The Odyssey

Briefly, the most epic story ever told.

The End of the Trojan War

It’s been several years since the Trojan war, and Odysseus leaves the great city of Troy to make his way home to Ithaca. On the way he stops at the land of the Cicones, allies of Troy. He orders his men to take what they need and to leave. Instead they stay to feast and drink, and some of his crew are killed, setting an ominous tone for the rest of the voyage.

The Burning of Troy (1759–1762), oil painting by Johann Georg Trautmann.

The Trouble Begins

Odysseus sets sail for Ithaca, his home land. He has not seen his wife Penelope and son Telemachus for some time. However supplies become low and Odysseus and his crew look for land. They arrive on the island of the Lotus-Eaters. Any man who eats the sweet lotus plant loses any desire to return home. Odysseus manages to drag his drugged crew back to the ships before they forget their families for all eternity.

Odysseus’ men in an unconscious state, by W. Heath Robinson.

The Cyclops

Odysseus continues onwards and discovers the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, the sea god. The giant beast eats some of his crew so Odysseus devises a plan. He gets Cyclops drunk and calls himself ‘Nobody’, blinds him with a stake and escapes under the belly of sheep. However on the ship he reveals his true name and so Polyphemus prays to Poseidon for revenge. From this point on wards the voyage is cursed.

A first century AD head of a Cyclops from the Colosseum of Rome, Italy

Odysseus and Polyphemus (1896) by Arnold Böcklin: Odysseus and his crew escape the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Monsters and Magic

Odysseus and his crew arrive at a floating island, belonging to Aeolus who controls all the winds of the world. He welcomes Odysseus as a guest, and after listening to his story of the Trojan War, Aeolus gives him a leather bag containing wind. The crew, being overly suspicious, thinking Odysseus is hiding gold, decide to open it, just as Ithaca is in sight. They get blown back across the sea. The crew then encounter the witch Circe, who has a liking for turning men into pigs. The god Hermes helps Odysseus to resist her magic and she eventually becomes an ally. But they end up on her island for a whole year.

Hermes Ingenui (Vatican Museums), Roman copy of the second century BC after a Greek original of the 5th century BC.

Journey to the Underworld

Odysseus is advised by Circe to visit the land of the dead. He must seek the blind prophet Tiresias. He meets the spirits; his own mother and the fallen heroes. He learns great trials still lie ahead and that through suffering, he can learn and become wiser.

Tiresias appears to Odysseus during the nekyia of Odyssey Book XI, in this watercolor with tempera by the Anglo-Swiss Johann Heinrich Füssli, c. 1780–85.

Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis

Under the advice of Tiresias, Odysseus ties himself to a mast and plugs his crew’s ears with wax so they can’t hear the irresistible siren song. Afterwards they pass two dangers, a giant whirlpool called Charybdis and a six-headed monster called Scylla. Odysseus chooses to confront Scylla but loses more men.

Odysseus and the Sirens, Roman mosaic, second century AD (Bardo National Museum).

The Cattle of the Sun

Odysseus warns the crew not to eat the sacred cows of the sun god Helios, This is based on warnings from Circe and Tiresias. But the crew, starving, slaughter the cows whilst Odysseus sleeps. Zeus becomes enraged and sends a lightning bolt that destroys the ship and kills everyone except Odysseus. He is left clinging to the wreckage drifting alone at sea.

The Companions of Odysseus Steal the Cattle of Helios (fresco by Pellegrino Tibaldi, 1554/56).

Calypso and the Phaeacians

Odysseus eventually washes up on the shore of Ogygia, an island where the nymph Calypso lives. She keeps him captive for seven long years, hoping he will become her husband. Zeus eventually orders his release after the goddess Athena persuades him to. After yet another storm brought upon Odysseus by Poseidon, he reaches the land of the Phaeacians. He tells them the story of his journey, and they are so moved they provide him with a ship.

Calypso, blonde-haired goddess by Jan Styka (20th century).

Home at Last

Odysseus arrives home to Ithaca after 20 long years away. Athena disguises him as a beggar and he witnesses his palace filled with arrogant suitors. They waste his wealth and want to marry his wife Penelope, believing Odysseus is dead. Argos, his faithful dog, recognises him, just before dying peacefully.

Penelope encounters the returned Odysseus posing as a beggar. From a mural in the Macellum of Pompeii.

The Test and the Triumph

Penelope announces that whoever can string Odysseus’ great bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads, will win her hand in marriage. None of the suitors can even string the bow. Odysseus, still disguised as the beggar succeeds, and reveals his true identity. He defeats the suitors and is reunited with his love Penelope.

Head of Odysseus from a Roman period Hellenistic marble group representing Odysseus blinding Polyphemus, found at the villa of Tiberius at Sperlonga, Italy.

THE END

There is plenty more to the story (poem) of course, but I made it purposely brief, a taster if you will, into the world of Odysseus. I know I missed bits, as pointed out to me by my daughter!

I wrote this is in anticipation of the new film, although it has not received great reviews from the experts. I reserve judgement, and I’m still excited to see it. My daughter absolutely loves Epic the Musical, I will leave a link down below for those who are interested.

Further reading;

• “The Odyssey“ by Homer is an ancient Greek epic composed around the 8th or 7th century BC. It follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his perilous ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. READ THE FULL STORY.

• EPIC: The Musical (FULL MOVIE- 1080p VERSION)