Odyssey

Book by Book Synopsis

Books 1-5

Book 1 of the Odyssey (Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, [ˈɒdɪsi]) begins with the narrator invoking the Muse (Μοῦσα, [mûː.sa], Mousa) for inspiration as he prepares to tell the tale. The story begins ten years after the Trojan War; all of the Greek heroes except Odysseus have returned home. Odysseus remains on the island of Ogygia (Ὠγυγίη, Ōgygiē, [ɔːɡyɡíɛː]) with the nymph/goddess Calypso (Καλυψώ, Kalypsō, [kaˈlypsɔː]), who has fallen in love with him and keeps him prisoner there. Back home in Ithaca (Ἰθάκη, Ithákē, [iˈθaːkɛː]), his wife Penelope (Πηνελόπεια, Pēnelópeia, [pɛːnelópeːa]) has to fend off a swarm of suitors who want to take over his kingdom, and his son Telemachus (Τηλέμαχος, Tēlémakhos, [tɛːléma.kʰos]), barely a man, isn't able to do much to stop them. Everyone thinks it's most likely that Odysseus is dead.

Athena travels to Ithaca to speak to Telemachus, disguised as Odysseus' old friend Mentes (Μέντης, Méntēs, [ˈmentɛːs]); he tells the young man that Odysseus is still alive and will soon return to Ithaca. Athena-as-Mentes advises him to toss all the suitors off his father's estate, and then to undertake a journey to Pylos and Sparta in search for word about his father. He runs into Penelope afterward, who is upset at the songs about war heroes and the suffering they experienced upon returning from Troy. Telemarchus shouts at her, reminding her that Odysseus is not the only Greek not to return, and tells her to stay out of the men's quarters where the music is played.

He tells the suitors that the next day they will hold a meeting and they will be asked to leave the estate; they are astounded. Two are more defiant than the others, Antinous (Ἀντίνοος, Antínoos, [anˈtí.no.os]) and Eurymachus (Εὐρύμαχος, Eurýmakhos, [euˈrý.ma.kʰos]), and they demand to know the identity of the visitor who Odysseus had been speaking to just before. Though he suspects the encounter was more meaningful, he claims it was merely his father's old friend who had spoken to him.

Book 2 begins with the promised assembly - Aegyptius (Αἴγυπτιος, Aígyptios, [aíɡyptios]), who is a respected Ithacan elder, praises Telemachus for taking the initiative in place of his father, calling the first assembly since the King disappeared. Telemachus speaks after him, telling the crowd that he has lost not only his father but his father's house, as the suitors of his mother have taken it over. He tells them that they have eaten up his father's oxen and sheep, courting Penelope when any decent man would seek out her father (Icarius, Ἰκάριος, Ikários, [iˈka.ri.os]) to ask for his daughter's hand. Antinous blames Penelope; he says she seduces all of them but will commit to none. He tells about how she claimed she would pick a husband after finishing a burial shroud she was weaving for her father-in-law Laertes (Λαέρτης, Laértēs, [laˈer.tɛːs]); but she would undo all the work she had done in the day each night, making it so that she would never finish. He further says that if she's not going to make a decision she needs to be shipped back to her father who can make her marry someone. Telemachus will not throw his mother out, and calls upon the gods to punish the suitors. Overhead, a pair of eagles locked in combat; the soothsayer Halitherses interprets the event as an omen of Odysseus' return, and tells the suitors that they'll all be killed if they don't leave; they refuse to believe him. Telemachus prepares to undertake the journey given to him by Athena, and she visits him again, still disguised as Mentes, predicting a succesful journey. Then, disguised as Telemachus, she gathers a loyal crew to man his ship, while the real Telemarchus keeps his departure a secret, for fear of upsetting Penelope. He only tells Eurycleia (Εὐρύκλεια, Eurýkleia, [euˈry.kleː.a], his elderly nurse), who pleads with him not to journey across the open sea, but he assures her that a god is at his side.

