Book 24 - Warriors, Farewell

We went to my father's house, and when we arrived, I sent Telemakhos and the herders into the house while I searched for my dad in the orchards. I found my father tending to a young fruit tree; he wore clothes fit for a farmer, not a king. I debated running up to kiss and hug him and telling him all about my travels, or interrogating and testing him before revealing myself. I went for the second option and I went up to him asking what island this is and why he looks so kingly but is working the field instead, and I lied about housing Odysseus a few years back. At this, his eyes filled with tears, and he talked about how his family was completely loyal to him while he was away and the suitors were taking all his stuff. He scooped up some earth with tears in his eyes, and this sad scene made me twinge inside, and I just had to tell him. So I leaped up and threw my arms around my dad and kissed him, telling him that I was Odysseus, and I proved it by showing him the boar's tusk scar and recounting the events surrounding it. His knees gave out from under him, and he clutched me as he prayed to the gods for thanks. We talked and walked up to his house where Telemakhos and the herders were waiting and making lunch. When we got there, I helped with lunch while my father was bathed and clothed in clothes fit for a king. Soon we were all seated, and as we started eating, Dolios and his sons appeared, and realising who I was, they ran up to me and kissed my hands and asked whether Penelope knows I'm here. I invited them to lunch, and we all ate and talked. Meanwhile, news of the suitor's bloody death blazed throughout the town like wildfire. They buried the bodies, then held town council, in which they decided to avenge their sons and kill us. Athena came down to us in the form of Mentor just as we saw the suitors' families coming over the fields to kill us. We prepared for battle, and as both mini-armies met in the fields, Athena called out in the middle of the field for us to stop. The Ithakans' faces paled, and they wanted to run home, but Athena held them in place. She had us make a pact of peace with terms set by herself. And there was peace under my rule.

Picture from: http://www.mjausson.com/2004/walk04Jul04.html

Book 23 - The Trunk of the Olive Tree

I sent Eurykleia to get Penelope, who was angry to have been woken from the sweetest sleep she'd had in many years. And Eurykleia told her to come downstairs because I was there waiting for her, but she just denied this fact, telling Eurykleia that it was one of the meanest things she could do to her. When Eurykleia finally persuaded her to come downstairs, I was sitting by a column, and we just stared at each other, Penelope not showing any feeling so as not to be hurt again by a fraud. Telemakhos asked her why she didn't go up and greet her husband after seeing him after 20 years; and she replied that she was still weary, but they'd know each other if it was truly him. I told Telemakhos to leave her in peace because we now had to worry about the families of the slain suitors coming to kill us. I thought for a while, then decided on a plan: I sent the remaining, faithful, maids to get dressed in their prettiest dancing clothes and for the men to bathe. We'd have a party with music, and the hall would sound merry so that any passer-by would think we were celebrating a wedding, and that no death was near. And then before any of the mourning families could come kill us, we'd slip away to the woods. So everyone got dressed, and we danced all night to the harper's music. After the dancing, I asked Eurykleia to set up a bed. Penelope told her to move the bed I had made out of the trunk of the olive tree that this house was built around, and I got really angry, talking about its importance and the work that went into it. This seemed proof enough to Penelope that I was indeed Odysseus. she ran up to me and hugged and kissed me, crying the whole time. We had the maids make our bed, and after we got re-aquainted, we spent the rest of the night telling each other the stories of the past 20 years. I also told her about the prophecy I was given in the underworld, and when we were done, we finally slept. In the morning we awoke, having had the best nights sleep in ages. I told all the women to lock themselves in the upper floors of the house and not open to anyone, while we went to find my father at his orchard, covered in a cloud of smoke by Athena...

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Book 22 - Death in the Great Hall

Then I shrugged off my rags and shot an arrow at Antinoos, who dropped his wine glass and his dead body landed on the floor, food falling with him to soak in the blood. I stood on the table, looking around and soaking up the fear that was radiating from each suitor. I told them that I was Odysseus and I was back to kill them for bringing dishonor on my family and house. Amphinomos charged at me in anger, sword in hand, but Telemakhos threw his spear at him, and it hit right between the shoulder blades, and pierced straight through to the heart. I rained a shower of arrows down upon them, and many suitors fell. I took a break to instruct Telemakhos to get us four men a helmet, spear, and shield each from the storeroom. He left and came back with the items as I showered the suitors with arrows once more. And once I had run out of arrows, we all put on the shields, spears, and helmets, ready for the suitors to charge. But they realised that they'd need weapons to fight us, and they sent Melanthios to get them what they needed. He went into the unlocked store room and brought back weapons and shields, but when I realised what was happening, I sent the two herders to tie him high up and lock him in the storeroom until we'd either won, or the suitors came to get him. The herders went as father and son faught against the suitors. At that moment, Athena came in the form of Mentor and the herders came back. The suitors desperately tried to get Mentor on their side, but Athena was sticking with us. She didn't want to help us quite yet, though, and she watched from the rafters above while we faught. The swineherd and Telemakhos were grazed by the suitor's weapons, and the cowherd was pierced (but not fatally). At this point, Athena decided to join, and she created the aegis above us all, which made the suitors cower in fear. And we attacked, killing every single suitor around us as they gave up hope for survival. We spared two people that Telemakhos trusted as "not loyal to the suitors", but by the time we were done, everyone was dead and the great hall was flooded by blood. I sent Telemakhos to get Eurykleia. She came to me, and I sent her to get the 12 unfaithful maid-servant-sluts. They came out crying and I made them clean up the dead bodies and take them outside. When the hall was scrubbed of blood and cleared of suitors, I sent the 12 sluts into a dead-end alley where I had Telemkahos hang every singe one of them. I called Eurykleia once more, and told her to get the rest of the maids to make the hall smell nice with fire and brimstone. All the maids came out and hugged and kissed me, glad to see me home, and thankful for the death of the suitors...

