Temple Odyssey

Trojan War

Nov 12, 1200

The Trojan war was a 10 year war that was fought to retrieve Helen, who was spouse of Menelaus. Helen was seen to be the most beautiful woman in the world and there were many who desired to have her hand in marriage. She was abducted by Paris who had fell in love with her. Menelaus ordered his brother along with princes and warriors to salvage her. After nine years Achilles, a brave warrior, was killed by Paris with an arrow (which is significant in the analysis).

Trojan War pt.2

Nov 12, 1200

In books 21-22 Odysseus’ return resulted in him discovering that suitors were trying to overthrow his power by proving to be worthy of his bow in exchange whoever completes the task could have his wife’s hand in marriage. When Odysseus revealed himself after he shot Antimous, he initiated a brawl between him his loyal shepherds and later on Athena and the remaining suitors to rightfully take back his place and his wife. In their combat, arrows were traded similar to when Paris killed Achilles.

Lotus Eaters pt.2

Nov 13, 1200

Odysseus realized that you can’t trust everyone that offers to take care of you with open arms. The lotus eaters weren’t recognizable enemies which is why they accepted their profound approach without much thought.

Lotus Eaters

Nov 13, 1200

When Odysseus and his men reached the land of the Lotus eaters, the natives there greeted them with good hospitality that implied that they were to do no harm to the guests. The lotus eaters offered their guests the lotus flower to eat only to find that this intoxicating fruit made some of Odysseus’s crew members lose all desire to retire back to their homeland.

Cyclops

Nov 13, 1200

Odysseus and mates reached the land of the cyclops clumsy dumb one eyed giants. Polyphemus devoured a few of Odysseus’s men while they were held hostage in his cave. Odysseus had planned to kill the cyclops but realized he was the only one that was strong enough to move the giant boulder from the cave entrance so he waited for the right moment, intoxicated the cyclops resulting him collapsing, then Odysseus drove a wooden staff through the cyclops’ eye, allowing him and his crew to escape.

Cyclops pt.2

Nov 13, 1200

Cleverness plays a big role at this location. Odysseus’ anger at cyclops makes him feel the need to blind the him. He knew that the first chance he had to kill the him would fail because the cyclops was the only person who could move the boulder from the entrance of the cave so he waited to get the cyclops drunk, told the cyclops is name was nobody, then he finally stabbed him in the eye and when others came to see what the yelling was he yelled “nobody’s killing me“ which relieved the others.

Aeolus- Bag Of Winds pt.2

Nov 15, 1200

The theme in this location is temptation. The men just had to be greedy and selfish which led them back to the island of Aeolus who refused to help them again. Odysseus gained deeper knowledge of his crew mates and how loyal they are to him when he isn’t looking. Because of their greediness their journey home was a tad more difficult than it already was.

Circe

Nov 15, 1200

When Odysseus and the others arrived here at this location they came across the land of the witch goddess known as Circe. After she approached them in a nice manner she turned Odysseus’ men into swine. Hermès gave him something that would ensure immunity to Circe’s magic and protect him for when he would try and rescue them. When he comfronted her, he overpowered her forcing her to turn them back to humans. Circe became his significant other and he and the crew lived with her for one more year.

Aeolus- Bag Of Winds

Nov 15, 1200

Odysseus and his men reached the land of Aeolus ruler of winds who granted them a bag of wind that was to be used to get them back home to Ithaca. On their way home, while Odysseus was at rest, his stealthy crew members were eager to see what the bag beheld only to find that is was the wind that blew them back to Aeolus'. Aeolus however refused to help them a second time because he didn't want to go against the other gods who weren't in favor of Odysseus.

Circe pt.2

Nov 15, 1200

The theme in this location too is temptation. Odysseus who is married to Penelope was tempted to have an affair with Circe and allowed her to make him give up being faithful and delay him and his men from their trip back to Ithaca.

Sirens

Nov 19, 1200

Before their trip home, Circe told Odysseus before passing the island of the sirens to plug his men’s ears with beeswax and strap them to the mast of the ship and stay this way the whole journey. As they passed the island Odysseus heard the sirens’ seductive song and begged the crew to turn him loose but his men only bind him down more.

Scylla and Charybdis pt.2

Nov 19, 1200

Odysseus proves to be very intelligent and determined. When going through this near death experience, Odysseus was smart about his navigation through these obstacles making sure he didn’t lose as many men as he could have lost. Odysseus also gains a sense of sacrifice. He was willing to lose a few men if it meant that he would make it back home to his widowed wife in Ithaca.

Sirens pt.2

Nov 19, 1200

There is a ton of temptation in this location. Odysseus nearly faces death by not following Circe’s rules thoroughly when she told him to fill his ears with beeswax. Instead Odysseus chose not to and it it weren’t for his fellow shipmates, he would have probably threw himself off the rail of the ship. He was tempted and so determined to hear the sirens’ seductive singing and almost got himself killed.

Scylla and Charybdis

Nov 19, 1200

Scylla is a six headed monster who devours a sailor for every head. Charybdis is a gigantic whirlpool that terrorized the crew by threatening to swallow the entire ship. As Odysseus and his men were passing through, Scylla made her strike and gobbled up six of Odysseus’ men and they screamed in anguish. Even through the rough and tough journey through the lair of Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus did as he was told, by Circe, and held on strong despite him witnessing his crew mates being murdered.

Suitors pt.2

Nov 27, 1200

In this location I believe the theme is loyalty because for the 20 years of his absence, his loving wife still stayed faithful and showed fidelity to Odysseus while he was gone. The same goes for his loyal shepherds, while Odysseus was presumed dead they still had hope that he would return and they didn’t turn on him when Penelope offered the archer test they in fact suggested to the other disobedient suitors that they shouldn’t participate this because it’ll come back and bite them later.

Helios’ Cattle

Nov 27, 1200

Odysseus and most of his men survived what seemed to be the most dangerous and sacrificial obstacle on the way back home to Ithaca. Their next destination was the land of Thrinacia, land of the sun. Due to a bad storm they were stuck high and dry and tried to live off the remaining food left on the ship but when it ran out, one of his men suggested that they kill the sacred cattle of Helios but Odysseus and his crew insisted on and killed the cattle resulting in an even more difficult trip home.

Helios’ Cattle pt.2

Nov 27, 1200

In this location the theme is disguised as sacrifice, similar to the journey past Scylla and Charybdis. He learned certain things such as not being as needy and desperate. We get it Odysseus and his men had been put through a rough journey and we know that they might’ve been on the verge of starving but even knowing the consequences, he continued on and allowed the men to slaughter the cattle in the need for food. The men were desperate and hungry and they jeopardized their trip home.

Suitors

Nov 27, 1200

Odysseus has made it home back to Ithaca only to find out that suitors who wanted to marry his wife have invaded his home. Using her cleverness Penelope arranged a competition for her hand in marriage one she knew only Odysseus would be able to do without trouble. Every single one of the suitors failed until odysseus disguised as an old begger completed the task set by Penelope. He then sent a penetrating arrow through the ring leader of the suitors which led to him eventually killing them all.