Book 3 starts with a religious ceremony on Pylos where Telemachus and Athena (as Mentes) see dozens of bulls get sacrificed to Poseidon. Mentes encourages Telemachus, and he approaches the city's king Nestor (Νέστωρ, Néstōr, [ˈnestɔːr]), to ask him about Odysseus. Nestor says that after Troy fell, Agamemnon and Menelaus grew angry with one another. Menelaus sailed back to Greece immediately, while his brother waited a day to continue sacrifices on Troy's shore. Nestor went with Menelaus, while Odysseus stayed with Agamemnon. Agamemnon returned from Troy and found Aegisthus (Αἴγισθος, Aígisthos, [ˈa͜ɪgistʰos]), a coward who refused to fight for the Greeks, had seduced and married his wife Clythemnestra (Κλυταιμνήστρα, Klytaimnḗstra, [klytai̯mnɛ̌ːstra]); she conspired with her lover to murder her returned husband. He tried to steal Agamemnon's throne, but Orestes (Ὀρέστης, Oréstēs, [oˈrestɛːs]), returning from exile in Athens, killed both his mother and the murderer who dispatched his father. Nestor declares this as an example for Telemachus to follow to reclaim his house from the suitors who had overtaken it, in honor of his father. To assist Telemachus, Nestor sends his son Pisistratus (Πεισίστρατος, Peisístratos, [peːsístratos]) with him to Sparta, and they go by land the next day. Athena decides to reveal herself before the court at Pylos, transforming from Mentes into an eagle; she stays behind to protect Telemachus' ship and crew.

In Book 4 the heroes arrive in Sparta, where king Menelaus and the reclaimed queen Helen are celebrating the dual weddings of their son and daughter. As soon as they see Telemachus they recognize him as Odysseus' son because of the strong family resemblance. As they feast, they tell Telemachus of his father's many heroic war deeds; for example, how he dressed as a beggar to infiltrate the city's walls. Menelaus tells the story of the Trojan Horse (Δούρειος Ἵππος, Doúreios Híppos, [ˈdoureios ˈhippos]), Odysseus' strategy to sneak Greek soldiers behind the wall and into enemy territory, disguised inside a gift. Metis (μῆτις, cunning intelligence), as seen in the Trojan Horse strategy, was considered valid for strategy, problem-solving, and survival, particularly in adversarial contexts. The concept is associated with wisdom and shrewdness, qualities attributed to many Greek heroes and gods, most notably Odysseus and Athena.

He also talks about his own return from Troy; he was for a time stranded in Egypt and there he captured the god Proteus (Πρωτεύς, Prōteús, [prɔːˈteu̯s]), the fabled Old Man of the Sea, who told him how to get back to Sparta. He also told of the fates of Agamemnon and Ajax, both of whom returned from war alive, but soon died in Greece (Ajax died by suicide, dishonored by the fact that Achilles armor was given to Odysseus instead of him). According to Proteus, Odysseus was still alive, but was a prisoner to the goddess Calypso on her island. The heroes prepare to return to Ithaca with this news. The suitors who were camped out at Odysseus' house heard about Telemachus' return and decided to ambush him. The herald Medon (Μέδων, Mḗdōn, [ˈmɛːdɔːn]) eavesdrops on their plan and reports them to the queen, who grieves that she might soon lose her son as she had lost her husband. Athena sends a phantom (φάντασμα, phantasma) disguised as Penelope's sister, Iphtime (Ἰφθίμη, Iphthímē, [ipʰˈtʰimɛː]), to reassure her. She tells Penelope not to worry, because the goddess will protect her son. The use of a phantom sent as Iphthime to comfort Penelope in her distress illustrates the Greek belief in the power of dreams and visions to convey messages from the gods or deceased persons. These phantoms or apparitions were not necessarily ghosts in the modern sense but could be manifestations sent by the gods to offer guidance, warnings, or comfort.

In Book 5, all the gods except Poseidon gather on Mount Olympus, and discuss Odysseus. Athena makes a speech urging Zeus to intervene on his behalf; Hermes is sent to Calypso, who is told that she must allow Odysseus to leave (ten years after she took him). Calypso rails against male gods and their double standards, complaining about how male gods can take lovers but female gods are not given the same freedom. Despite her protests, she submits to Zeus; she helps Odysseus build a new boat and stocks it with supplies, and he sails away. He's at sea for 18 days before he sees another island - Scheria, occupied by Phaeacians.  Poseidon, returning from Ethiopia, sees Odysseus sailing away from Calypso's island. Enraged to find Odysseus on the verge of returning home, Poseidon summons a storm to wreck his raft and further delay his journey; the reasons for his rage will become apparent later in the story, but for now it remains unrevealed.  The goddess Ino rescues him, giving him a veil to keep him safe after his ship is wrecked. Soon Athena too assists, as Odysseus is tossed between sharp coastal rocks until he finds a river that answers his prayers and allows him to swim into its waters to safety, where he can navigate the interior of the island. He tosses his veil back to Ino and finds a place to rest on dry land.

