickly. The ships entered a harbor, and Odysseus sent two men ahead to see who the natives of the land were. When they entered the castle of the rulers, they found the queen, who summoned her husband from a town meeting. They were both giants, and grabbed the men to eat for supper. Two got away, but the other was not as fortunate. The men ran back to the ships under fire of rocks thrown by the giants. Odysseus loaded as many people as he could on his ship and sailed away, leaving some of the others.
The next island the one remaining ship reached was Aiaia, where Circe lived. Odysseus pulled his boat into the harbor, and the men sat there lamenting the loss of their companions for two days. On the third day, Odysseus decided to go hunting in the woods. There, he managed to bring down a stag which he carried back to the ship. This lightened to the mood of the men and they all gathered to eat the animal. After they had finished eating, Odysseus split the remaining men into two groups. One, captained by Eurylochos was sent to explore if anyone lived on the island.
Eurylochos's group set off and soon found the house of Circe in a dell. Around her house were wolves and lions that approached the men, but did not harm them. These animals happened to be men that Circe had lured into her home and bewitched them into forgetting their homes and turned them into animals. Odysseus's men heard the sound of Circe singing as she worked at her loom, and were entranced. All of them except Eurylochos decided to go and see who the singer was. They were welcomed in by Circe who offered them something to drink. Eurylochos hing back outside and watched, sensing a trap. Circe put drugs into the drinks of the men that made them forget their home. When they had, she taped each one woth her wand, turning them into pigs.
Eurylochos, seeing this, ran back to the ships to tell Odysseus. Eurylochos recounted the entire tale to Odysseus, who decided to go find Circe for himself. Before Odysseus entered the dell, Hermes appeared to Odysseus, warning him of his fate if he were to go any farther. Odysseus insisted that he must push on, so Hermes gave him a charm to protect him and told him how to avoid Circe's punishments. The charm would protect Odysseus from the drugs and Circe's magic. To make Circe afraid of him, he must rush at her with his sword as if he were going to kill her. At this, Hermes said she would ask Odysseus to sleep with her, but must make her promise first that she would never try to do any harm to him. This being said, Hermes left Odysseus on his own.
Circe welcomed Odysseus into her house, and offered him the usual drugged drink. After tapping him with her wand, Odysseus did what Hermes sid and rushed at her with his sword. At this, Circe fell to her knees and said that he must be Odysseus if he could withstand her magic. She asked him then to put his sword away and sleep with her instead. Odysseus remembered what Hermes had said, and made Circe promise not to do Odysseus any harm first.
When Odysseus still didn't eat, she asked him why, as she had promised not to hurt Odysseus. Odysseus said that he had no apatite for food when his friends were prisoners. Circe opened the pen where Odysseus's former men were, and turned them back into men, but younger then they were before. Circe then told Odysseus to bring up the rest of his men from the shore and let them stay in her house.
When Odysseus reached his ship again, his men were overjoyed at seeing him again. When Odysseus told them that they were going to stay with Circe, they were wary, but eventually agreed. When they reached Circe's house again, she gave them all baths and gave them food. Odysseus stayed on Circe's island for a year, when at last one of Odysseus's men reminded them that they still had a home in Ithaca they needed to go to. That night, Odysseus asked Circe to help him get home. She agreed and told first he must go to Hades's house first. This made Odysseus sad and he sobbed on the floor, but when recovered, Circe told him how to get there.
The next morning, Odysseus awakened his men and told them the plan of going to the house of Hades. The crew was also depressed with the news of the extra voyage, but Odysseus told them it must be done. They gathered their things, and then headed toward their ship to sail away.
The Odysseys - Book 9 Characters
Ciconians: people in a village that Odysseus went to, they drove him out after killing all the men in one part of the town
The Lotus-Eaters: a group of people who ate lotuses that made you happy and forget about all your old priorities - in Odysseus's men's case going home to Ithaca
Polyphemus: son of Poseidon, cyclops who lives on a flat island, traps Odysseus and intends to eat him (Cyclopians also referred to as "the Goggle-eyes")
The Lotus-Eaters: a group of people who ate lotuses that made you happy and forget about all your old priorities - in Odysseus's men's case going home to Ithaca
Polyphemus: son of Poseidon, cyclops who lives on a flat island, traps Odysseus and intends to eat him (Cyclopians also referred to as "the Goggle-eyes")
The Odyssey - Book 9 Summary
At the end of the last book, Odysseus was asked to tell his story about where he came from. Up to this point in the book, Odysseus had not revealed his actual name to King Alcinoos. Odysseus starts by telling the men there that he was Odysseus from Ithaca who fought at Troy. Odysseus starts his story when he left Troy and landed on the island of Ciconians. After they were driven out by a neighboring town, they sailed for nine days, lost, til they landed on the land of the lotus-eaters. Odysseus sent two men and a speaker to talk to find out who the natives were. Soon, they came across one of the lotus-eaters, who offered Odysseus's men a lotus. As soon as the men tasted the lotus, they forgot all about their journey home to Ithaca. Odysseus found then and brought them back to the ship . He ordered the rest of the crew on the ship so that they wouldn't taste the lotus. Odysseus quickly left the island and continued sailing.
Their next stop was the island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus landed his ships in a cyclops-free harbor. Here the men killed some of the sheep there to eat. The next morning, Odysseus decided to take one of the ships in his fleet around the island to find some of the cyclopes to try to talk to them. Odysseus set off and soon found another harbor and the cave of a cyclops. Odysseus walked up to the cave looked inside. The cyclops wasn't there, so Odysseus and his men made a fire and ate some of his cheese. Soon the Cyclops came back to his cave and herded his sheep in. When the cyclops saw Odysseus, he asked Odysseus who he was and where he came from. Odysseus answered that they were Achaians coming home from Troy. Odysseus asked the cyclops to welcome like a stranger, which Polyphemus laughed at. Polyphemus rolled a giant stone in front of the entrance so that no one besides him could get in or out. Then, he grabbed two of Odysseus's men and ate them. The next morning, Polyphemus ate two more men and then herded his sheep outside. As he left, Polyphemus rolled the stone back in front of the entrance.
While he was gone, Odysseus devised a plan. He took part of a giant log that Polyphemus was planning to us as a staff and sharpened the end of it to a point and hid it among the manure on the floor. When Polyphemus came home again that night, he herded his sheep in and rolled the stone back. The cyclops ate two more men. When he was finished, Odysseus offered him a cup of the wine he had brought with him as provisions. The wine was so good that Polyphemus asked for two more glasses. When he was drunk, the cyclops asked Odysseus what his name was, to which Odysseus replied that his name was Noman. Then, the Cyclops fell asleep. While he was sleeping, Odysseus took his log out of the manure and stuck the end in the fire. After the tip started to catch on fire, the men brought the log over to Polyphemus and stuck it in his eye, rendering him blind. Polyphemus woke up with a start and pulled the wood from his eye, roaring in pain. Hearing his cries, other cyclopes came and asked Polyphemus what he was yelling about and if someone had hurt him, to which he replied that Noman had hurt him. Hearing that nobody had harmed Polyphemus, the other cyclopes went away.