Picture from: http://www.alarie.de/gallery/details.php?image_id=39&l=english

Book 21 - The Test of the Bow

Athena made Penelope go down into the treasure vault and pick out the huge bow that Odysseus had won from Iphitos and used many times in the hunt. She sobbed and brought it up to the hall, with maids carrying a basketfull of axeheads behind her. She told the suitors that whoever strung the bow and sent an arrow through a line a 12 axe-helve sockets would get to marry her. She asked Eumaios to bring the bow and axes forward, and as he lay them at the suitors' feet, he and the cowherd sobbed. Antinoos made them go outside to cry, and I followed them outside. Within the hall, every suitor tried to string the bow, but all failed. And outside, I asked how loyal the herders would be to Odysseus if he jst happened to come home. They told me that they'd be completely loyal and fight with him, and their loyalty drove me to tell them who I was. We all fell about crying and hugging, but we stopped because someone would wonder what was up if they saw us. I told them my plan to kill the suitors, and they agreed to help by locking all the women away, locking the house perimeter, and fighting with me. We went back inside as Eurymakhos picked up the bow to string it, but, like all the other suitors, he failed too. Antinoos didn't go (he probably didn't want to look like a fool with not being able to string the bow) and instead he called for feasting again. When all the suitors sat down, I asked if I could try my hand at the bow, and all the suitors refused, thinking about the possible embarrassment if I actually managed to string the bow. But Telemakhos, my son and master of the household, told Eumaios to hand me the bow and string, and as the suitors shouted insults at him, he brought me the bow and string. With master craftsmanship and strength, I looked the whole bow down, checking for decay in the many years I had been abroad. Finally deciding that there were no imperfections, I strung the bow with ease, to the gasps of the suitors. I then chose from the arrows near me and shot the arrow straight through the axes. While I was doing this, Eumaios had called Eurykleia to his side and told her to lock all the women away, and no matter how many shouts and clashes of arms they heard, no one should unlock the doors. She ran away to close up the women while the swineherd and cowherd locked up the gates, windows, and doors surrounding the palace. And when I had shot the arrow through the axe-heads, I turned to Telemakhos and told him that it was time to cook the lordship's mutton and Telemakhos, my son, dropped his head, stood up, belted his sword on, picked up his spear, and stood next to his chair a few feet behind me, ready to murder the suitors...

Picure from: http://www.navajosandpainting.net/Bows_spears.php

Book 20 - Signs and a Vision

I made my bed in the entry way and fell asleep, but not after long, twenty young servant girls crept, giggling, out of the house to go among the suitors and sleep with them. This angered me so much, but I managed to control myself. While I slept, Penelope was awake crying and praying to Artemis that she can be killed now and spared the pain, and in the morning, this crying and praying woke me up. I packed up my make-shift bed and went outside to pray to Zeus for us to kill the suitors and live. While I was out there, I overheard the 1st maid out of the morning, and as she was grinding grain, she was praying to Zeus for the death of the suitors and return of Odysseus, and this loyalty brought me great happiness. All the other maids woke and came outside as Telemakhos woke. When he came out from his tower, he asked Eurykleia to make sure that I had been treated well. And she replied that I had been fed and bathed, and that I had requested not to have a bed, and satisfied, Telemakhos left the hall. The Eurykleia called to all the maids to clean the house as best as they could and cover all the furniture and beds in red. I met the swineherd in the great hall, and we talked a little about life, and then Melanthios came and insulted me more. Philoitios came and said hello, welcoming me and telling me how he wished for Odysseus to come home because the suitors were horrible and he would have to be forced to live somewhere else. I promised him that Odysseus was coming home. I sat down as all the suitors came in for breakfast and Telemakhos stood up and told them not to lay a hand on me. But Athena wanted them to insult us to annoy us, so she made Ktesippos taunt me and throw a cow foot at me, but io dodged it easily. Outraged, Telemakhos stood up and defended me, telling him that he shouldn't treat a guest like that and that he would kill him if he did that again. Then Theoklymenos, the prophet's son, told all the suitors that they would die soon (because he had just had the prophecy). And all the suitors fell about laughing, so Theoklymenos left to go stay at Peiraios' home. The suitors set to work provoking Telemakhos, but he just ignored them and watched me and we thought murderous thoughts together from across the room; and while all this went on, Penelope just sat there facing us, father and son, and watched on in amazement...

Picture from: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/cemetery/cemindex.htm

Book 19 - Recognitions and a Dream

The suitors were gone, and Telemakhos and I hid the armor in the basement, with the help of Athena, so that the suitors couldn't get to them. I was then called into Penelope's chamber, and as she came down the stairs, she looked like Artemis and Aphrodite. She asked who I was, but so as to not give my identity away, I switched topics to her own roots and troubles. She told me about the suitors and how she wouldn't marry them even if Odysseus never comes home because she could never marry anyone other than him. But she still pressed for my identity, so I made up a quick story about how I had travelled around the world a lot, and while on my travels I had met Odysseus, and I had also found that he was already on his way home and carrying many treasures (which was true for the most part). She wished it was true, as I'd heard her say many a time since I've been home, but she also hoped that I wasn't lying. To prove I wasn't lying, she asked to to tell her what Odysseus was wearing, and I told her exactly what I put on the day I left for Troy, and this truth made her cry more, and the pain of longing for Odysseus got worse. She asked if I wanted a bed to sleep in tonight and a good bath with new clother, but I replied that I've slept on hard ground for the past years of my life, and I would carry on doing so, but a nice bath would be appreciated, but only by one of her oldest and wisest hand maids. She called Eurykleia, the very person who had nursed me since my birth, and when she saw me, she swore I was Odysseus. But I was ready for this and told her that I'd been told her this many times before, and she bathed my feet. I forgot about a scar I got when I was a kid, and when she saw it, she tried to show Penelope that it was me, Odysseus, but Athena made her not care. I grabbed Eurykleia and made her swear not to tell anyone, and she did. And before Penelope went to bed, she asked me about a dream she had had in which an eagle came down and killed 20 fat geese, and as it left, it told Penelope to be glad because the geese were the suitors and the eagle was Odysseus. I told her that this wasn't just a dream, and it would come true because it was a sign from the gods. With that, Penelope went to bed and cryed until Athena showered sweet sleep upon her eyes...

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Book 18 - Blows and a Queen's Beauty

As I sat by the windowsill, my begging time finished, the usual beggar came and threatened to kill me if I didn't leave. I tried to make peace with him, but I ended up taking his threat and we started a fight. The suitors, finding us fighting beggars very amusing, decided to give food and honor to the winner, and death to the looser, and they came around us to watch. I punched the man's jaw and broke it, then I dragged him out of the palace and told him not to come back. The suitors, amazed, gave me food and wine, and I realised one of them was nice, so I told him a summary of the death to come, as if I was prophesizing. Then Penelope spoke up and decided to go to her chamber and fall asleep, and while she slept, Athena made her more beautiful by putting ambrosia on her face. She awoke and went downstairs and talked to Telemakhos about how the beggar should've been treated better as a guest, and why the suitors are acting so un-homely. Telemakhos responded that he wished that the suitors would be punched like that. Then the suitors talked to her, telling her how beautiful she was, but she just responded that she missed Odysseus, and this speech warmed up my heart. And at this speech, all the suitors sent for gifts for Penelope and then gave themselves up to dancing and singing merrily. I went up to the maids and told them to take Penelope to her chamber and look after her, and I would wait among the suitors until they left, then I'd go see her; but the maid that was sleeping with Eurymakhos came forward and told me I was drunk, to which I replied that she was an ignorant slut and if Telemakhos heard what they had said, he would cut their arms and legs off. And them knowing this was true ran off crying to their chambers. I then watched the suitors as they taunted me and I replied cleverly, and then more taunting and some death threats. They threw stuff at me, and Telemakhos told them they were drunk and to go home, and momentarily struck by his manner, they decided to finish their wine, offer libations to the gods, and went home.