Books 6-10

Book 6 begins with Athena appearing in a dream to the Phaecian princess Nausicaa, disguised as her friend; she encourages the princess to wash her clothes in the river so that she looks more fetching to the men who are courting her. While she and her handmaids are frolicking naked in the water, Odysseus encounters them; he too is naked, after his tumultuous journey, but he pleads for their help without revealing his identity. Nausicaa, showing compassion and adherence to the norms of hospitality, provides Odysseus with clothing, oil to clean himself, and food and drink. She leaves him alone to bathe and Athena makes him seem especially handsome; when the princess sees him again, she begins to fall in love with him. She gives him directions back to the palace and advice on how to approach the queen (Arete), and he sets off.

In Book 7, Odysseus travels to the palace of king Alcinous in Scheria. Athena disguises herself as a girl who offers to guide the hero, and she hides them in a mist that protects him from the Phaeacians, who dislike outsiders. She reminds him to look for help with the queen Arete, who will know how to get him home; the goddess delivers him to the palace and then returns to Athens. When he visits, the palace is holding a festival to honor Poseidon. As soon as he spots Arete, Odysseus throws himself at her feet and the mist that had hidden him dissipates. After he explains himself, the royal couple agree to help him with a Phaeacian ship in the morning. Later in the evening the queen realizes that she made the clothes he is wearing for her daughter; she interrogates him, and he tells her about his encounter with the princess. Alcinous ends up being so impressed with Odysseus conduct that he offers the hero his daughter's hand in marriage.

Book 8 starts with Alcinous' assembly the next day, and Athena makes sure it's well-attended by spreading gossip about a god-like visitor to the island who will also be in attendance. The king proposes providing a ship to the visitor so that he could return to his homeland, and the measure is approved. Alcinous invites the counselors to his palace for a feast in honor of Odysseus. A blind bard named Demodocus sings of the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy; it is enough to make the hero weep, while everyone else listens with pleasure. The king notices his grief and ends the feast, declaring that the games should begin. These included boxing, wrestling, racing, and throwing discs; Odysseus is asked to participate, but he's too melancholy. This causes a young athlete named Broadsea to insult him; he decides to participate after all, and easily wins the discus toss. He also challenges any other athlete present to duel him in any event of their choosing. Pride flares among the men, but Alcinous settles things down by declaring yet another feast.  There, the youths compete in singing and dancing instead. Afterward Odysseus receives gifts from all the men, including Broadsea and the king; and he asks Demodocus to sing about the Trojan Horse and the sack of Troy. He can't bear to listen and begins to cry again, and Alcinous stops the music. Finally, he demands to know who Odysseus is, where he's from, and where he's going. Odysseus' lack of passion for the competitive games of the boys, and also for Nausicaa's immature affections for him, demonstrate the maturity he has gained from his long time at war. He is no longer considered with such trivial games of honor and glory, as he has won true honor and glory, and his concerns are on his family, and his home.

Book 9 starts with Odysseus telling the tale of his wanderings, in a revelation about his identity. Starting at Troy, Odysseus and his men are swept away by the winds to the city of Ismarus, populated by a people called the Cicones. The Achaeans plunder the land but are driven away by reinforcements; when Odysseus and his crew finally escape, they have lost six men per ship. Zeus sent a storm which carried them away for nine days; when it stopped, they found themselves in the land of the Lotus-Eaters; the natives gave Odysseus some lotus fruit, which intoxicated the men and made them lose any thought of returning home. They only wanted to stay there and eat more of the fruit; Odysseus had to drag his men back to the ship and lock them up in order to get them off the island.

