Princeton Science School English 10

LESSON 4

The Adventures of Odysseus

After the victory at Troy, Odysseus and his men begin their journey home from here (TROY).

1. The Island of the Cicones

The Island of the Cicones/ Ciconians is called Ismarus.

After leaving Troy, they stop to raid this island for supplies. The Cicones attacked on horseback,
and Odysseus lost 72 of his men.

2. The Island of the Lotus Eaters

Odysseus sends his men out to search for food, and has to recover them when they eat the Lotus
Flower. The Lotus is a plant that forces the eater to lose all grip on reality. Once it is eaten, the person
knows nothing nor cares for anything other than eating the lotus plant. Only by dragging his men back to
the ship and locking them up can Odysseus get them off the island.

3. The Island of the Cyclopes

Here Odysseus and his men find a Cyclops’ cave, lured by his cheese and wine. The cyclops,
Polyphemus, traps them inside the cave. Odysseus and his men blind the cyclops, and then sneak out
under his herd of sheep.
Odysseus offered some strong wine he had to Polyphemus. Then, Polyphemus, drunk, fell into a
deep sleep. Odysseus, having planned, took a wooden stake and blinded Polyphemus’ single eye.
The next morning, Polyphemus took the sheep out of their pen to graze, and unable to see, felt
each sheep’s back in case the men were trying to escape. However, Odysseus had told his men to tie
themselves under the animals. The men reached the ship, and when they set sail, Odysseus boasted to
Polyphemus by revealing his name. Polyphemus then asked his father to punish Odysseus, causing him to
deviate from his planned route even further.

4. The Island of Aeolus

Lesson 4: The Adventures of Odysseus

 Princeton Science School English 10

The Island of Aeolus is Aeolia. Odysseus and his men sail from the land of the Cyclopes to the
home of Aeolus, ruler of the winds. Aeolus presents Odysseus with a bag containing all of the winds, and he
stirs up a westerly wind to guide Odysseus and his crew home within 10 days but Odysseus’ shipmates,
who think that Aeolus has secretly given Odysseus a fortune in gold and silver, tear the bag open. The
winds escape and stir up a storm that brings Odysseus and his men back to Aeolia. This time, however,
Aeolus refuses to help them, certain that the gods hate Odysseus and wish to do him harm.

5. Island of Laestrygonians

The island of Laestrygonians is called Laestrygonia. The Laestrygonians are gigantic cannibals
who destroyed eleven of his twelve ships by launching rocks from high cliffs and eat the crews of all the
ships. Odysseus’ ship was not destroyed as it was hidden in a cove near shore. Everyone on Odysseus’
ship survived.

6. Circe’s Island

Odysseus lands on Aeaea, home of Circe. Odysseus sends some of his men to scout out the area
but when they do not return, he becomes worried. All of Odysseus’ men do not return so Odysseus himself
sets off to see why.
On the way, he is confronted by Hermes. Hermes tells him that Circe is up ahead and that his only
chance of survival is to eat the plant Moly. Odysseus hesitates; Moly is poisonous. Nevertheless, he eats
it.
Circe pleads for them to stay on her island, and Odysseus does this because he was promised
information on how to return home. Finally, Circe tells him to go see Tiresias, a prophet located in the
underworld.

7. Land of the Dead

Odysseus consults the prophet Tiresias to ask how he can get home, and finds his mother there,
who has committed suicide in depression. Odysseus’ mother is Anticlea, wife of Laertes, daughter of
Autolycus and Amphitea, granddaughter of Hermes.

8. Island of the Sirens

In Greek mythology, a Siren was a creature who was half bird and half woman. She lured sailors to
their doom with her sweet singing. Circe had warned Odysseus about the sirens. Once they heard the
song that was sung by Sirens, they would snatch them and feed on their flesh. But Odysseus wanting to
hear the Sirens sing, without falling under the spell it casted, his crew tie him tightly to the mast with many
heavy ropes. He demanded that they not let him go no matter how much he wanted them to.

9. Scylla and Charybdis

Scylla is a six-headed monster who, when ships pass, swallows one sailor for each head.
Charybdis is an enormous whirlpool that threatens to swallow the entire ship. As instructed by Circe,
Odysseus chooses to sail for Scylla, a six-headed sea serpent, rather than Charybdis, a giant whirlpool.

Lesson 4: The Adventures of Odysseus

 Princeton Science School English 10

He did this because he knew that if he went to Charybdis, the whole ship would be destroyed. However, if
he went towards Scylla, six men would die. A sacrifice the brave Odysseus decided to make.

10. Island of the Sun God (Thrinacia/Trinacria)

After escaping Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus and his men see the island of Thrinacia. The
Odysseus’ men want to stop and rest. Odysseus explains the prophecies from Tiresias and Circe and
argues with the men about avoiding the island.
Odysseus was warned that he should not let his men harm the cattle. If they were to leave the
cattle unharmed they would all return to Ithaca. If they harmed the cattle they would all die except for
Odysseus.

11. Ogygia (Calypso’s Island)

Odysseus finds this island after drifting in the sea. It is an island of women, with a nymph named
Calypso, with whom Odysseus has a seven-year affair with. After the seven years, Hermes convinces
Calypso to let Odysseus build a new ship so he could sail home.

12. The Island of the Phaeacians

The Phaeacians accept Odysseus, and he explains his ten-year journey to them during a feast.
They happily give him a ride home on one of their magical ships.

13. Ithaca

Odysseus finally arrives home, and sees his son, Telemachus, for the first time in 15 years. He and
Telemachus kill all of the suitors, and Odysseus takes his place as king, once again, alongside his wife
Penelope.

Odysseus finally made it back to his home. Athena disguised him as a beggar so he can remain
hidden while he analyzes the loyalty of his friends and family. He confronts his son, Telemachus, and
reveals his identity to him.

Penelope laid down a challenge to the suitors. Any one of them who can string Odysseus’ bow and
shoot it through the ax handles like Odysseus used to do would be her choice. Needless to say, none of
them could do it, that is, until the beggar got a chance. He was ridiculed as he tried, but Odysseus shot the
arrow perfectly. Athena then changed his appearance to his previous one.

The suitors were awestruck. It was then that Odysseus and Telemachus began their attack. With
the help of Athena and Zeus, they slaughtered all of the suitors. Odysseus, his father, Telemachus, and
other loyal servants meet them in battle. Laertes kills Antinous’s father with a lance. Zeus soon commands
the fighting to stop. Odysseus finally reclaimed the title.

Lesson 4: The Adventures of Odysseus