The term “Odyssey” has evolved to signify an extensive journey, influenced by Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, composed in the 8th century BC. This tale serves as a continuation of Homer’s earlier work, The Iliad, which chronicles the final stages of the Trojan War. In The Odyssey, we follow the adventures of Odysseus, whose attempts to return to his cherished homeland of Ithaca are prolonged for nearly ten years.
It is believed that The Odyssey was a popular tale passed down through generations orally before Homer crafted it into one coherent story. Narrated in a flashback style, it recounts King Odysseus’s remarkable voyage back home to his family and palace after the cessation of the Trojan War.
The Myth of Odysseus
The Legendary Figure
Homer posits that Odysseus was born to Laertes and Anticleia, and he was wed to Penelope, with whom he had a son named Telemachus. Known for his intellect, he was often referred to as “Odysseus the Cunning.” His grandfather, Autolycus, was a notorious thief in the Peloponnese. The Romans later adapted Odysseus’s name to Ulysses, a designation that remains prevalent today.
Odysseus exhibited traits of pride and arrogance, skilled in both disguise and military strategy. His capabilities played a pivotal role in leading the Greeks to victory over Troy, ultimately concluding the prolonged war.
The Fall of Troy
The saga began when Paris of Troy abducted Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the Spartan king. In retribution, Menelaus summoned all the kings of Greece, including Odysseus, as they had collectively pledged to defend Helen’s honor. To evade the obligation, Odysseus feigned madness; however, his ruse was uncovered by Agamemnon, Menelaus’s brother, resulting in Odysseus joining the Greek forces against Troy.
Ten years into the conflict, the Greeks remained outside Troy’s formidable walls, struggling against the entrenched inhabitants. In the war’s tenth year, Odysseus, serving as the trusted advisor to Agamemnon, engineered a clever ruse to convince the Trojans that the Greeks had retreated.
In the dead of night, the Greeks abandoned their camp, leaving behind a colossal wooden horse. When morning came, the surprised Trojans discovered the horse, interpreting it as a divine offering for a safe journey home. They brought it into their city, unaware that Odysseus had concealed Greek warriors inside. Once inside the city, the Greeks killed the guards and opened the gates for their army to storm in, thus securing victory in the Trojan War. Afterward, Odysseus and his companions set sail for Ithaca, but only one would ultimately return.
The Long Journey Home
Odysseus’s homeward journey would be fraught with peril and wonder, offering him experiences beyond those of any other traveler.
The Cicones
Sailing from Troy with twelve ships, Odysseus’s fleet initially benefited from calm waters. After landing, Eurylochus, his second-in-command, persuaded Odysseus to invade the city of the Cicones. Although the local inhabitants fled to the mountains, the Greeks plundered the abandoned city. However, intoxicated by wine and complacency, they overslept, allowing the Cicones and their reinforcements to retaliate. Many of Odysseus’s men fell, and as they scrambled back to their ships, Odysseus blamed Eurylochus for their losses.
The Lotus-Eaters
Blown off course to the land of the Lotus-Eaters, Odysseus’s men succumbed to the intoxicating lotus fruit, which erased their memories of home. Desperate to bring them back, Odysseus physically carried them to the ship, binding them to the masts to prevent them from returning to the land.
Encounter with Polyphemus
Weeks later, they arrived at the island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus and a few men entered a cave only to find it inhabited by Polyphemus, a giant Cyclops. After consuming some of his sheep, the Cyclops captured them. To escape, Odysseus offered Polyphemus wine, which made him drowsy. While he slept, Odysseus blinded him with a sharpened stake. To prevent Polyphemus from discovering their escape, Odysseus cleverly identified himself as “Nobody,” tricking the Cyclops when he called for help. The next morning, Odysseus and his men escaped by hiding under sheep, but pride prompted Odysseus to disclose his identity after they had fled, inciting Polyphemus to invoke his father, Poseidon, against him.
The Bag of Winds
Odysseus then reached Aeolia, home to Aeolus, the wind god, who gifted Odysseus a bag of winds to aid his return. Exhausted, Odysseus eventually fell asleep, allowing his crew’s curiosity to lead them to open the bag. The winds escaped, driving them back to Aeolia, where Aeolus refused to help again.
The Laestrygonians
Sailing onward, they encountered the Laestrygonians, giants who destroyed most of Odysseus’s fleet. Only his ship survived due to its position outside the harbor.
Circe the Enchantress
Odysseus and his crew found themselves on the island of Aeaea, home to Circe the enchantress, who transformed some of his men into swine. With Hermes’ assistance, Odysseus resisted her magic, convincing her to restore his men to human form. Odysseus and his crew stayed for a year before departing after receiving guidance to consult Tiresias in the Underworld.
The Descent to the Underworld
Odysseus embarked on a perilous journey to the Underworld, making offerings to summon Tiresias, who revealed that he must navigate between Scylla and Charybdis, two formidable threats.
Encounter with the Sirens
Sailing onward, Odysseus’s ship approached the Sirens, whose enchanting song could lure sailors to their demise. Forewarned by Circe, Odysseus had his men block their ears with beeswax while he was tied to the mast to resist temptation.
Confronting Scylla and Charybdis
He consciously chose to approach Scylla, per Tiresias’s advice, knowing he would lose six men to her. Despite the suffering, he prioritized the survival of the rest.
The Cattle of Helios
After landing on the island of Thrinacia, sacred to Helios, Odysseus’s men, despite warnings not to harm the cattle, slaughtered some. In retaliation, Zeus destroyed their ship, leaving Odysseus as the only survivor.
Seven Years with Calypso
Washed onto the shores of Ogygia, Odysseus fell into the embrace of Calypso, who offered him eternal life. However, his yearning for Ithaca and family never faded. Ultimately, Zeus sent Hermes to compel Calypso to release him. Odysseus managed to construct a raft but faced another storm, washing him to yet another unfamiliar shore.
Meanwhile in Ithaca
Back in Ithaca, Telemachus sought to find his father, as his mother Penelope dealt with numerous suitors. To delay any marriage, she cleverly wove a burial shroud for Odysseus and unraveled it at night, but a maid’s betrayal exposed her plan.
Telemachus, with Athena’s guidance, traveled to Sparta in search of news about Odysseus but returned empty-handed.
The Phaeacians
Following a storm, Odysseus arrived in the land of the Phaeacians, likely modern Corfu, where Princess Nausicaa found him and brought him to her parents’ court. Overwhelmed by nostalgia, he revealed his identity and recounts his tribulations. The Phaeacians equipped him with provisions and the fastest ship, sending him home.
Finally on Ithaca
Upon reaching Ithaca unnoticed, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, learned of the suitors’ behavior and reunited with Telemachus. When he met Penelope, she failed to recognize him initially, but their reunion was cemented by a test involving Odysseus’s bow.
As the suitors failed to complete the challenge, Odysseus revealed his identity, avenging the suitors with the aid of Telemachus and loyal servants. Penelope, still cautious, devised another test involving their uniquely crafted bed, which confirmed his identity.
The Real End
The adventure continued, as Tiresias’s prophecy compelled Odysseus to journey inland wielding an oar, eventually finding people unacquainted with the sea. In time, he settled among them, marrying a local princess, and lived his remaining years far from Ithaca and the ocean he once called home.