They then sailed to the land of the Cyclopes, the one-eyed giants. There they ate some wild goats they had found on an offshore island, and then they crossed to the mainland where they found a cave full of sheep, with crates of milk and cheese scattered around. The men want to steal some of the food and run off, but Odysseus gets curious; soon, the cave's owner returns. Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon; he pretends to be a gracious guest, but soon turns hostile against Odysseus and his crew, devouring two of the men and imprisoning the rest for future meals. Only Polyphemus was strong enough to move the rock blocking the cave-prison, so the men could not escape without trickery. Odysseus convinces the giant to get drunk on wine from their ship, and while they're chatting he tells the cyclops that his name is 'Nobody'. When the giant has passed out, Odysseus and his men use a stick from the cave and jam it into his single eye, blinding him. The creature screams out, but his neighbors leave when he tells them that 'Nobody is killing me!'Polyphemus eventually has to let his sheep out of the cave to graze, and because he could not see, he groped around on their backs to make sure the Greeks weren't escaping - but he didn't think to check their bellies. Once Odysseus is back on his ship he calls out to Polyphemus and reveals who he is - the monster is furious, and prays to his father Posiedon for vengeance. This explains Poseidon's rage toward Odysseus, revealed in earlier books of the narrative.

In Book 10, the heroes sail to the home of Aeolus, the ruler of the winds. He gifts Odysseus with a bag filled with all of the winds and inspires a west wind to guide the hero home. Within ten days they can see Ithaca, but the sailors are convinced that Odysseus was given significant treasure in precious metals inside the bag, and they rip it open. This releases the winds, causing an enormous storm that pushes them all the way back to Aeolia. Aeolus refuses to help them further, and they are forced to row to the land of the Laestrygonians. This is a race of giants ruled by King Antiphates and his queen, who eat Odysseus' scouts, and throw boulders at the ships of the heroes as they flee for their lives; only Odysseus' ship remains seaworthy.

From there the ship travels to Aeaea, where Circe the witch-goddess dwells. She turns a number of Odysseus' remaining men into pigs after drugging them. Odysseus searches for the missing men and encounters a disguised Hermes, who tells him to eat the herb called moly, which will protect him from the witch's drug. He confronts Circe and overpowers her, forcing her to restore his men to human form. He then becomes the witch-goddess' lover, and he lives in luxury for a year with the woman who had turned his men into pigs - which made them none too happy. They have to persuade Odysseus very forcefully to leave, and when he finally agrees, he asks Circe how to get back home. She tells him to sail through Hades to speak to the dead prophet named Tiresias, who would guide him back home. The men set out the next day, though they are not very happy about the course they have to take.

Books 11-15

In Book 11, they reach the River of Ocean, in the land of the Cimmerians. With certain rituals and sacrifices, he calls to the spirits of the dead. The first he sees is a crewmember of his who died on Circe's island in an accident, Elpenor; he begs for a proper burial, his corpse having been left behind as they sailed off. Odysseus then speaks to Tiresias, a blind Theban prophet who finally reveals that Poseidon's fury is the reason for all their ill fate, angry over the blinding of Polyphemus. He prophecies that Odysseus will return home, reclaim his home and wife, and then journey to another distant land to appease the god of the sea. Odysseus also speaks to the spirit of his mother, Anticleia; she tells him about events in Ithaca. He also speaks to numerous heroes and historical figures of the past, taking full advantage of the opportunity presented to him.

Here the tale goes back to the present, and Odysseus asks his hosts to allow him time to sleep; they are too enthralled and ask him to tell them about any spirits of heroes from the Trojan War that he might have spoken to. He confirms that he spoke with Agamemnon who was murdered by his wife. He met with Achilles, who asked after his son, Neoptolemus. He tried to speak to Ajax, who committed suicide, but he refuses to speak and slips away instead. It's not long before he's surrounded by spirits, who are asking him for news and updates about the land of the living; he becomes overwhelmed and frightened, and hurries back to his ship.