The next morning, Odysseus and his remaining men hid under the cyclops's sheep as he herded them outside and made it out of the cave undetected. The men made it to their boat in the harbor, and were sailing away when Odysseus turned around and teased Polyphemus. Polyphemus picked up a giant rock and hurled it at Odysseus's general direction. The rock landed ahead of the ship and the resulting wave pushed the boat back to shore. The men started to sail away again, and Odysseus again felt the need to shout. He called out to Polyphemus saying that if anyone ever asked who blinded him, tell them that Odysseus of Ithaca did it. At this, Polyphemus prayed to his father, Poseidon, to kill Odysseus on his voyage home, and if he doesn't die, to make his journey long, hard, and painful.
Odysseus sailed back to the original harbor where he had landed his ships and rejoined with the rest of his fleet.
Their next stop was the island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus landed his ships in a cyclops-free harbor. Here the men killed some of the sheep there to eat. The next morning, Odysseus decided to take one of the ships in his fleet around the island to find some of the cyclopes to try to talk to them. Odysseus set off and soon found another harbor and the cave of a cyclops. Odysseus walked up to the cave looked inside. The cyclops wasn't there, so Odysseus and his men made a fire and ate some of his cheese. Soon the Cyclops came back to his cave and herded his sheep in. When the cyclops saw Odysseus, he asked Odysseus who he was and where he came from. Odysseus answered that they were Achaians coming home from Troy. Odysseus asked the cyclops to welcome like a stranger, which Polyphemus laughed at. Polyphemus rolled a giant stone in front of the entrance so that no one besides him could get in or out. Then, he grabbed two of Odysseus's men and ate them. The next morning, Polyphemus ate two more men and then herded his sheep outside. As he left, Polyphemus rolled the stone back in front of the entrance.
While he was gone, Odysseus devised a plan. He took part of a giant log that Polyphemus was planning to us as a staff and sharpened the end of it to a point and hid it among the manure on the floor. When Polyphemus came home again that night, he herded his sheep in and rolled the stone back. The cyclops ate two more men. When he was finished, Odysseus offered him a cup of the wine he had brought with him as provisions. The wine was so good that Polyphemus asked for two more glasses. When he was drunk, the cyclops asked Odysseus what his name was, to which Odysseus replied that his name was Noman. Then, the Cyclops fell asleep. While he was sleeping, Odysseus took his log out of the manure and stuck the end in the fire. After the tip started to catch on fire, the men brought the log over to Polyphemus and stuck it in his eye, rendering him blind. Polyphemus woke up with a start and pulled the wood from his eye, roaring in pain. Hearing his cries, other cyclopes came and asked Polyphemus what he was yelling about and if someone had hurt him, to which he replied that Noman had hurt him. Hearing that nobody had harmed Polyphemus, the other cyclopes went away.
The next morning, Odysseus and his remaining men hid under the cyclops's sheep as he herded them outside and made it out of the cave undetected. The men made it to their boat in the harbor, and were sailing away when Odysseus turned around and teased Polyphemus. Polyphemus picked up a giant rock and hurled it at Odysseus's general direction. The rock landed ahead of the ship and the resulting wave pushed the boat back to shore. The men started to sail away again, and Odysseus again felt the need to shout. He called out to Polyphemus saying that if anyone ever asked who blinded him, tell them that Odysseus of Ithaca did it. At this, Polyphemus prayed to his father, Poseidon, to kill Odysseus on his voyage home, and if he doesn't die, to make his journey long, hard, and painful.
Odysseus sailed back to the original harbor where he had landed his ships and rejoined with the rest of his fleet.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 8 Characters
Laodamas: son of Alcinoos
Demodocos: a blind minstrel who sang of the Battle of Troy
Broadsea: a citizen of Phaiacia who offends Odysseus
Demodocos: a blind minstrel who sang of the Battle of Troy
Broadsea: a citizen of Phaiacia who offends Odysseus
The Odyssey - Book 8 Summary
The next morning, Alcinoos rose Odysseus and led him to the Parliament Square. Athena, in the shape of the king's herald, went around the city telling the people to come to the parliament to hear about the stranger that showed up at the palace the previous day. Soon the whole square was full of people. Alcinoos introduced Odysseus to the crowd and said Odysseus had asked him to help Odysseus to get back to Ithaca. Alcinoos asked the crowd for 52 oarsmen and for them to prepare a boat and when they had finished that, to come back to the palace. Alcinoos then ordered for the minstrel Demodocos to be brought to his house.
When everyone was back at the palace, they feasted. After the meal, they listened to the minstrel sing the stories of famous men. The first song they listened to was the Choral of Odysseus and Achilles. When Odysseus heard this he pulled his robe over his head and he cried. No one noticed his crying except Alcinoos. After a while, Alcinoos stopped the minstrel from sing and suggested they play outdoor activities. Everyone rose and went outside to the grounds. Odysseus watched as men competed in activities such as footraces, wrestling, jumping, discus, and boxing. After they had finished, the king's son, Laodamas, suggested that they invite Odysseus into the competitions. Laodamas walked up to Odysseus and offered for him to join. Oddysseus said that Laodamas was making fun of him as Odysseus's mind was more set on getting home than on playing games. At this, Broadsea, said that Odysseus did not really look like the athletic type anyways. This made Odysseus mad, and he said that if a man's words are beautiful than his face is not, and if his face was beautiful, then his words were not. He named Broadsea as one of those people with not a lot going on in the attic. When he had finished, Odysseus stood up and took the heaviest weight and threw it farther than anyone else had thrown any other stone. After the disagreements were settled, Alcinoos called for Demodocos to be brought outside so that the group could dance. This time, Demodocos sung of the time when Aphrodite cheated on Hephaestus with Ares. Odysseus was delighted with the story and by the impressive dancing.
When one of the princes overheard this, he gathered his brothers and suggested that put together a gift of gold and clothing for Odysseus. At this point, the group heads inside for another feast. All of the gifts for Odysseus are gathered into a coffer and brought to him, where he locked the lid himself. While they were feasting, Odysseus asked Demodocos to sing the story of the Wooden Horse in the Battle of Troy. At the sound of the story, Odysseus started to cry again. Alcinoos once again told Demdocos to stop singing, and asked Odysseus what his name was, where he was from, and why he cries when hearing this story.
The Odyssey - Book 7 Characters
King Alcinoos: King of Phaiacia, offersOdysseus a boat to sail home in
Nausithoos: father of Alcinoos, son of Poseidon
Arete: Queen Phaiacia, neice of Alcinoos
Nausithoos: father of Alcinoos, son of Poseidon
Arete: Queen Phaiacia, neice of Alcinoos
The Odyssey - Book 7
Odysseus waited in the garden until it was almost time for dinner, when he headed into town. When he came across a girl holding a pitcher (who was really Athena), he asked her to take him to the castle of the King. She agreed, but told Odysseus not to talk to anyone on the way because the people in this country did not like strangers. Athena led Odysseus to the palace and on the way covered him with a thick mist so no one could see him. Soon they reached the castle and Athena told Odysseus to look for Queen Arete. If she liked Odysseus, then he would be given a ship and crew to sail home with. Odysseus walked inside, found Arete, threw his arms around her knees, and begged for her and her husband to help him. King Alcinoos held out his hand to Odysseus and led him to seat of honor and welcomed him to their banquet. After everyone had eaten, Alcinoos announced that the next morning he would call a meeting together of all of the men in the town to think about how to send Odysseus off. They finished their glasses, and then headed off to bed.