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Book 17 - The Beggar at the Manor

When dawn came, Telemakhos went into town to check on the guest he had brought with him and to show his mother that he was ok. He also asked the swinherd to bring me into town a little later so that I could beg for food from the suitors. Telemakhos got home and once Penelope had hugged and kissed him, he told her to go bathe, change into a dress, and pray to Zeus for revenge. He then went into the square to find Theoklymenos and brought him home for lunch. And they ate while Penelope silently sat spinning a fine wool yarn. When they'd finished eating, Penelope asked what news Telemakhos had found of Odysseus. He told her his journey, how he found out that Odysseus was being held hostage by a nymph and how he was glad to have escaped death by the suitors. Then Theoklymenos, the prophet's son, told Penelope that he had had a glimpse at where Odysseus is and that he is on the island, but Penelope just wished for that to be true. Meanwhile, the suitors were crowding in for dinner after a day of discus throwing and javelin practice. While the prepared dinner, I and the swineherd were coming down from the hut, and on the way we met the shepherd, a man loyal to the suitors, who made fun of me and the swinherd and made my heart and temper flare up in anger, but I controlled myself and ignored his insults as he walked past us to the palace. We arrived at the palace where we met my old dog who was neglected and covered in fleas, dying of misuse and old age, and once he had wagged his tail and seen his master after 20 years, he laid his head down and died. The swineherd went into the palace while I waited outside for a while so as not to arrive with him. I went inside after a while and waited at the window. Telemakhos sent the swineherd over to me with a loaf of bread but he also told me to go beg among the suitors. So I did, and most of them gave me some good bread to fill up my bag, except for Antinoos who decided to throw a foot stool at me, which hurt rather a lot. And by going through the men, I knew who was nice and who wasn't, and this could help me decide how to bring death upon them. I went to the window once more, when Penelope sent the swineherd to bring me into her study because I had travelled the world so much I might have news of Odysseus. But when the swineherd came to tell me, I told him to tell Penelope that I'd come once everyone had gone to bed for it would look bad if a beggar was alone with her in her room, and with this Penelope agreed. So the swineherd went home for the night and I waited for the suitors to go so that I could go talk with my wife...

Picture from: http://www.cloghancastle.com/features/banquet.html

Book 16 - Father and Son

When Telemakhos arrived, without even a growl from the watchdogs, I and the swineherd were just talking, but when he came in, the swineherd hugged and kissed him, for he was so glad that Telemakhos had escaped death at the hands of the suitors. The swinherd asked if I could have protection from Telemakhos and stay at the palace, and Telemakhos replied that it would be unsafe for me to stay up there and that he would clothe me and sail me wherever I wanted, but that I'd have to stay here for safety. I told Telemakhos that, with no disrespect intended, instead of just running away from the suitors he should stand up and fight because even if he went alone and died, at least he died honorably and in his own home rather than in far off lands. Telemakhos explained his situation a bit more, then sent the swineherd to his mother to tell only her that he had arrived home safely, but not to tell any other Akhaians because they wanted to kill him. The swineherd left, and soon Athena appeared as a wise old women to everyone but me (I knew it was Athena) and she beckoned me outside and when I went to her, she told me to tell Telemakhos who I am and what I'm planning to do. And with that she tipped her golden wand on me and I became young again, with a pure white cloak and fresh knit tunic, no beard, and a sun-kissed sailor's air about me. I walked back into the cabin and Telemakhos thought I was a god because I had changed so drastically, and I said I wasn't but I was his father, Odysseus, and I cried and embraced him. But he didn't think it was me and said that only spirits or those helped by gods could change so drastically. I replied that it was I, the one and only, and that Athena was helping me with the changes and Telemakhos sat down, bewildered. He then threw his arms around me and we both weeped. When we finally stopped crying, Telemakhos asked how I arrived here, and I told him that the Phaiakians brought me here while I slept and with a huge amount of treasures hidden in a cave at the shore. I also told him that we were going to kill the suitors. And he wondered how, and we had a little discussion about the gods and how we were going to do this. Back at the palace, both the crew and the swineherd told Penelope that Telemakhos was home. The crew sailed down the beach, where the suitors met them, wondering how Telemakhos escaped their grasp, and telling the crew how they meant to kill Telemakhos so that he could be gone for good. Then one suitor spoke up, saying how they shouldn't kill one of royal blood and they should consult the gods; if they say yes, they'll kill Telemakhos, if no, then don't kill him, and every suitor agreed. And Penelope knew they wanted to kill Telemakhos and when the suitors poured into the palace, Penelope came and told them that she knew and asked why they plotted so. And one suitor was bold enough to stand up and tell Penelope straight lies about how they would nevertouch Telemakhos, and when he was done she silently went to her chambers and wept until Athena sent her to sleep.

The swineherd approached, and Athena quickly turned me old once more. Telemakhos greeted him first, asking about news from town, but the swineherd had rushed there and home and had had no time for town talk. We ate pig for dinner and drank lots of wine and sat down and talked. When we finally couldn't talk anymore, we took the gift of sleep and left talking until the morning.

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Book 15 - How They Came to Ithaka

Guest Blogger: Telemakhos

I couldn't sleep, and my insomnia was greatened when Athena came and told me that my father was back on Ithaka and I should go home. It also didn't help when she told me that the suitors had set up a trap for me and were ready to murder me on my return before I reached land. But Athena then put to rest my fears when she told me that the suitors were to die instead, rather ironic really. So when dawn approached, we told the king that we were staying with that I had a longing for home and had to leave immediatly, and so as to honor his guests' wishes, he sent us off with 3 extremely meaningful gifts. We left Menelaos' house with our team of racing mares pulling us closer and closer to home. We only stopped to sleep that night, and when we got to the palace of Nestor, I asked his son, as a wish of a guest, that I should be brought straight to the boat and leave for home, because his father was sure to slow me down if he new I was here. Nestor's son agreed to this, but before we set off a strange man came up to me, the son of a prophet, called Theoklymenos and asked who I was. I replied truthfully, and he told me that he had killed a cousin, so everyone in his homeland-area was after him and on his tail right now, and the only way for him to live is if he comes with us on the ship. And since he longed for the sea, and his life depended on it, I couldn't refuse and I invited him aboard, and we set off...