Book 12 tells of Odysseus' return to Aeaea, where he finally buries Elpenor, sleeps with Circe again, and in so doing earns her advice for the next leg of his journey. The first danger they face is an island occupied by sirens; heeding Circe's advice, Odysseus blocks his men's ears with beeswax to prevent them hearing the song, and he himself is bound to the ship with iron chains so that he can't be swayed. He begs and pleads with his men to set him free so that he can go to the sirens, but they refuse. Once this danger passed, they have to navigate the straits between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla is a many-headed beast who swallows six sailors from each ship that passes (one meal for each head); Charybdis is an enormous whirlpool that swallows entire ships that swerve too close. Circe's advice is to sacrifice six sailors to the beast and avoid the whirlpool, and this is what Odysseus does; and eventually they make it to Thrinacia (the island of the Sun).

Though he wants to continue the voyage, Odysseus is convinced by his crew to rest there; they end up stranded there for weeks and eat up all their provisions. Eventually some sailors disobey Odysseus and eat some of the cattle sacred to the Sun, earning again the disapproval of gods (this time Zeus) who creates another storm; this one destroys their ship and kills everyone on board except Odysseus (who only barely survives).  He gets swept all the way back to the whirlpool, Charybdis, and narrowly escapes it again, and on the timbers of his destroyed ship he washes up on Ogygia, the island of Calypso. Here, we are again at the start of our tale, and the narrative-within-a-narrative ends.

In Book 13, tale finished, present-day Odysseus sails from Scheria the very next night, and he sleeps through the entire voyage, and is carried onto the island of Ithaca by his Phaeacian crew, while still asleep. Poseidon spots him on Ithaca and is enraged; with Zeus' permission, he turns their ship to stone as it pulled into the harbor at Scheria, and sank to the bottom of the sea. Odysseus soon realizes he doesn't recognize the land he's woken up on, and he blames his allies for dropping him off in the wrong place - but Athena, disguised as a shepherd, tells him that he's actually reached Ithaca after all.  She disguises him as an old vagabond and instructs him to hide out in a swineherd's hut.

In Book 14 he meets the swineherd, Eumaeus, outside his hut; he invites him inside and feeds him well despite his poverty, and he tells him stories of his old master Odysseus, lamenting that he seems to be lost forever. He lets the disguised Odysseus stay the night and gives him a cloak to protect against the cold.

Book 15 has Athena traveling to Sparta to meet Telemachus and Pisistratus; she tells the young man to hurry home and warns him of the ambush the suitors have prepared for him there. She tells him to meet up with the swineherd, whom she says will assist him. As he prepares to leave, an eagle swoops down and steals a goose from its pen; Helen interprets this as an omen that Odysseus will soon swoop down and clear his home of its unwanted assembly. Telemachus is about to set sail when the descendant of a famous prophet named Theoclymenus asks for passage, and he agrees; and further offers him hospitality upon arrival in Ithaca.

Books 16-20

In Book 16, Telemachus reaches the swineherd's hut and finds him in conversation with an elderly stranger; the swineherd encourages them to go to the palace, but Telemachus is wary of the ambush, so Eumaeus goes to the palace on his own to inform Penelope of her son's return. While he's away Athena calls Odysseus outside; when he re-enters, his disguise is gone and Telemachus sees his father standing there. They embrace and weep, but quickly begin to plot the overthrow of Penelope's suitors.

Before Eumaeus can inform Penelope, news from the ship's arrival reaches the whole court, and everyone knows that Telemachus is back. The suitors are upset that their ambush had been thwarted and assemble in the courtyard to plan their next strike. Antinous wants to put Telemachus to death, but Amphinomous is able to convince the others to wait until they see a sign from the gods on how to proceed.

Book 17 has Telemachus leaving his father behind at the hut, and he returns to the palace where his mother and his nurse await him. While he tells his mother over dinner about the news he's gathered about Odysseus, he does not reveal that he's seen his father at home on Ithaca. Theoclymenus speaks up, and tells them that he is in fact on the island that very moment. Odysseus follows his son's footsteps, and is rudely treated (dressed as a beggar) by the suitors. Antinous insults him and Odysseus responds in kind; and the suitor hits him with a stool, an action that is too far even for the other suitors. Penelope hears about the cruelty and asks to have the beggar brought before her, but he doesn't go to her.