Before Odysseus was offered a bed, Arete had a question for him. As soon as she saw him, she recognized the clothes he was wearing and ones that she had made herself. Arete asked him who had given him the clothes if he was drifting out at sea, like he said he was. Odysseus recounted the story of Calypso and being trapped on her island, and then his journey to the palace. After his story was told, Alcinoos guaranteed Odysseus an escort home, saying that his ships could take him where ever he wanted to with no trouble at all. Odysseus thanked Alcinoos and prayed to Zeus and asked him to spread the fame of Alcinoos over the entire earth. Arete then told her servants to make a bed for Odysseus. After this was done, everyone went to sleep.
Before Odysseus was offered a bed, Arete had a question for him. As soon as she saw him, she recognized the clothes he was wearing and ones that she had made herself. Arete asked him who had given him the clothes if he was drifting out at sea, like he said he was. Odysseus recounted the story of Calypso and being trapped on her island, and then his journey to the palace. After his story was told, Alcinoos guaranteed Odysseus an escort home, saying that his ships could take him where ever he wanted to with no trouble at all. Odysseus thanked Alcinoos and prayed to Zeus and asked him to spread the fame of Alcinoos over the entire earth. Arete then told her servants to make a bed for Odysseus. After this was done, everyone went to sleep.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 5 Characters
Hermes: the messenger god, is sent to Calypso from Zeus to tell her that she needs to let Odysseus go
Calypso: the nymph that captured Odysseus on her island, Odysseus sets sail from there in this book
Ino: Cadmus's daughter, once human but now lives in the sea, helped Odysseus get to land during Poseidon's storm
Calypso: the nymph that captured Odysseus on her island, Odysseus sets sail from there in this book
Ino: Cadmus's daughter, once human but now lives in the sea, helped Odysseus get to land during Poseidon's storm
The Odyssey - Book 5 Summary
Book Five opens on Athena asking her father, Zeus, to help free Odysseus and save Telemachus from the suitors. Zeus said he would, and said that Odysseus would sail on a raft for twenty days, and on the twentieth, he would reach Scheria, where he would be given a good ship and crew to sail home with. Zeus then sent Hermes down to Calypso to tell her the gods' decree. Hermes put on his winged shoes, and flew down to Calypso's island. There, Hermes was in awe of the lush forest and the beauty of the island. Once he had his fill of the landscape, he went to find Calypso. When Hermes found her, she sat him down and gave him a meal of ambrosia and wine. Calypso asked Hermes why he visited her, to which he answered that Zeus made him come to tell Calypso that she must free Odysseus. Calypso was mad and said that just because she slept with a mortal, the gods are punishing her. However, because it was Zeus's command, she agreed to let Odysseus go home, but she could not provide him with a ship or crew. Before Hermes left, he advised Calypso not to make Zeus angry, and to steer clear of his wrath.
After this conversation, Calypso found Odysseus and told him the news. She gave him tools to use to cut down trees to create a raft to sail in. When Odysseus first heard the news, he did not believe it. He said that Calypso must make a binding oath that she was not trying to trick him. Calypso laughed and swore, with Earth as her witness, on the skies above and the River Styx below that she was not trying to trap Odysseus. After this, the two headed inside to eat. When finished, Calypso asked Odysseus why he was so eager to reach his home if his wife was no match for herself. Odysseus agreed that Calypso was more beautiful than Penelope, but he longed to go home.
The next morning, Calypso led Odysseus to the place where he could chop down trees for his raft. In four days, Odysseus had finished his boat. Calypso gave him a skin full of wine, and another of water, a new set of clothes, and a sack of rations. Odysseus sailed for seventeen days, but on the eighteenth, Poseidon returned from his trip to Ethiopia When he saw Odysseus sailing, he was outraged. Poseidon decided to give Odysseus more than his fair share of trouble. Poseidon created a storm that made it look like it was nighttime during the day. Odysseus was certain of his death when he saw the storm and wished he had died at Troy with his comrades instead of this. The storm destroyed Odysseus's boat and sent him over-board. The clothing that Calypso had given him weighed him down, but he was able to keep afloat enough so as not to die. Then, Ino saw him and pitied him. She rose to the surface of the waves and offered help to Odysseus. She told him to get rid of the clothes and tie her scarf around his waist. After this was done he should leave the wreck and swim towards shore. Odysseus did not trust her, so he made a deal with himself. He would continue to hold on to the boat until it is smashed to pieces, and then he will swim to shore.
When Odysseus started swimming for shore, Poseidon started laughing at his efforts. Athena replied by calming all of the winds and stopping the storm. Odysseus swam for two days, until he could finally see the shore, about which he was overjoyed. Odysseus's happiness was short lived, however, because he found out he would have to cross over jagged reefs to get to shore. Odysseus was at a loss of what to do. Again he thought he was surely dead, and would have been if not for Athena inspiring him. As a big wave pushed him towards the rocky coast, he reached for a reef and clung onto it with all his life. He was then sucked back out to sea by the undertow. Underneath the wave, Odysseus searched for a place that he could find safety, and found it in the form of a river outlet.
As he entered the river, Odysseus prayed to the river's god to have mercy on him and not to drown him in the current. The god obliged and stemmed the current while Odysseus climbed from the water. He lay down on the ground for a while, regaining his strength, and then he untied the scarf from his waist and threw it back into the water where Ino caught it. Odysseus turned towards the woods so that he could find a sheltered place where he could rest. Odysseus found two olive trees growing out of the same roots that would protect him from wild animals and the elements. Here, Odysseus lay down on a pile of leaves and finally fell to sleep.
After this conversation, Calypso found Odysseus and told him the news. She gave him tools to use to cut down trees to create a raft to sail in. When Odysseus first heard the news, he did not believe it. He said that Calypso must make a binding oath that she was not trying to trick him. Calypso laughed and swore, with Earth as her witness, on the skies above and the River Styx below that she was not trying to trap Odysseus. After this, the two headed inside to eat. When finished, Calypso asked Odysseus why he was so eager to reach his home if his wife was no match for herself. Odysseus agreed that Calypso was more beautiful than Penelope, but he longed to go home.
