THE ODYSSEY

1. THE ODYSSEY Of Homer

2. Little is known of his life Lived in the 8th century BC Several cities and islands claim him as a native Believed to have been blind and illiterate Credited with writing not only The Odyssey and The Iliad, but also the Homeric Hymns

3. Main character from Ithaca Husband to Penelope Father to Telemachus Caught in a battle of the gods Kept from his family for 20 years

4. The Trojan War Odysseus feigned madness to avoid becoming involved He was drafted nonetheless, and in the 10th year came up with the plan for the Trojan Horse (which ended the war) Stayed behind in attempt to appease Athena

5. Penelope Kept faith that Odysseus was still alive, even when everyone else believed him to be dead Kept suitors at bay by telling them that she would choose between them when she was finished with her weaving (which she secretly unwove each night)

6. The Cyclops After leaving the island of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus and his crew came upon several goat pens on another island The shepherd turned out to be a giant cyclops named Polyphemus, who devoured 2 of his men The cyclops trapped Odysseus and the remainder of his men in a cave blocked by a boulder that only the cyclops had the strength to move The resourceful Odysseus waited for the cyclops to fall asleep, and gouged his eye out with a spear The men escaped by clinging to the underside of his flock

7. Polyphemus called out to his father to avenge him Unfortunately for Odysseus, his father was Poseidon… the god of the sea and earthquakes Poseidon unleashed his anger upon Odysseus, and drove him far off course from Ithaca

8. The Encounter With Circe 7 days after being blown back to Aeolia, ruled by the Keeper of the Winds, many men were killed and eaten by giants Out of eleven ships, Odysseus’ alone survived the onslaught His men were tired and disheartened when they came upon the island of Aeaea ruled by Circe Odysseus sent 12 men to investigate the island, but only 1 returned… the other 11 had been transformed into swine by Circe He went to her palace, and on the way met Hermes who gave him a substance that would make him immune to Circe’s sorcery Odysseus convinced her to restore his men to human form, and then stayed with her for 3 years (fathering 3 sons)

9. The Sirens Before leaving Circe, she told him to go the underworld for guidance. He was warned while there not to eat the cattle which belonged to the sun-god Helios Returning to Aeaea, Circe gave further instructions to Odysseus about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis Odysseus filled the ears of his crew with melted wax and had them tie him to the mast so that the sirens’ song wouldn’t affect them He had to choose whether to deal with Scylla or Charybdis, and chose Scylla in an attempt to save his ship

10. Charybdis Odysseus lost 6 men passing Scylla Unfavorable weather caused the men to take refuge on the island of Thrinacia, which is where Helios kept his cattle Though they were warned, his men killed and ate some of the cattle in his absence Helios appealed to Zeus, and a strong wind forced the ship back to Charybdis where it was destroyed… Odysseus alone survived

11. Calypso Calypso held Odysseus captive as a lover for 7 years Wanted to have him for a husband She reluctantly released him when Hermes ordered her to He built a ship and departed, only to be noticed by his enemy Poseidon Poseidon destroyed the ship, and Leucothea (a sea-goddess) gave him her veil to prevent him from drowning

12. Odysseus Returns Home After a 2 day swim, Odysseus encountered the Phaeacians The Phaeacians were great sailors as they were descendents of Poseidon They took pity on him, and offered him passage home Athena caused him to fall asleep, and they left him on the beach in Ithaca When he awoke, Athena revealed herself and informed him of the situation with Penelope and the suitors She disguised him as an old beggar so that he would remain undiscovered, and he set out for home

13. The Contest For Penelope Penelope heard news of the old beggar, and sent Odysseus’ old nurse Eurycleia to wash his feet The old nurse recognized him at once for the scar above his knee The next day, Penelope decided to choose a suitor. She said that she would marry the man that could string Odysseus’ bow, and shoot an arrow straight through 12 axe handles. Odysseus still disguised as a beggar accomplished the feat, killed all of the suitors (with help from Telemachus and 2 servants), and convinced Penelope of his true identity Reunited at last