Instead, in book 18 he engages in a boxing match with another beggar that earns him some respect from some of the suitors, who give him food. He warns one of them of upcoming danger and Odysseus' imminent return, after the man treats him with some hospitality; he still does not leave. Penelope appears before her suitors, at Athena's urging, and she embues her with exceptional beauty and charisma. She tells the suitors that each should present gifts to her; meanwhile, Athena inspires the suitors to make trouble with Odysseus, insulting and enraging him. Stools are thrown and a riot almost breaks out, but Telemachus steps up to intervene and calms tensions.

In book 19, after the suitors go to bed for the evening, father and son gather up all the spare weapons from the palace and remove them; thereafter Penelope encounters Odysseus-in-disguise and begins to question him about her husband, whom she knows he claims to have encountered. He describes  himself with such vividity that she begins to cry; and he tells a story about how he met Odysseus, and that her husband will return to her within a month's time. The maid Eurycleia washes his feet and spots a scar that she remembers from her service to Odysseus, and she instantly knows it's him.  He swears her to secrecy. Penelope describes to Odysseus a dream wherein she sees an eagle kill twenty pet geese, and though Odysseus tells her it's a clear sign of her husband's imminent return, she says she will pick a new husband anyway - that the first man who can shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axes set in line will win her hand.

Book 20 shows the two spouses both having difficulties with sleep; Odysseus is worried about being outnumbered but Athena reassures him. In the next room, Penelope cries out and prays for Artemis to kill her; this wakes Odysseus, who asks Zeus for an omen. He hears a thunderclap, and simultaneously a maid nearby complains about the interloping men in the compound. The next morning everyone gathers and antagonisms continue through dinner, when Ctesippus, a wealthy man, throws a cow's hoof at him. Telemachus threatens to stab him in retaliation and the other suitors laugh. They don't notice that they're covered in blood, as are the walls of the room - they look ghostly, which Theoclymenus interprets as a clear sign of inevitable doom.

Books 21-24

In book 21, Penelope fetches Odysseus' bow and says she'll marry any suitor who strings it and shoots an arrow through a line of twelve axes. Telemachus sets up the axes and is the first to try, but he can't string the bow. One by one, the suitors fail to manage as well. Odysseus reveals his identity to Eumaeus and Philoetius by way of the scar on his foot and tells them that he'll treat them as Telemachus' brothers if they help combat the suitors. Disguised Odysseus is the last to attempt to string the bow; he finishes the task easily and shoots his first arrow through the heads of all twelve axes.

Book 22 begins with Odysseus shooting a second arrow directly into Antinous' throat. The suitors figure it's an accident, but Odysseus finally reveals himself, and they get scared. Philoetius and Eumaeus had locked the doors to prevent their escape and a full-on battle between the two sides erupts. When Athena finally joins the battle it ends swiftly, and the suitors all lie dead. The minstrel Phemius and the herald Medon were spared; the priest Leodes begged for mercy but was not. Eurycleia cheers the deaths of the suitors but is chastised by Odysseus - she then rounds up the disloyal serving women who are forced to clean up the mess before they too are murdered by hanging, a disgraceful death. Odysseus has his house fumigated after the turmoil is over.

Book 23 has Eurycleia waking Penelope, who has slept through the entire melee; she doesn't believe the maid until she goes downstairs and sees her husband with her own eyes. Even when she sees him she's half-convinced it's a trick, and Odysseus worries about retaliation, having killed basically all of the unmarried noblemen of Ithaca. After he finally convinces Penelope of his identity, Odysseus tells her that he must make another journey as revealed by the spirit of Tiresias. He tells her not to leave her room or accept any visitors, while he and Telemachus leave for Laertes' orchard, cloaked by Athena's magic.

In book 24, Hermes leads the souls of the suitors into Hades, and Agamemnon and Achilles are seen arguing over who had the better death. Meanwhile, Odysseus sends his servant into Laertes' house and has found that the man has aged significantly from grief. He doesn't recognize his son, until the man again shows off his foot scar, and recounts memories of his childhood. He tells Laertes about what happened with the suitors, and then they have lunch, and are joined by Dolius, father of Melanthius and Melantho. While they eat, the goddess Rumor spreads tales of the massacre around the island, and the parents of the suitors begin to gather to formulate a response. They form a small militia and go hunting for Odysseus under the command of Eupithes, Antinous' father, but Athena kills him and makes the rest of the parents forget the massacre happened, so that they will continue to recognize Odysseus as their king.