The next morning, Calypso led Odysseus to the place where he could chop down trees for his raft. In four days, Odysseus had finished his boat. Calypso gave him a skin full of wine, and another of water, a new set of clothes, and a sack of rations. Odysseus sailed for seventeen days, but on the eighteenth, Poseidon returned from his trip to Ethiopia When he saw Odysseus sailing, he was outraged. Poseidon decided to give Odysseus more than his fair share of trouble. Poseidon created a storm that made it look like it was nighttime during the day. Odysseus was certain of his death when he saw the storm and wished he had died at Troy with his comrades instead of this. The storm destroyed Odysseus's boat and sent him over-board. The clothing that Calypso had given him weighed him down, but he was able to keep afloat enough so as not to die. Then, Ino saw him and pitied him. She rose to the surface of the waves and offered help to Odysseus. She told him to get rid of the clothes and tie her scarf around his waist. After this was done he should leave the wreck and swim towards shore. Odysseus did not trust her, so he made a deal with himself. He would continue to hold on to the boat until it is smashed to pieces, and then he will swim to shore.
When Odysseus started swimming for shore, Poseidon started laughing at his efforts. Athena replied by calming all of the winds and stopping the storm. Odysseus swam for two days, until he could finally see the shore, about which he was overjoyed. Odysseus's happiness was short lived, however, because he found out he would have to cross over jagged reefs to get to shore. Odysseus was at a loss of what to do. Again he thought he was surely dead, and would have been if not for Athena inspiring him. As a big wave pushed him towards the rocky coast, he reached for a reef and clung onto it with all his life. He was then sucked back out to sea by the undertow. Underneath the wave, Odysseus searched for a place that he could find safety, and found it in the form of a river outlet.
As he entered the river, Odysseus prayed to the river's god to have mercy on him and not to drown him in the current. The god obliged and stemmed the current while Odysseus climbed from the water. He lay down on the ground for a while, regaining his strength, and then he untied the scarf from his waist and threw it back into the water where Ino caught it. Odysseus turned towards the woods so that he could find a sheltered place where he could rest. Odysseus found two olive trees growing out of the same roots that would protect him from wild animals and the elements. Here, Odysseus lay down on a pile of leaves and finally fell to sleep.
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 4 Characters
Helen of Argos: Menelaus's wife
Eidothea: Goddess, daughter of Proteus, helped Menelaus get home
Proteus: "Old Man of the Sea", servant of Poseidon, a prophet who always tells the truth
Antinous: the ringleader suitor, came up with the plan to kill Telemachus
Noemon: a man who lend Telemachus his ship and crew
Iphthime: Penelope's sister, a ghost of her created by Athena visits Penelope in a dream
Eidothea: Goddess, daughter of Proteus, helped Menelaus get home
Proteus: "Old Man of the Sea", servant of Poseidon, a prophet who always tells the truth
Antinous: the ringleader suitor, came up with the plan to kill Telemachus
Noemon: a man who lend Telemachus his ship and crew
Iphthime: Penelope's sister, a ghost of her created by Athena visits Penelope in a dream
The Odyssey - Book 4 Summary
The next morning, one of Nestor's sons and Telemachus arrive in Sparta. The king of Sparta, Menelaus, was hosting a double wedding and enjoying a feast in the palace. Telemachus and Nestor's son waited outside the gates until Menelaus invited then into the palace to share in the feast. They were seated at a table where bread and appetizers were served. The King welcomed them and told them to help themselves and would ask them later who they were and where were they from.
Once they finished eating, Menelaus described how he had collected all the riches and goods inside his palace. But while he was roaming the lands, a stranger had killed his brother, Agamemnon, so he had attained all this wealth but did not enjoy it. As much as he grieves for the lost of his brother and soldiers, he grieves, as well, for Odysseus. According to Menelaus, Odysseus had labored and achieved so much but it ended in suffering. At the sound of his father's name, Telemachus started crying and Menelaus at once recognized him as the son of Odysseus. After this, Menelaus's wife, Helen, appeared from her bedroom with a spindle and a basket of yarn for weaving. She asked her husband who the guests were and said surely one of them was the son of Odysseus. Menelaus agreed and said they did look similar. Nestor's son, Pisistratus said he indeed was the son of Odysseus and he had traveled here to hear news of his father's return home, but was too modest to ask. Menelaus was overjoyed to hear that the son of his dearest friend was in his house. Menelaus shared some memories of Odysseus and it made the whole group start to cry. To stop the sadness, Menelaus suggested they eat dinner. Helen decided to drug the wine with "heart's-ease" to prevent lighten the mood and stop everyone's tears. Helen and Menelaus shared stories about Odysseus until Telemachus suggested they go to bed.
The next morning, after everyone woke up, Menelaus asked Telemachus why he traveled so far to get to Sparta, to which Telemachus responded that he was searching for news of his father. Menelaus then told Telemachus the story of his own journey home. Menelaus had been marooned on an island off of Egypt and was eager to go home. Menelaus and his crew were stuck on an island for twenty days, when their food rations ran out. The crew would be stuck there still if Eidothea had not felt sympathy for Menelaus.
She appeared to him, and he asked what he could do to get home and which of the gods he made angry. The goddess said that the Proteus, the prophet who could not lie, would be able to answer his questions if Menelaus was able to capture him. In order to capture the Old Man of the Sea, Menelaus would have to wait until he came onto land and then ambush him. The next day, Menelaus chose three of his most capable of his crew members, and they headed toward the beach and hid under seal skins that Eidothea had lent him. When the old man emerged from the waves, Menelaus pinned him to the ground. The Proteus tried to shape shift to get away but Menelaus held him down. When the old man finally gave up, he asked why Menelaus had trapped him. Menelaus in turn asked him why he had not been able to sail home. The old man replied that he should have sacrificed and then set sail, as opposed to sailing, and then sacrificing. The Old Man of the Sea urged Menelaus to go back to Egypt and offer a sacrifice to Zeus and then sail home. After this, Menelaus asked the Proteus if any if the other Achaeans had reached their homes unarmed. The Old Man answered that many of them died including Menelaus's brother, and that one of them was still alive and, but was being held captive somewhere. This news crushed Menelaus and he wept, but after he had cried all his tears, the Proteus told Menelaus to stop get strive to get home, and if he hurries, he might be able to avenge his brother's death. After Menelaus's old pride returned, he asked Proteus who the third man, who was alive but a captive was, and the answer was Odysseus, who was trapped on Calypso's island, weeping to go home. After Menelaus had asked all of his questions, Proteus dove back into the ocean and swam away.
After this story was told, Menelaus asked Telemachus to stay with him for a week or two, at which time Menelaus would give Telemachus a "princely send-off". Telemachus asked Menelaus not to keep him so long, but instead for a few days, because his crew was waiting for him in Pylos. At the end of this discussion preparations were being made for that night's feast.
Meanwhile, in Odysseus's palace, the suitors were entertaining themselves by throwing spears, while Antinous sat apart watching. The man who lent Telemachus his boat, Noemon, approached Antinous and asked if he knew when Telemachus would be back, as Noemon needed to use his boat. Antinous was astonished, as he had thought that Telemachus was still on the island, hiding somewhere. With this information, Antinous headed back to Odysseus's house and brought all of the suitors together to have a meeting. Antinous suggested that they get a boat together and ambush Telemachus on his way home from his journey. The suitors roared their approval at this suggestion, and after this they went to bed.