Odysseus Blogging:

I ate with the swinherd once more and I told him that I might go to the port, see if I could get something from a little begging, and possibly even go to see Queen Penelope and tell her my news of Odysseus. And this made Eumaios furious and he replied telling me that I shouldn't go beg, and that he could look after me longer until Telemakhos came home and could send me home with good clothing and food, and I thanked him for letting me stay longer. I asked him how he ended up working for Odysseus and he replied with a long story about how men came to his island of Syrie and stole away one of the women of the house and she took him with her, but while on the ship home, Artemis killed her and he was left alone. And when his story finished, I told him how sorry I was for him, but glad that he got a nice home eventually, and we talked all night.

Back to Telemakhos:

We came upon the island and rowed into shore, and once we had landed we ate breakfast. I stood up and told everyone that they were going to go into town and I would join them later, and the new passenger asked what he should do, and I replied that I would invite him to my house if it wasn't horrible, but it was, so I told him to go as a guest to Eurymakhos' house. But the gods sent a message that he should stay with us, so I called on Peiraios to take the guest up to my house. All the men boarded the ship and headed to town while I stayed on land and put my sandals on and took up my spear. Swiftly on foot I went to the swineherd's house...

Picture from: http://www.goravani.com/art/Copper_spear.html

Book 14 - Hospitality in the Forest

I went up into the high hills to find where the swineherd lived. This man was the most loyal worker of Odysseus, and he lived with his herds in a little shack that he built himself. When Odysseus got there, the swineherd was making himself some sandals from oxhide, but I couldn't get to him because of the wolf-like guard dogs who would've torn me to pieces if I hadn't sat down and the swineherd had noticed me. He scattered the dogs and invited me, the beggar, into his house and I thanked him graciously. To this he answered a short story about how his master Odysseus was one of the greatest men in the world, and so much nicer than the suitors are. With this told, he slaughtered to small pigs and roasted them, giving one to me and one for himself, he then filled up wine bowls for both of us, and we talked over this small, but amazing lunch. He told me more about how amazing Odysseus was and how much he missed him, and I tried to tell him that Odysseus (I) was alive, but so many people had come supposedly bearing news of Odysseus, but they all ended up lying just to get great food and shelter. The swineherd then asked me to tell where I was from, and I made up a huge story about "myself" in which I went through many troubles, the loss of my crew and much greed from them, not being near my son and wife, etc. and as I told it, I realised that the story was my own, just with different actors playing the parts. We managed to talk so long past lunch that by the time we were finished, it was dinner time, and the swineherd's four helpers had started to herd up the pigs into their pens and they trudged in for dinner. Then the swineherd had them kill the biggest and juiciest pig just for me. They cut off the parts for the gods and burnt them, thanking the gods and praying for the safe homecoming of Odysseus. Once all the sacrificing and praying was done, he put the best part of the pig infront of me, since I was the guest, and I thanked him. Then we talked more, and I told a story in which "Odysseus" gave me a cloal because I was cold (the whole story was a hint to them to give me a cloak for I would need one to travel around in these rags without freezing), and when I was done, the swineherd told me that I could sleep over and have some of the blankets while I slept, but since they were very poor, they only had one set of clothes and therefore had no cloak to spare. With this he rose and laid out a bed of skins infront of the fire for me, and I lay down with the soft blanket over me. Everyone went to sleep except the swineherd, who went outside with his huge cloak to guard him against the wind, and slept with the very swine he guarded, and it warmed my heart to have such a hard working man under my wing.

Picture from: http://acharlie.tripod.com/shepherd.html

Book 13 - One More Strange Island

The hall was so silent, you could hear a feather touch the ground. Alkinoos answered, once more telling everyone that I should be sent off with great gifts, except this time I was to leave the next morning as I had asked. So when the morning came, we offered an oxen to the gods, feasted, and loaded up the ship for my departure. I said farewell to Alkinoos, and we left, me on a bed made for me, and the crew manning the oars, rowing us swiftly away from the nicest hosts I've stayed with so far on my journey. When dawn was nearing, we landed on Phorkys, a cove in the Ithaka region that houses Naiades. The crew lifted me in my bed (still sleeping) and put me on land, putting beside me my gifts from the princes of Phaiakia, under the lone olive tree, where Athena stood guarding me, and they rowed home. And up in Olympus, Poseidon moaned to Zeus, asking why I had managed to land in Ithaka with barely any troubles and with many more treasures than I had left Troy with; Zeus answered that Poseidon could do whatever vengeance he wanted, so Poseidon decided to crash the Phaiakian ship within sight of land so that the Phaiakians could see the ship go down. And as Alkinoos watched it go down, he realised that a prophecy that his father had told them had been fulfilled right there, and so as not to fulfill the second half, he sent many people to sacrifice 12 choice bulls to Poseidon while they all prayed. Meanwhile I awoke on my island while Pallas Athena poured a grey mist all around me, hiding me from the common person. And I wondered where I was, because I couldn't recognize any of my surroundings, and I thought that the Phaiakian crew had placed me in some godforsaken land and I checked my treasure to see if anything had been stolen, but it was all there. I weeped and walked along the shore until Athena came down to me in the form of a shepherd, and I ran up to him and greeted him and asked for shelter, help, and the name of the island. To which he answered that I must be an idiot not to know that this is Ithaka. To this I laughed and made up a lie about how I got here. But the shepherd became the figure of Athena and laughed at my skill to come up with such a good story and disguise, and she told me not to tell anyone who I am and that she was to tell me some information. We talked a while, and Athena told me how my wife still waited faithfully and how she couldn't fight against Poseidon for me poking out his son's eye, and she dispelled the mist so everyone could see me. I kissed the ground and prayed to the Naiades, then Athena lead me to the cave where we would hide my goods. She entered first and explored the cave while I carried up the treasure and she closed the treasure in with a rock door, then we sat under the olive tree and figured out how to disperse of the suitors. She talked to me and fired me up into a rage so that I promised to kill every suitor if she faught with me. She then transformed me so that not a soul would know who I was and sent me to the swineherder while she went and called Telemakhos back from abroad. With that we went our separate ways.

