Odysseus

Troy

1 CE

Odysseus was a general and had to go command in the Trojan War. Odysseus came up with a plan to get the Greeks to the Trojans and they won the war. But Poseidon was mad at Odysseus because he didn’t worship the Gods.

Island of Cicones

2

Odysseus and his men took lots of luxuries from the island and got drunk. They wouldn’t leave even though Odysseus wanted to and eventually the Cicones’ army came and attacked. They were outnumbered and lost many men.

Island of the Lotus Eaters

3

When you eat the lotus flowers you lose sense of reality feel happy and want to do nothing except for eat the flowers. Some of Odysseus’ men ate the flowers and had to be dragged back onto the ship because they did not want to leave.

Island of the Cyclopes

4

They are forced to land on the island of the Cyclopes because they had no food or water. They come across and cyclopes who eats two of the men. Odysseus comes up with a clever plan and they escape safely.

Aeolia

5

Aeolus, god of the winds, gives Odysseus a bag with all of the bad winds so that they could make it home safely. But, they get excited and open the bag, causing them to get blown back to Aeolia. Aeolus is worried that the gods cursed them so he sends them away.

Island of Laestragonians

6

The Laestragonians are cannibals. They eat all but one of Odysseus’ ships of men.

Aeaea

7

On his way onto the land, he sees Hermes who tells him to eat a poisonous plant because Circe is ahead. None of Circe’s spells work on him and he saves his men who had been turned into beasts. Circe tells them that to go see Tiresias, who is a prophet in the underworld.

Hades

8

As Circe instructed, Odysseus and his crew sailed to Tiresia in the underworld. Tiresia tells them to sail to Scylla and Charybdis, but pass by Scylla. This way only six of them will be lost instead of all of them.

The Sirens

9

The Sirens sing a song that no one can resist when they hear it. Circe gave them beeswax to put in their ears but she tells them to tie Odysseus to the front of the ship and not give him the beeswax. They pass the Sirens and Odysseus tells the crew when they are safe to take the beeswax out.

Scylla/Charybdis

10

Like Tiresia said, they passed Scylla. Scylla ate six of his men, but the rest pass safely.

Thrinacia

11

They land on the island of the sun god’s cattle and are so hungry that they roast one of the cows. Zeus punishes them by killing all of Odysseus’s men and and destroying his boats. Odysseus floats past Scylla and Charybdis but Zeus saves him.

Ogygia

12

Odysseus continued to float along and eventually ended up on Ogygia, which is the island of Calypso. Calypso kept Odysseus there for seven years and she told him that if he stayed forever she could make him immortal. But, Odysseus declined because he wanted to go home and Zeus let him leave.

Phaeacia

13

Poseidon was still mad at Odysseus and so he destroyed his boat. Odysseus washed onto the shore of Phaeacia and the King, Alcinous, gave him food and listened to his story. King Alcinous gave Odysseus a brand new boat so he could get home safely.

Ithaca

14

Odysseus made it back home, disguised as a beggar so that he could see who is on his side. He tells his son who he is and together they go into battle with the help of Zeus and Athena. Odysseus takes back his title as king.