Penelope, however, soon found out of the plan to kill her son. When she was told that her son had sailed off without telling her, and is now being plotted against, she collapsed and was speechless. The servant who told her the plans told Penelope that either by god or his own impulses, Telemachus left for Pylos to hear about his father's return. The queen began to cry, heartbroken. She asked Zeus why first she had to lose her brave husband, and now her only son. Then, the nurse who Telemachus had sworn to secrecy, confessed, saying Telemachus didn't want her to find out so that she wouldn't cry for him. This cured Penelope's grief, so she bathed and then prayed to Athena, asking her to save her son. In the main hall, the suitors put their plan into action by acquiring a ship and then set sail. In her bedroom, Penelope lay brooding and her mind wheeling, when she finally fell asleep. Athena then had an idea. She created a ghost in the form of Penelope's sister to talk to Penelope in her sleep. In the queen's dream, her sister inspires her with courage, saying that her son's escort to these foreign lands is none other than Athena. The queen asked about Odysseus, if he was alive, or dead. To this, the ghost replied that she could not tell the whole story. After this discussion, the ghost left, and Penelope was comforted.
Once they finished eating, Menelaus described how he had collected all the riches and goods inside his palace. But while he was roaming the lands, a stranger had killed his brother, Agamemnon, so he had attained all this wealth but did not enjoy it. As much as he grieves for the lost of his brother and soldiers, he grieves, as well, for Odysseus. According to Menelaus, Odysseus had labored and achieved so much but it ended in suffering. At the sound of his father's name, Telemachus started crying and Menelaus at once recognized him as the son of Odysseus. After this, Menelaus's wife, Helen, appeared from her bedroom with a spindle and a basket of yarn for weaving. She asked her husband who the guests were and said surely one of them was the son of Odysseus. Menelaus agreed and said they did look similar. Nestor's son, Pisistratus said he indeed was the son of Odysseus and he had traveled here to hear news of his father's return home, but was too modest to ask. Menelaus was overjoyed to hear that the son of his dearest friend was in his house. Menelaus shared some memories of Odysseus and it made the whole group start to cry. To stop the sadness, Menelaus suggested they eat dinner. Helen decided to drug the wine with "heart's-ease" to prevent lighten the mood and stop everyone's tears. Helen and Menelaus shared stories about Odysseus until Telemachus suggested they go to bed.
The next morning, after everyone woke up, Menelaus asked Telemachus why he traveled so far to get to Sparta, to which Telemachus responded that he was searching for news of his father. Menelaus then told Telemachus the story of his own journey home. Menelaus had been marooned on an island off of Egypt and was eager to go home. Menelaus and his crew were stuck on an island for twenty days, when their food rations ran out. The crew would be stuck there still if Eidothea had not felt sympathy for Menelaus.
She appeared to him, and he asked what he could do to get home and which of the gods he made angry. The goddess said that the Proteus, the prophet who could not lie, would be able to answer his questions if Menelaus was able to capture him. In order to capture the Old Man of the Sea, Menelaus would have to wait until he came onto land and then ambush him. The next day, Menelaus chose three of his most capable of his crew members, and they headed toward the beach and hid under seal skins that Eidothea had lent him. When the old man emerged from the waves, Menelaus pinned him to the ground. The Proteus tried to shape shift to get away but Menelaus held him down. When the old man finally gave up, he asked why Menelaus had trapped him. Menelaus in turn asked him why he had not been able to sail home. The old man replied that he should have sacrificed and then set sail, as opposed to sailing, and then sacrificing. The Old Man of the Sea urged Menelaus to go back to Egypt and offer a sacrifice to Zeus and then sail home. After this, Menelaus asked the Proteus if any if the other Achaeans had reached their homes unarmed. The Old Man answered that many of them died including Menelaus's brother, and that one of them was still alive and, but was being held captive somewhere. This news crushed Menelaus and he wept, but after he had cried all his tears, the Proteus told Menelaus to stop get strive to get home, and if he hurries, he might be able to avenge his brother's death. After Menelaus's old pride returned, he asked Proteus who the third man, who was alive but a captive was, and the answer was Odysseus, who was trapped on Calypso's island, weeping to go home. After Menelaus had asked all of his questions, Proteus dove back into the ocean and swam away.
After this story was told, Menelaus asked Telemachus to stay with him for a week or two, at which time Menelaus would give Telemachus a "princely send-off". Telemachus asked Menelaus not to keep him so long, but instead for a few days, because his crew was waiting for him in Pylos. At the end of this discussion preparations were being made for that night's feast.
Meanwhile, in Odysseus's palace, the suitors were entertaining themselves by throwing spears, while Antinous sat apart watching. The man who lent Telemachus his boat, Noemon, approached Antinous and asked if he knew when Telemachus would be back, as Noemon needed to use his boat. Antinous was astonished, as he had thought that Telemachus was still on the island, hiding somewhere. With this information, Antinous headed back to Odysseus's house and brought all of the suitors together to have a meeting. Antinous suggested that they get a boat together and ambush Telemachus on his way home from his journey. The suitors roared their approval at this suggestion, and after this they went to bed.
Penelope, however, soon found out of the plan to kill her son. When she was told that her son had sailed off without telling her, and is now being plotted against, she collapsed and was speechless. The servant who told her the plans told Penelope that either by god or his own impulses, Telemachus left for Pylos to hear about his father's return. The queen began to cry, heartbroken. She asked Zeus why first she had to lose her brave husband, and now her only son. Then, the nurse who Telemachus had sworn to secrecy, confessed, saying Telemachus didn't want her to find out so that she wouldn't cry for him. This cured Penelope's grief, so she bathed and then prayed to Athena, asking her to save her son. In the main hall, the suitors put their plan into action by acquiring a ship and then set sail. In her bedroom, Penelope lay brooding and her mind wheeling, when she finally fell asleep. Athena then had an idea. She created a ghost in the form of Penelope's sister to talk to Penelope in her sleep. In the queen's dream, her sister inspires her with courage, saying that her son's escort to these foreign lands is none other than Athena. The queen asked about Odysseus, if he was alive, or dead. To this, the ghost replied that she could not tell the whole story. After this discussion, the ghost left, and Penelope was comforted.
The Odyssey - Book 3 Characters
Neleus: Nestor's father, previous ruler of Pylos
Nestor: current ruler of Pylos, fought at the Trojan war with Odysseus
Pisistratus: one of Nestor's sons, accompanies Telemachus to Sparta
Orestes: son of Agamemnon, killer of Aegisthus
Menelaus: king of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, friend of Odysseus
Aegisthus: stole Agamemnon's wife while he was at war, and then killed Agamemnon when he returned home.
Nestor: current ruler of Pylos, fought at the Trojan war with Odysseus
Pisistratus: one of Nestor's sons, accompanies Telemachus to Sparta
Orestes: son of Agamemnon, killer of Aegisthus
Menelaus: king of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, friend of Odysseus
Aegisthus: stole Agamemnon's wife while he was at war, and then killed Agamemnon when he returned home.