Picture from: http://www.peacetour.org/files/WEB_OliveBranch.jpg

Book 12 - Sea Perils and Defeat

We left the land of the Men of Winter, and landed on an island while the sky was still dark. And by dawn we had woken and I had sent some men to get Elpenor's body from Kirke's island while I and the men not sent built a pyre. Kirke, knowing that we had passed theough the land of the dead alive, came with some of her hand maidens bearing food and drink. She congratulated us for being the only mortals to come out alive, and she said she'd map out the landmarks and perils in our journey ahead so that we wouldn't get beached or killed when we sailed out tomorrow. All that day we feasted and when night came and all my men went to sleep, she took my hand and lead me over to a bush where we lay down together and she asked me to tell her everything that had happened down their since our lasting meeting. She listened intently, and when I was done, she warned me about sirens in our path and she told me how to pass them without dying. Once I passed them, I'd have two options: to go through the drifters, a place where no one had survived except for the Argos who's captain was favored by Hera, and to pass the den of Skylla, a fearful monster who takes crew straight from the ship, one man per head. Kirke recommended that I take the route of Skylla because the loss of a whole boat and every man on it is greater than the loss of just 6 men. Once we passed that island, we'd come upon the island of Thrinakia where Helios' immortal sheep live and graze, guarded by his nymph daughters Phaethousa and Lampetia, and though we'll be tempted to take one of the sheep, we mustn't because if we do, doom and destruction will come upon the ship and crew. And she finished as the first rays of dawn spread across the sky, and she left me, walking up the island and away. As soon as she left, I roused up the men and herded them onto the ship, there I told them what Kirke had told me; I asked them to tie me to the mast and not let me go no matter how much I begged, because I was to be the only one to hear the siren's song, but if I were to get loose I'd die. So we set off and as we started to near the sirens, I rolled beeswax into soft balls which the crew then put in my ears, they then tied me to the mast and went to the oars where they would row us quickly past the sirens. Soon I could hear the faint song of the two sirens, and it was so lovely that I cried to my crew to untie me and allow me to go closer, but they just tied me up more and rowed on in silence. As soon as the sirens went over the horizon and we could no longer hear them, the crew took out the beeswax and untied me, but no sooner had we left the domain of the sirens did we start getting pulled into the whirlpool and oars flew from the crew's hands. But I gave them encouragement and they caught their oars and picked up pace and soon we were out of range of the whirlpool, but I could see the mountains of Skylla and I didn't tell the crew of the horror awaiting them. We neared, then Skylla striked and took 6 of my best men as her meal and they screamed for help as they were gobbled up, and we just had to ignore them and row on. And we came upon the island of Helios, and it was a full crew vote to land, sleep, and leave in the morning, so I had to oblige but I made them swear not to harm a single sheep on that island and to only eat what Kirke had stocked us up with. They all swore and we reached land, made dinner, mourned the loss of our 6 men, and fell asleep. A month of storms hit the island and by the middle of them we had finished all our provisions and were surviving off fishing. My hungry crew was finding it increasingly harder to keep their hands off the sheep, but I reminded them that terrible things would happen if they touched one of those cattle. I went to a silent little cove where I prayed to the gods for salvation, but they only sent me to sleep. While I was asleep, Eurylokhos persuaded my crew into killing a heifer for food and they went and killed some, offered the good parts to the gods, and ate the rest. Suddenly I awoke from my slumber to the sweet smell of meat roasting, and I realised what my crew had done. Helios told Zeus to kill my men, and he promised to shatter my boat with a lightning bolt. But I couldn't do anything to help them, because they had already killed the animals (which lasted for 6 days each). Suddenly the day became clear, and we left the island with the meat, but Zeus was creating thunder above us, and within moments, the nice day turned black and lightning tore the ship's mast down and knocked all the crew off the ship to die. I alone was left to cling onto the ship, but one more buck sent me into the winedark sea. I drifted off on the remnants of the mast to Ogygia Isle where the nymph Kalypso took me as her lover. And at that somber note, I finished my tale...

Picture from: http://www.skylla.co.uk/blog

Book 11 - A Gathering of Shades

We put the ewe and ram on the ship and left, every single one of my men's faces wet with tears. We sailed all day, and by night we had reached the realm of the Men of Winter, where it is never light. There we touched land, and took the ram and ewe off the boat, and walked along the stream to a place where I dug a pit and poured libations to the dead round it. I then promised the dead that when I got home I would sacrifice my best cow and give them all the good parts, and the handsomest black lamb of my flock. Then I killed the lamb and ewe, letting their blood drain into the pit. At this the souls gathered around the pit, and I ordered my crew to burn the bodies of the ram and ewe in the name of sovereign Death and Persephone. In the crowd of lonely souls, I found that of young Elpenor and I asked how he had died and he told me; but he also told me how Telemakhos had left home. He then asked me to build him a cairn above the breakers when we got back home, and of course I said yes. In that crowd I also saw my mother, but, weaping, I had to keep her away from the blood. Soon the prince of Thebes came through the crowd, holding a golden staff and talked to me and told me that he would taste the blood on my sword to see if I was true. He licked it, and began to tell me of my future. He said I could pass, but anguish lies ahead from Poseidon because I poked out his son's eye. When I make landfall on Thrinakia I will see the herds of Helios grazing, but if I or any of my crew touched one of those sheep, we'd be dead in a second. I would carry on my journey alone, for my whole crew will die, and when I finally return home I'll have to kill the suitors who raid my home and court my wife. With that done, I will once more go on a journey to a place where barbarians live, and there I will sacrifice my best ram, bull, and buck boar to Lord Poseidon. And finally when I have lived my life through, I will die softly at the hands of the sea, with everyone at peace. I asked him why my mom's ghost hadn't talked to me, and he said that any ghost that drinks the blood will be able to speak the truth, but one who don't drink it will fade away once more, and with that he retired to the halls of Death. I allowed my mother to drink the blood, and at once she recognized me and asked why I came alive to this awful place. I told her that I came here for a prophecy from Teiresias' shade, and I hadn't managed to reach home since I left Troy. I then asked her how she died, and about my still living family back at home. She told me that my wife was still faithful and spent all night weeping for me to come home, and that Telemakhos holds the public honor of a magistrate, and that my father has retired as a hermit to the country waiting for me to come home as age slowly sets in. And finally, she told me that her pain waiting for me had finally taken over and killed her. I tried to hug her, but she sifted through my fingers and I cried. I let my mother go, and allowed those shades that Persephone sent to drink the blood, but in order and one by one so that I could question them. And an amazing lot of shades they were, many princesses who had lain with Gods and mothers of famous heroes. Once I had talked to all of them, I told everyone, human and shade, that it was time for us to sleep, " then, I fell silent, and the whole hall echoed my words. Alkinoos then stood up and told everyone that I should be allowed home, but to stay one more night for all my gifts to be given and stored. Alkinoos then asked me if I had seen any of my deceased friends from Troy in that underworld, and I replied that I had met Agamemnon, and when I asked how he died, he told of the treachery of his wife, and how she and her new husband had killed him as soon as he stepped on the mainland. And after I spoke to him, many of my companions from Troy appeared, recognized me, and talked to me. I then looked over the underworld, and saw all those condemned to everlasting pain for horrible things they had done in their lifetime, and along with them I saw the amazing heroes and people who were allowed a place over all the dead. I saw and talked to many more reat heroes from the past, and I was waiting to talk to more, but Persephone sent shades, so I hastily called my crew together and we borded the boat and set off, first with oars, and then with a following wind...

