Odyssey Project

Trojan War

1200 BCE

Odysseus leaves his wife Helen and his son Telemachus to go fight in the Trojan War. This is not his choice.

Attacked By The Cicones

1190 BCE

At dawn the Cicones attacked their camp. Odysseus and some other men got back to the beach and sailed away. They were glad to get away, but sad that they lost around 60 men to the Cicones.

The Storm

1190 BCE

Soon after leaving the land of the Cicones a severe storm blew up, causing them to row into an unfamiliar shore where they spent two days. On the third day they left.

The Land of the Lotus Eaters

1190 BCE

Nine days had passed before they reached Libya. Odysseus sent out a search party to look around. They never returned so he sent out a second party to look for the first. They never returned so Odysseus went to look for them with six of his best men. They found the men eating lotus fruit. If you eat this fruit you instantly become addicted to it! They dragged the men back to the beach and on the boat. Then they left the land of the lotus eaters.

The Cyclops

1190 BCE

They came to a smaller island that was lying close to a bigger island. They thought the only things on the islands were flocks of goats. But, as night came they heard human shouts. The next day they decided to go look around on the bigger island. Once they got there they saw a great cave and they realized they had made a BIG mistake, when they found out the owner was a big, ugly cyclops. The cyclops killed two of Odysseus' men and ate them whole when he found them hiding in his cave.

Aeolus' Island

1190 BCE

After three days they were driven back to Aeolus' island. They begged him to give them another gift but he would not.

Leaving The Trojan War

1190 BCE

After 10 long years in war Odysseus can leave and go home to Ithaca. They cast off from the Trojan shores. They were so happy because instead of the hot army camp they were on a boat with a fresh sea breeze.

The Land Of The Cicones

1190 BCE

After four days at sea they came to the land of the Cicones. They went through the town of Ismarus killing whoever stood in their way and grabbing whatever they wanted. Odysseus wanted to leave soon but the men told him to relax. They spent the evening celebrating.

Maleia

1190 BCE

They began to regain confidence when they arrived at Maleia after a week. But, just as they were heading north toward Ithaca a wind came and drove them off course. They went past Cythera and to the west

The Curse

1190 BCE

The next day he ate two more men. The cyclops quickly fell asleep when Odysseus offered him dark fragrant wine. After he was asleep they stabbed the cyclops' eye and he was in major pain. Odysseus and his men got out by clinging to the rams as they ran out. As they sailed away Odysseus told the cyclops that he was Odysseus and that he outsmarted him. The cyclops was angry, he asked his father, Poseidon to put a curse on Odysseus and all of his companions.

The Gift

1190 BCE

After two days they came to Aeolus' floating island. Aeolus gave them a gift because of their terrible journey. The gift contained three of the four winds. When they were on the shores of Ithaca they would release the winds.

Lost at Sea

1190 BCE

On the tenth morning Odysseus fell asleep. While he was asleep his men decided to open the gift, even though Aeolus had told them not to until they were on the shores of Ithaca. The winds drove them far away from Ithaca. Odysseus was furious when he awoke to find them lost at sea.

Circe's Palace

1189 BCE

After two days at sea they reached another island. Odysseus sent a group of men to explore the island. In the evening Odysseus' cousin returned. He said that an enchantress had turned the men into pigs! Odysseus decided to go look. On the way he met Hermes, the god's messenger. He gave him a flower named Moly. It would protect him from Circe's spells. He told him what to do. Once Odysseus arrived he did what he was told. Circe freed his men! Odysseus and his men stayed at her palace for 1 year!

The Laestrygonians

1189 BCE

After a couple of days they came upon another island. Odysseus sent three men to find out more about the island. Two of the men came running back. They said the Laestrygonians were giants and they had killed one of Odysseus' men! Soon the giants had appeared and were throwing huge rocks at them and their ships. Luckily, Odysseus and some other men made it out safely.

Circe

1188 BCE

They finally made it back to Aeaea where Circe lives. They ate and rested. Then they left.

The Sirens

1188 BCE

They saw the island of the Sirens. Their singing is irresistible to men and if you go ashore they will turn into hags and kill you. Luckily, they were wearing earplugs.

Hyperion's Cattle

1188 BCE

Once they were far away from the straits fierce winds blew them to Thrinacia. They were all very hungry but if they ate Hyperion's cattle then he would surely find a way to kill them. After about a month they left because Odysseus' men had eaten the cattle because they were starving. Just as they got on the boat a storm blew up and Zeus shot a thunderbolt on their ship. Odysseus was the only person who survived.

The Underworld

1188 BCE

Once they arrived at the entrance to the underworld Odysseus saw his mother, then Teiresias and his mother came again. Next came Agamemnon. Then Achilles and many others. Finally he saw Persephone. She led him into the underworld. Odysseus was terrified! Finally he found himself back outside. They sailed far away.

Scylla and Charybdis

1188 BCE

Soon they entered the straits and two cliffs came into view. As they went closer Charybdis made a huge whirlpool around the ship, trying to suck the water down. They made it out just in time. Then Scylla grabbed six of Odysseus' men and ate them alive.

Calypso's Prisoner

1188 BCE

On the tenth day he made it onto the shores of an unknown island. Before he got there Charybdis and Scylla almost got him. He was about to die when a beautiful nymph saved him. She gave him water, a bed and gave him wet clothes for his cracked skin. She made him stay there for seven years until Zeus told her to let him go. Odysseus made a boat and left.

Phaeacia

1181 BCE

Odysseus was on his way to Ithaca when a storm came. His boat broke in the storm and he was clinging to the mast. He was unconscious when a sea nymph gave him an enchanted scarf. He reached an island and found shelter under some trees. Then Nausicaa gave him clothes and let him bathe. She took him to the palace. They said they would provide a ship to take him home. They asked how he got here and what was his story. Odysseus told them about his miserable journey.

Finally at Home

1181 BCE

Odysseus fell asleep on the way to Ithaca. When he awoke the goddess Athene was beside him. Athene disguised him as an old beggar. He went to Eumaeus' house while Athene made sure that Telemachus was safe. Eumaeus and Odysseus talked and explored the town for two days. That night when Telemachus and him were alone Odysseus told him everything. Telemachus was going to help his father get rid of all the suitors that were in his palace. The suitors thought Odysseus was dead and wanted to be king.

The Suitors and The Beggar

1181 BCE

The next day Odysseus went to the palace as a beggar. Outside the palace he saw his old dog. When they entered Antinous and all of the other suitors were very rude to the beggar. Telemachus stood up for the beggar but Antinous and the others continued to be rude. Telemachus told them to go home. When they left, Odysseus told his son to take the weapons off the walls. Then the beggar talked with Penelope, his wife. Penelope told Eurycleia to wash his feet, she realized that it was Odysseus.

Odysseus the King

1180 BCE

Penelope decided to have a bow contest. Whoever could string and shoot Odysseus' bow through two ax heads would be her husband. None of the suitors could do it. The beggar decided to try the bow. He made it through the two ax heads. He then shot Antinous and then everyone knew that he was Odysseus! He killed all of the suitors, except for Medon and Phemius. Then Odysseus, Penelope and Telemachus rejoiced! They lived happily ever after!