The Odyssey - Book 3 Summary
As the sun rose, Telemachus's ship arrived at Pylos, where the people sat on the beaches and sacrificed bulls to Poseidon. They docked the ship and then got off the ship, with Telemachus last. Athena urged Telemachus to be brave, and reminded him of their purpose there. Telemachus was nervous about finding the right words to say, but Athena reassured him that he would find half of the words within himself, and the rest he would be inspired to say. Athena, in the shape of Mentor, then led Telemachus to the meeting place of the Pylians. Nestor, the king sat there, surrounded by his friends, family, and the food of the banquet.
As soon as Nestor saw the strangers, he welcomed them to eat, and urged them to sit down. Nestor then passed things to Telemachus and Athena to be offered to the gods as a sacrifice. Nestor then asked Athena to say a prayer to Poseidon, and then pass the cup with the offerings in it to Telemachus, so he could thank the gods as well. Athena prayed to Poseidon, asking for glory to Nestor, his sons, and his people, and to get Athena and Telemachus safely home. Telemachus then repeated her prayer.
After the sacrifices here made, the crowd started feasting, and Nestor asked Athena and Telemachus who they were and where they were from. Telemachus answered saying that he was Odysseus's son, and that he was on a mission to gain news about his father's return home. Nestor replied saying that Telemachus's request brought back awful memories of the time during the Trojan War. Many men died, such as Ajax, Achilles, Patroclus, and Nestor's son, as well. For nine years, Nestor and his allies fought against the Trojans, with Odysseus excelling at strategy. At the end of the war, there was a fight about how to go home. Agamemnon wanted to stay there, to apease Athena's wrath, but Menelaus and Nestor wanted to go home right away. At dawn, half of the leaders sailed away with their troops, while the others stayed behind. However, Zeus did not intend for them to return quickly, as there was soon a huge storm. Odysseus and a few others turned their ships around and sailed back, but Nestor continued forward. The remaining men asked for a sign, and a path home was shown to them. Finally Nestor made it home, but he had no idea what had happened to the others.
After this, Telemachus then goes on to talk about the suitors that infest his house. Nestor asks Telemachus why he puts up with e suitors, and that if Odysseus ever came home, he would take revenge. If only, said Nestor, the Athena would care for Telemachus like she cared for Odysseus. Then, all of the suitors would leave forever. Telemachus said that this would never happen (that Odysseus would come home and the suitors would leave), but Athena cut in and said that it is easy for a god to save a mortal and that she would rather take years coming home, rather than speed home, and then be killed there. Telemachus then suggested that they didn't speak of Odysseus anymore, but instead asked Nestor how Agamemnon died.
Nestor agreed to tell the story. While Agamemnon was at war, Aegisthus was at home, and started trying to talk and get closer to Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra. At first the queen pushed Aegisthus away, but soon, Aegisthus took Clytemnestra to his own castle, and she began cheating on her husband. Aegisthus ruled for seven years, but on the eigth year, Agamemnon's son, Orestes, killed Aegisthus. After this story, Nestor warned Telemachus not to go away from home for too long, but suggested that he still see Menelaus to ask him about Odysseus. Nestor offered the use of some of his chariots to make the trip to Sparta by land. Athena then suggested that they head to bed to prepare for their journey tomorrow. Nestor offered a bed to Telemachus and Mentor (Athena in disguise), but Athena declined. She said that she would stay with the crew and give them orders because she was the only veteran and Telemachus could sleep in Nestor's palace. After that discussion, Athena turned into an eagle and flew away.
King Nestor was amazed and said to Telemachus that he should never be afraid because at this age the gods already guard him. To Athena he asked for good fortune and in return he would sacrifice a cow to Athena. They all went inside the palace and Nestor prepared the sacrifice. Nestor gave Telemachus a bed and they all went to sleep.
The next morning the cow was brought into the hall and gold was poured onto its horns. Athena came as well to watch this sacrifice be performed. One of Nestor's sons stood ready with an axe while another son held a bowl for the blood. Nestor began to pray and when he was finished, his son chopped the cow's head off. They collected certain parts of the cow and burned them as sacrifice to Athena. After that they cooked and ate the rest of the meat of the cow. Nestor then put together a chariot and a team for Telemachus so he could go to Sparta the next day.
As soon as Nestor saw the strangers, he welcomed them to eat, and urged them to sit down. Nestor then passed things to Telemachus and Athena to be offered to the gods as a sacrifice. Nestor then asked Athena to say a prayer to Poseidon, and then pass the cup with the offerings in it to Telemachus, so he could thank the gods as well. Athena prayed to Poseidon, asking for glory to Nestor, his sons, and his people, and to get Athena and Telemachus safely home. Telemachus then repeated her prayer.
After the sacrifices here made, the crowd started feasting, and Nestor asked Athena and Telemachus who they were and where they were from. Telemachus answered saying that he was Odysseus's son, and that he was on a mission to gain news about his father's return home. Nestor replied saying that Telemachus's request brought back awful memories of the time during the Trojan War. Many men died, such as Ajax, Achilles, Patroclus, and Nestor's son, as well. For nine years, Nestor and his allies fought against the Trojans, with Odysseus excelling at strategy. At the end of the war, there was a fight about how to go home. Agamemnon wanted to stay there, to apease Athena's wrath, but Menelaus and Nestor wanted to go home right away. At dawn, half of the leaders sailed away with their troops, while the others stayed behind. However, Zeus did not intend for them to return quickly, as there was soon a huge storm. Odysseus and a few others turned their ships around and sailed back, but Nestor continued forward. The remaining men asked for a sign, and a path home was shown to them. Finally Nestor made it home, but he had no idea what had happened to the others.
After this, Telemachus then goes on to talk about the suitors that infest his house. Nestor asks Telemachus why he puts up with e suitors, and that if Odysseus ever came home, he would take revenge. If only, said Nestor, the Athena would care for Telemachus like she cared for Odysseus. Then, all of the suitors would leave forever. Telemachus said that this would never happen (that Odysseus would come home and the suitors would leave), but Athena cut in and said that it is easy for a god to save a mortal and that she would rather take years coming home, rather than speed home, and then be killed there. Telemachus then suggested that they didn't speak of Odysseus anymore, but instead asked Nestor how Agamemnon died.
Nestor agreed to tell the story. While Agamemnon was at war, Aegisthus was at home, and started trying to talk and get closer to Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra. At first the queen pushed Aegisthus away, but soon, Aegisthus took Clytemnestra to his own castle, and she began cheating on her husband. Aegisthus ruled for seven years, but on the eigth year, Agamemnon's son, Orestes, killed Aegisthus. After this story, Nestor warned Telemachus not to go away from home for too long, but suggested that he still see Menelaus to ask him about Odysseus. Nestor offered the use of some of his chariots to make the trip to Sparta by land. Athena then suggested that they head to bed to prepare for their journey tomorrow. Nestor offered a bed to Telemachus and Mentor (Athena in disguise), but Athena declined. She said that she would stay with the crew and give them orders because she was the only veteran and Telemachus could sleep in Nestor's palace. After that discussion, Athena turned into an eagle and flew away.