Picture from: http://www.sheep101.info/breedsB.html

Book 10 - The Grace of the Witch

We landed on Aiolia Island, domain of Aiolos Hippotades. Here we were welcomed amazingly well, and we stayed in the town and palace. And we stayed there one whole month while I told Aiolos the stories of Troy and our journey up until now. When I was done, I asked if we could leave, and he sent us off with a bag made of bull skin that had bottled inside it some storm winds, given to Aiolos by Zeus, that could blow us home if we ever needed it. We sailed off, and for 9 days I didn't sleep, watching the bag and for land every single second. On the 9th day, when I finally saw land, fatigue took hold of me and I fell into a deep sleep. But greed took over my crew, and while thinking there was gold and silver in that bag for them, they opened it up and set the winds free. The winds sailed us back and landed us back on Aiolia Island, where at first Aiolos was happy to see me again, but after learning of my crew's treachery, he banished me from the island, fearing the bad luck bestowed upon me by the gods. For 6 days we sailed until we came upon more land, with a safe wall of mountains, and a calm bay for our ships to rest in. We came onto land, where I sent 3 men to see who inhabited the place. They found a wagon trail, and on it a girl who showed them to the king and queen of her people. But one look at the monarchs and the men knew something was up. Suddenly, the king attacked and ate one of the men as the other two ran back to the ships and told us to leave. We left the island as the cannibal tribe chucked stones at us, breaking and sinking one of our ships. We next landed on Aiaia, island of Kirke the immortal, and we were immediately drawn into a safe-looking cave. I climbed up a cliff to see where life was, and on the way down the gods sent me a buck, with great antlers, which I killed and brought to my men. Once they had finished, I sent Eurylokhos and his 22 companions to go ask for peace from Kirke. The found the palace, with tranquil wolves and lions guarding her gate that just stared calmly at us as we walked past them in fear. We entered the hall and saw her weaving as she sang. They all cried out together for her to come let them in, and she came willingly and beautifully to the door, entrancing all of them, but Eurylokhos, into her house. There she fed them and gave them a drink with a wicked potion in it, and within minutes of the crew drinking it, they turned to swine. And upon seeing this, Eurylokhos ran wildly back to the ships and told us. I then went back to the hall to get my crew back. But on the way, Hermes appeared to me, and in verse told me about a plant that could protect me from her magic. When he finished, he gave me this plant (that only immortals could pull up) and flew away on winged feet. I carried on up and entered the hall, where I was greeted by Kirke and taken to a throne at the table and given food and the drink with the potion in it. And Kirke watched happily for the potion to work, but when it didn't, she realised that I was Odysseus, the person that she had been told about, and said that she would let me go if I made love to her. I told her that I would only make love to her if she promised, to the gods, to turn my men back to human form and that she wouldn't use any more magic on either me or my crew. She agreed to these terms and we went to her room. Once finished, she had her nymph-servants bathe me and give me new clothes. Then she had me dine with her, though I wasn't hungry because I put my crew before me, and couldn't eat while they were still pigs. So when she asked why I wasn't eating, I told her that the only way I would eat is if she made them human again. She obliged, and each pig became human, and each human began to weep with pleasure. This scene went to Kirke's heart and she asked me to bring all my companions to the castle, and being only a mortal man, I had to oblige. I went down to the shore and brought all men, except Eurylokhos (who eventually followed behind) back to her palace. Once back, she asked us to stay with her forever, and as we were men, we had to consent, and we dined on food that made us forget about our homes, and we did this everyday until a year had passed. Then, one summer day, my crew reminded me of home, and I agreed that we should leave. So that nigth while all of them slept, I went to Kirke's room and told her that she must now keep her promise and allow us to leave. She told me that she couldn't hold me here if I didn't want to stay, but I couldn't go because the only way home was to go through the land of Hades and Persephone. So that I wouldn't die, she told me how to get through (by naviating different rivers, praying, and sacrificing some of the best animals). With that, I thanked her and went to sleep. When dawn spread her fingers, I woke up all my men and told them that we were leaving. Soon they were all ready, except for Elpenor, who being young and stupid had gotten drunk and climbed onto the roof, and at waking up and coming down, had fallen on the ladder and killed himself. I told them that we were sailing home, but that to get there we'd have to go through the land of death. On hearing that, they all started wailing and crying as we walked down to the beach, and when we got there, Kirke had invisibly and silently tied our black ewe and ram beside our boats...

Picture from: http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/kirke.html

Book 9 - New Coasts and Poseidon's Son

When Alkinoos asked me my identity, I replied that I am Odysseus, maker of peace and war, and I have been away from my homeland for many years because I was captured by Kalypso, and then I told him my story. My Fleet was sent off course, by Zeus, to a place where we were chased off by the natives. Once more, Zeus was angry, so as we tried to get away from the island, he conjured up another lightning storm and we were trapped for 3 more days. We would have made it safely home on the 3rd day, but currents pulled us out to sea, and we didn't see land for 9 days. On the 10th day, we landed on the island of the Lotos Eaters, who wished us no harm, but only offered the Lotos to my friends. But those who ate the Lotos no longer yearned for home, but only wanted to stay on the island and eat the Lotos, so when we left the island, we had to tie them down to benches on the boat. We set sail, and the next island we found was home to the Kyklopes, who weren't exactly a friendly species, more a group of lonely sheep-osessed herders. So, I rounded up a group of my friends and we trekked up to the Kyklopes' cave to make peace with him. When we got there, he wasn't there, so we set up camp among the the drying cheese and the pens full of lambs and waited for him to arrive. Once he came back, he asked why we were here, and we replied asking for peace in the name of the Gods, but since he was a Kyklopes, he didn't bow down to the Gods, and he didn't allow peace between us. So in one stride he captured some of my friends, ate them, then went to sleep. In the morning, he ate some more of my companions, then took his flocks of sheep out to graze, closing the boulder behind him. While he was out, we composed a plan to kill him with a stake made from the wood found in his cave. I chose 4 of the best men to accompany me on the mission, then we waited patiently for the beast to come back. The time finally came when he opened the door and came back in, ate his last meal of my friends, and lay down to sleep. At that moment, I realised that if we killed him, we could never open the boulder door, so I devised my own sub-plan in my head in the few minutes I had. We crept up to his giant sleeping body, then I walked quietly over to his head and drove the smouldering stake into his eye. His screams of pain were terrible, and he asked who the person was that hurt him, and I replied "Nohbdy" is my name, and the stupid beast believed it. So when his screams brought the other Kyklopes to his cave asking what was wrong, he answered "Nohbody hurt me" and the Kyklopes went away. Next we had to get out of the cave. So I tied each of my men to the bottom of a sheep, and we waited 'til morning. In the morning, the Kyklopes blindly opened the door and let out all of his sheep to graze. Once I and all my men were outside, I untied them all, and we hearded the sheep towards our ships as a prize for escaping the island. We got all the sheep on the ships and set sail with what crew we had left. And as we left, I shouted back to the Kyklopes "It wasn't Nohbdy that tricked you, it was I, Odysseus" and the Kyklopes threw a rock out at me, and I was going to shout back something more, but my crew stopped me from fear of another rock. And as we sailed away, the Kyklopes prayed to his father Poseidon to not let us get home safely, and the great god heard his son's prayers and promised to fulfill them.