King Nestor was amazed and said to Telemachus that he should never be afraid because at this age the gods already guard him. To Athena he asked for good fortune and in return he would sacrifice a cow to Athena. They all went inside the palace and Nestor prepared the sacrifice. Nestor gave Telemachus a bed and they all went to sleep.
The next morning the cow was brought into the hall and gold was poured onto its horns. Athena came as well to watch this sacrifice be performed. One of Nestor's sons stood ready with an axe while another son held a bowl for the blood. Nestor began to pray and when he was finished, his son chopped the cow's head off. They collected certain parts of the cow and burned them as sacrifice to Athena. After that they cooked and ate the rest of the meat of the cow. Nestor then put together a chariot and a team for Telemachus so he could go to Sparta the next day.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 2 Characters
Aegyptius: an old lord, one son sailed with Odysseus, he starts the assembly
Antinous: one of the suitors, he describes the tricks that Penelope used to deceive the suitors
Halitherses: an old warrior who interprets the sign of the eagle fighting
Eurymachus: another suitor who says that the suitors will stay until the queen chooses someone to marry
Mentor: an old friend of Odysseus, he was supposed to look after Odysseus's rule and house while he was gone
Leocritus: yet another suitor who breaks up the assembly and scoffs at Halitherses's and Menotr's support of Telemachus
The "old nurse": the nurse that raised Telemachus and urges him not to go on the journey
Antinous: one of the suitors, he describes the tricks that Penelope used to deceive the suitors
Halitherses: an old warrior who interprets the sign of the eagle fighting
Eurymachus: another suitor who says that the suitors will stay until the queen chooses someone to marry
Mentor: an old friend of Odysseus, he was supposed to look after Odysseus's rule and house while he was gone
Leocritus: yet another suitor who breaks up the assembly and scoffs at Halitherses's and Menotr's support of Telemachus
The "old nurse": the nurse that raised Telemachus and urges him not to go on the journey
The Odyssey - Book 2 Summary
When the morning came, Telemachus rose and got dressed. He then went to call an assembly of the men in Ithaca. Aegyptus started off the assembly, saying that a meeting had not been called, so it must have been a big crisis that drove someone to bring everyone together. Telemachus steps forward, saying that he called the meeting because he has heard first-hand that his father is alive and not for off. Also, two things have been bothering Telemachus. First, Telemachus believed that his father had died on his return from the Trojan War, and now suitors won't leave Penelope alone. The suitors are so cowardly that they would rather die than ask Penelope's father for her hand in marriage, so they hang around Odysseus's house, eating all of his good food and drinking all of his wine. Telemachus said that the suitors should be ashamed of themselves and that they should fear the gods' wrath. Telemachus begs the suitors to leave him alone to mourn his father, unless they think that Odysseus wronged his country wrong, and in return are setting the suitors on Telemachus to get revenge. Telemachus was so angry, that he started crying, which brought the pity of most in the assembly.
Everyone was silent, as no one had the heart to say anything, except for Antinous. Antinous claimed that the suitors were not to blame for Telemachus's grief at all, but his own mother, because she has led all of them on. One example of her trickery was when she said three years ago that she would choose a man to marry after she finished weaving a funeral shroud for her father. Every day she would work on the shroud, and then she would come back at night and unwind all of her work. Finally, one of Penelope's woman told the suitors of her secret. The suitors then made Penelope finish the shroud for her father. Antinous turned to Telemachus and said that the suitors will stay at the palace and eat Odysseus's food and slaughter his livestock until Penelope chooses someone to marry.
Telemachus replied to Antinous, saying that it is cruel to suggest that he drive his own mother from their house against her will. The price that Telemachus would have to pay from his father if he return's alive and Penelope's father would be tremendous. He declared that he would never make his mother leave her house if she did not want to. To the suitors, Telemachus said that they must leave his house, but if they enjoy feeding off of others and then, by all means do it, but not before Telemachus calls out to the gods to revenge him.
At this point in the conversation Zeus sent two eagles flying down from a mountain to back up what Telemachus had said. The eagles flew wing to wing until they were overhead the assembly. When they were, they stopped and started to destroy each other, tearing at the other's throat and cheeks. After a few moments, they flew away towards the houses of the town. Everyone watched the eagles disappear quietly, thinking about what might happen in the future.
Suddenly, an old warrior named Halithersis broke the silence and said that a great disaster was headed towards all of the suitors and that things were working in Odysseus's favor now. Halithersis recalls a prophecy that he made the day that Odysseus and his men departed for Troy. The prophecy said that "the mastermind of the battle" would lose all of his shipmates and after twenty years would finally return home.
Another man, Eurymachus, shot down Halithersis's predictions saying that the prophecy is bogus and meaningless. He said that Odysseus is dead in some foreign land, and that by saying his prophecy he has made Telemachus angrier and that Halithersis is only hoping for a gift of gratitude from Telemachus. Eurymachus then puts out his own prophecy. If Halithersis talks Telemachus into rioting, then Telemachus will be the first to feel the pain with Halithersis not far behind. To Telemachus, Eurymachus suggests that he send his mother to her father's house, where a marriage will be arranged. He says that the suitors have nothing to fear from Telemachus's empty threats and an old fool's prophecy.
Despite all of this, however, Telemachus remains firm in his decree that the suitors should leave the house by morning. Telemachus brings up his next point of duty, being that he wants a fast ship and a crew of twenty men so that he can set off to Sparta and Pylos to catch word of his father's return. After this, Mentor took the floor and warned that they should never let a king be kind and gentle, but they should let him be cruel and allow him to practice courage. Mentor said that he did not blame the suitors, but the other people in the town who sit back and watch, doing nothing to stop the savage men.
Leocritis turned to him and shouted that turning the townspeople against the suitors was uphill work. He also said that even if Odysseus did return and get rid of the suitors, Penelope would not be happy about it. Leocritis then disbanded the assembly, saying that Odysseus's doddering friends could supply Telemachus with a boat so that he could go on a journey that he would never survive.
After the assembly, Telemachus walked to the beach and prated to Athena to help him. Athena appeared, in the form of Mentor and said to him that he would never lack sense or courage from that point on because his father's spirit is in his blood. Athena said that so rarely are sons equal to their fathers, and even rarer still is when a son surpasses their father. Athena told Telemachus to put the words of the suitor out of his mind, as they are madmen and can't see the doom that hangs above them. Athena told Telemachus to go home and prepare the rations for his journey, while she went to go procure a ship and crew.
At home, Telemachus found the suitors eating his goats and pigs, and drinking his wine. Antinous approached Telemachus and offered for Telemachus to come join him and the suitors while they ate. Telemachus refused, saying that he couldn't eat in peace and be happy at the same time. As Telemachus headed away, the taunts of the other suitors followed him. Ignoring them, Telemachus headed down to the storeroom where the food was kept, and ordered for rations of wine, barley, and oil be packed and placed by the door. When Telemachus's nurse (the person who he had asked to pack the food) heard of his plans, she begged him not to go. She said that while he was gone, the suitors would plan to kill Telemachus and split up his inheritance. Telemachus reassured her that the plan was made by a god, not himself. He also tells the nurse not to tell his mother for at least a few weeks so that she won't worry about him.