Picture from: http://www.dqshrine.com/dq/dq2/

Book 8 - The Songs of the Harper

Aliknoos arose me the next morning, and we went down to the sea shore to sit down on the stone benches there. Athena, disguised as the town crier, assembled a crowd of the townsmen around us, and when they were all seated and hushed, Alkinoos stood up and addressed them. His deep voice carried across the crowd of people as he told them of my presence, journey, and need for a crew to sail me back to my homeland. He asked for the greatest sailors to take the job, and when he was finished, the princes of the city and I followed him into the feasting halls where we feasted on sheep, tuskers, and oxen as the blind man of song (with the gift of the Muse) told stories of the clash between Odysseus and Akhilleus. The tales of me brought back memories I had tried to push away into the unconcious realms of my mind, and I wept silently into my cloak so that no one could see my tears. But Alkinoos saw my tears and asked for the musician to stop the tales. Instead, he called for a mini-olympics to be held so that I could go home and tell of the amazing athletic feats of the Phaiakians. The servants cleared the area, and the greatest Phaiakian athetes were called to the arena to show Odysseus their amazing strengths. Some of the younger princes asked me to join in, but I was tired from days at sea, and would rather just watch them. And one of the princes was cocky enough to stand up to me, telling me that I had obviously not learnt a sport, and so as not to embarrass myself, I wasn't going to join in. I replied to the naive young man that I was way more skilled in athletics than he was ever going to be, and that I had gone through so much in the past years that he should sit down and hold his tongue. With that argument argued, king Alkinoos decided that more music should be played, so the Muse's favorite was called, and he sung the tale of Aphrodite cheating on Hephaestos with Ares, and how Hephaestos captured them in chains and only let them go once Poseidon had given a reason for him to. Once his song was over, I stood up and praised the Phaiakians, and told them how I would tell my country of the amazing songs and dances of them. Alkinoos ordered the princes to send me off with as many great gifts as they could. As a make-up present, the young prince gave me his best sword and wished me a good journey and his respects. I gladly took what he offered and thanked him as Alkinoos ordered Arete to bring me a chest with a clean cloak and tunic, and a warm cauldron for me to bathe in. I bathed, and tied the chest with the best knot I could, when that was done, I went to the sacrificial feast. As I was walking there, princess Nausikaa asked me to remember her always, and I told her I would, because who could forget the person who saved them? We feasted as the musician told of the war of Troy, and as I listened, I once more started to weep at the memories. Again, Alkinoos noticed me crying and asked the musician to stop playing, but this time he asked me to tell all who I really was, because even though I had been at the palace long, I still hadn't told anyone my name. I left the question to be pondered for some time while we feasted some more...

Book 7 - Gardens and Firelight

After praying to Athena, I waited a while in the orchard before I travelled into the city. I decided that I had left enough time for the princess to arrive at the palace without drawing suspicion, so I went through the great gates of the city. Once inside, I little child holding a water jug ran up to me and asked where I wanted to go, and I told her that I wanted to see the king and queen. She told me about the great king and queen, then ran ahead of me, beckoning for me to follow. Strangely enough, the whole time I was running through the city, not a soul seemed to acknowledge my existence; it was as if they couldn't see me. Once we had navigated through the city, the young girl turned to me and told me that I should direct my plea for help to Arete, because she held the most power within the royal family; if she liked me, my cause would be helped immediately. I went into the palace, and the place was amazing. It looked like the god Hephaestus himself had decorated the palace. I walked into the royal dining room, just like the princess had told me to, to find the king and queen holding a feast in the name of Poseidon. I ran in the room, and threw myself at Arete's feet, and the king thought I was a god. But I managed to persuade him that I was completely mortal and I explained my cause. After hearing of my travels and needs, they agreed to see me off in their own boats, with many gifts, the next day. They invited me to dine with them, and I accepted. After a while, Arete noticed that the clothes I was wearing were ones that she had made herself and given to the princess. To this I answered with my story about being trapped by Kalypso, and how their daughter found me, washed me, and gave me food and clean clothes. They asked me why she didn't escort me into town, and so as not to get her in any trouble, I told them that it was my idea. Alkinoos then surprised me by telling me that if I stay in the city, I can haved his daughter's hand in marriage, but I had to kindly decline, telling him that I wanted to get back to my home and family. With that the feast was finished, and I was sent to an amazingly soft bed for a great night's sleep.

Picture from: http://www.paleothea.com/Gallery/HephaestusWallpaper.html

Book 6 - The Princess at the River

I finally awoke from the sweetest sleep I've had in the last 20 days to the shouts of many fair maidens, and I decided to go see if they could help my cause. So I stood up among the bushes, but noticing my lack of clothes, I grabbed a branch of a near olive tree and covered myself up so that I could be vaguely presentable. So as not to scare the girls anymore, for all but one of them had run off to hide, I decided to present my cause from afar. I explained my journey and asked for directions to the nearest city so that I could find some shelter and someone to help me. She replied, telling me that she was the princess of the Phaiakians and that she would give me food, drink, stuff to bathe with, and clothes as well as a ride to the city where I could meet her father, King Alkinoos and ask for help from him. She called to her maids who went to the cart and fetched olive oil for me to bathe in and clean clothes for when I was done. I went to the river, and for the first time in 20 days I was in water on my own accord. When I was done, I put on the clothes and went to the princess' cart where she was already packed up and ready to leave for the city. She told me that I would have to wait a while at the city gates before I went in because she didn't want any untrue rumors of her having a boyfriend (which wouldn't be true). I was given food and drink, which tasted amazing and, ravished with hunger, I gobbled it up like a lion with fresh meat. The princess lashed her donkeys and they started off with a canter, pulling the cart behind them, and me and the maids walking behind her in the dust. As we neared the gates, she pointed out the orchard of dear Athena where I would wait a while before following her into the city. Once I was in the city I would ask any person there for directions to the palace. So I wandered off into the orchard and sat down and prayed to Pallas Athena as the princess trotted off with her procession of maids close behind her.