Athena gathered the crew and told them to meet at a ship, which she had procured and to wait for Telemachus's arrival. Then, the goddess stopped by Odysseus's house, where she made the suitors drunk and sleepy so that they quickly went off to bed. Athena, in the form of Mentor, then led Telemachus to the ship where his crew waited. As the boat sailed away, Athena sent a gust of wind that pushed the ship in the direction of their destination.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Odyssey - Book 1 Characters
(In order of appearance, some unimportant names are left out)
The Muses: the nine goddesses for inspiration
Calypso: Atlas's daughter, she keeps Odysseus on her island
Odysseus: the main character in the story, who fought in the Trojan War, and was delayed on his way home
Poseidon: the god of the sea, brother of Zeus
The Sungod: More commonly known as Apollo, god of the sun, brother of Artemis, son of Zeus
Aegisthus: killed by Orestes for stealing his mother while his father was at the Trojan War
Orestes: the killer of Aegisthus
Zeus: the king of the gods, lord of the skies
Hermes: the messenger god, son of Zeus
Athena: goddess of wisdom, daughter of Zeus, sprung clad in armor from Zeus's forehead
Polyphemus: a cyclops son of Poseidon, blinded by Odysseus
Mentes: Lord of the Taphians, old family friend to Odysseus, Athena impersonated him to visit Telemachus
Prince Telemachus: the son of Odysseus and Penelope
Penelope: the wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus
The Muses: the nine goddesses for inspiration
Calypso: Atlas's daughter, she keeps Odysseus on her island
Odysseus: the main character in the story, who fought in the Trojan War, and was delayed on his way home
Poseidon: the god of the sea, brother of Zeus
The Sungod: More commonly known as Apollo, god of the sun, brother of Artemis, son of Zeus
Aegisthus: killed by Orestes for stealing his mother while his father was at the Trojan War
Orestes: the killer of Aegisthus
Zeus: the king of the gods, lord of the skies
Hermes: the messenger god, son of Zeus
Athena: goddess of wisdom, daughter of Zeus, sprung clad in armor from Zeus's forehead
Polyphemus: a cyclops son of Poseidon, blinded by Odysseus
Mentes: Lord of the Taphians, old family friend to Odysseus, Athena impersonated him to visit Telemachus
Prince Telemachus: the son of Odysseus and Penelope
Penelope: the wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus
The Odyssey - Book 1 Summary
Book One, "Athena Inspires the Prince", starts out with someone asking a Muse to tell the story of Odysseus. Odysseus's tale begins with the Gods having a meeting, talking about the death of Aegisthus, when Athena says that Aegisthus earned his punishment, but Odysseus did not. Odysseus has been trapped on the island of Calypso, who has been trying to make Odysseus fall in love with her, but to no avail. Zeus replies saying that he would help Odysseus get home to Ithaca, his home town, but he can't. During his travels, Odysseus blinded a cyclops called Polyphemus, who was the son of Poseidon. Poseidon is now angry at Odysseus and won't let him sail home, which prevents his return home. Zeus decides that if all the Gods put their heads together, they will be able to override Poseidon's anger. Athena suggests that they send Hermes to the goddess on the island where Odysseus is trapped, and order the goddess to let Odysseus go. At the same time, Athena will go to Ithaca and talk to Odysseus's son to drive his mother's suitors away and send him to Sparta, where he will learn of Odysseus's journey home.
That being said, Athena headed off to Ithaca. Athena, disguised as an old family friend, is welcomed into Odysseus's home by his son, Prince Telemachus. At dinner, the savagery of Penelope's (Odysseus's wife) suitors is shown. To Athena, Telemachus complains that these men live off of him and then don't have to do any work. Telemachus also laments over what he thinks is his father's death. He then asks Athena to tell him about herself. Athena tells Telemachus that she is an old family friend called Mentes, Lord of the Taphian men. Mentes tells Telemachus that he heard a rumor that Odysseus was coming home. He also tells Telemachus a "prophecy" that the gods had planted in his head. The Prohecy, much like the rumor, said that Odysseus is still alive and slowly coming home after the Trojan War.
After a bit more conversing, Mentes learns that the men hanging about Odysseus's house are all suitors to Penelope. Mentes is apalled by this and gives Telemachus some advice. He urges Telemacus to get rid of the suitors and then set out in search for news of his father's return. If he hears that his father is alive, he should return home and wait a year for his father to arrive. If he hears that his father is dead, then he should also return home, but carry out the funeral rites for Odysseus. Mentes urges Telemachus to leave his boyhood behind and become a man. Telemachus thanks Athena and offers up a gift to her. Athena declines the gift, telling Telemachus to save it for the next time she came. After that, Athena departed, leaving Telemachus's spirit's lifted.
After telling his mother to be strong in waiting for his father's return, he tells the suitors to leave his house tomorrow. The men don't want to leave, and one of them insults Telemachus, but he calmly insists upon their departure. After this announcement, one of the suitors asks about the stranger who showed up and shared their meal. Telemachus said that the stranger was an old family friend named Mentes, but he recognized that it was Athena in disguise. After this discussion, Telemachus then headed off to bed for the night.
That being said, Athena headed off to Ithaca. Athena, disguised as an old family friend, is welcomed into Odysseus's home by his son, Prince Telemachus. At dinner, the savagery of Penelope's (Odysseus's wife) suitors is shown. To Athena, Telemachus complains that these men live off of him and then don't have to do any work. Telemachus also laments over what he thinks is his father's death. He then asks Athena to tell him about herself. Athena tells Telemachus that she is an old family friend called Mentes, Lord of the Taphian men. Mentes tells Telemachus that he heard a rumor that Odysseus was coming home. He also tells Telemachus a "prophecy" that the gods had planted in his head. The Prohecy, much like the rumor, said that Odysseus is still alive and slowly coming home after the Trojan War.
After a bit more conversing, Mentes learns that the men hanging about Odysseus's house are all suitors to Penelope. Mentes is apalled by this and gives Telemachus some advice. He urges Telemacus to get rid of the suitors and then set out in search for news of his father's return. If he hears that his father is alive, he should return home and wait a year for his father to arrive. If he hears that his father is dead, then he should also return home, but carry out the funeral rites for Odysseus. Mentes urges Telemachus to leave his boyhood behind and become a man. Telemachus thanks Athena and offers up a gift to her. Athena declines the gift, telling Telemachus to save it for the next time she came. After that, Athena departed, leaving Telemachus's spirit's lifted.
After telling his mother to be strong in waiting for his father's return, he tells the suitors to leave his house tomorrow. The men don't want to leave, and one of them insults Telemachus, but he calmly insists upon their departure. After this announcement, one of the suitors asks about the stranger who showed up and shared their meal. Telemachus said that the stranger was an old family friend named Mentes, but he recognized that it was Athena in disguise. After this discussion, Telemachus then headed off to bed for the night.
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