Picture from: http://www.bennettauctions.com/2005/121305_portsmouth/121305_photos.html

Book 5 - Sweet Nymph and Open Sea

It must have been the Gods high up on Olympus that brought this luck to me. The sweet nymph Kalipso has finally decided to free me and help me on my journey home. We ate dinner and went to sleep, and in the morning she gave me the tools and supplies to cut down 20 trees and build a raft. The raft was done in 4 days, and on the 5th day, Kalipso conjured up calm winds and sent me from the island with sea-worthy clothing and enough food and drink to last me 20 days. On the 17th day of floating, I could see land in the distance, but dear old Poseidon wouldn't have me land safely without a little challenge, so he conjured up a nasty storm which cast me from my raft and smashed it to pieces, and almost drowned me. But other gods were on my side, and the Goddess Iros gave me her veil of safety and directions to the island, and once I was at the island cliff, another God or Goddess interfered and stopped me from dying among the sharp rocks. I saw a calm river and prayed to its god for safe passage; and it was given to me, so I swam up the river and climbed onto the banks where sweet Athena showered sleep over me.

Picture from: http://www.sandomenico.org/page.cfm?p=435

Book 4 - The Red-Haired King and his Lady

Guest Blogger- Telemakhos

We arrived at the great hall of Menelaos, where we were greeted by his stable hands and our noble horses were lead away. Menelaos realized that I was Odysseus' son, from my likeness to him, and started telling me about the amazing feats he did while in Troy, and from sheer admiration, half the people at the table started to weep for his loss, including me. We decided not to weep the night away, but to eat dinner and talk about Odysseus in the morning, so wine and food was passed round and we talked about other aspects of the war. The wine tasted especially sweet that night. The Helen talked, telling me about how my father had dressed up as a beggar and slipped into Troy, but she recognized him, housed him, helped him, and kept his secret from the Trojans, because she longed to leave Troy and go back to her family and house. Melenaos replied, telling us about the Trojan horse and how Odysseus helped keep quite all those in the horse so as not to give the position away. And as talk went on, we decided to go to sleep. In the morning, Menelaos asked me what I was here for, and I replied that I was looking for news about my father Odysseus, and Menelaos told me of how he was caught and left on an island by a goddess and how he made her mad enough for her to let him go off on his boats. When his story of danger was over, he asked me to stay 11-12 more days, but I had to decline, telling him that my quest was going to take me away from here and I must follow it. And with that, kindly Melenaos gave me some of the finest bowls and wine jugs, and I and Nestor's son were off on the quest, not knowing what was happening to my mother and the suitors back in my homeland...

Picture from: http://mooreslore.corante.com/archives/cat_spam.html

Book 3 - The Lord of the Western Approaches

Guest Blogger- Telemakhos

After we left home later in the night, Before long, we arrived at the shore where we thanked Poseidon for our safe passage, and walked to meet the men of Pylos. A golden cup of wine was handed around to us and Athena herself prayed to the Gods for safety. Once prayers were over, we were lead to our seats at the high table, and our hosts asked us where we were from and the usual conversation starters. We started to talk about the Trojan wars; what started them and the pain and death suffered by all those in it. I told him about the suitors taking over my school, and Lord Nestor replied with disgust about how that shouldn't be happening to the son of Odysseus. Then Nestor started to talk more about the war and Agamemnon's death, and espescially how much he loved my father. We offered one more offering to the gods, then Lord Nestor invited me to sleep in the palace. I thanked him, for he was a nice guy, and took up his invitation. Athena, on the other hand, decided to sleep with the crew, on the boat, and as she left, she left the air of a God where she stood. Nestor congratulated me on getting the help of the Gods, and ordered a cow with gold-gilded horns to be sacrificed to the Gods in the morning. The next morning, when we first woke up at dawn, a cow was ordered for, and his horns were gilded with gold. He was then held by some of the strongest men and killed. At the sacrificial feast, a chariot with the finest throughbloods was called for me and one of Nestor's sons was to come with me on my journey through the land. In the morning we left, the throughbred's hearts racing and manes billowing in the wind.

Picture from: http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Technology/Transportation/Horse-drawn/Chariots/Chariots-1.html

Book 2 - A Hero's Son Awakens

Guest Blogger- Athena

After speaking to Telemakhos, I went back to my throne on Mount Olympus to watch how his journey progressed. I saw him wake up and call the Akhaians to assembly, so that he could follow my advice and tell them about his trouble with the suitors. Telemakhos started up the assembly with a great sense of courage and amazing strength and emotion, but that wasn't enough for the Akhaians who were annoyed with him and his mother for not allowing the suitors to take her hand in marriage. I wanted to come down from my throne and help him, but I had to let him find his own path and help himself. The Akhaians told him that he had to either dismiss his own mother from the house (the outrage) or he had to give her to the suitor which her father chose for her; thankfully Telemakhos couldn't stand for this, though he had no choice, and he decided a compromise: he would go out on a quest to find news of his father, and if when he came back he didn't have news, the suitors could have his mother. Sometimes mortals can be quite intelligent. Anyway, once the meeting was finished, Telemakhos came to the seashore and prayed to me, so I flew down from the heavens, took the form of Mentor, and came to Telemakhos where I told him not to fret and that I'd help him find a crew and rig the boat to take on the quest. Telemakhos left to go home to tell the suitors of the plan and to get prepared for the journey while I went to find the crew. He told his nurse to gather the provisions and meet him at night, and especially not to tell his mother for she would try to stop him. As night drew near and the sailors I chose gathered near the docks, I decided to shower a deep sleep over the suitors, and as the went home, Telemakhos gathered his provisions and left his house to meet his boat and crew. Then we all set off into the dawn over the ocean.

Picture from: http://students.ou.edu/E/Ryan.C.Emrick-1/episode1.html

Book 1 - Bringing Odesseus Home

Written by Guest Blogger- Telemakhos
Today Pallas Athena came down from Olympus in the form of an old sailor man to tell me to go on a quest to find news about my father, Odysseus.
The day started normally, the suitors came over to my house and annoyed my mother and stole our food. I was at sitting quietly at the table watching the suitors, when I saw a wise-looking man came to our door. As one should never leave a guest outside, I went to invite him in, and soon enough we were seated at the table with the servants filling up our glasses and plates with some of the finest food we owned. I asked where he was from and he told me he was Menthes, ruler of the seafaring Taphos, but I could tell from the grey-eyes that it was Athena in my humble presence. She told me that she knew my father, and I should try to get the suitors out of my house because they were dishonoring my father. Then, Pallas Athena sent me on a quest to find news of my father's where-abouts or death. Then I would come home and get rid of the suitors in anyway possible. And with that news transferred, Athena left the house, and left me to rid my house of the suitors and gather my crew to set sail soon. Once Athena was truly gone, I shouted at the suitors, telling them to stay away from my mother and property since my father was going to come home sometime, but they just laughed at me and left for home, since it was dark and they were tired. And once they had left, I said good night to my mother, alone in her tower, and I myself retreated to my bedroom in a tower above the house. I fell asleep thinking of the quest given to me by the Gods.

Picture from www.nashville.gov/parthenon/Athena.htm