The Odyssey: The Epic Journey of Odysseus

He is the young king of Ithaca, the hero of Homer's famous epic, the Odyssey. His name appears on every page of the epic. Odysseus, son of Laertes, is known for his intelligence and cunning. Throughout the epic, he will be greatly loved and protected by Athena, goddess of wisdom, for his experiences. He is extremely intelligent, and his sharp wit will enable him to escape from gripping adventures. The Trojan War was won through his idea. Odysseus was the person who came up with the idea of the Trojan Horse that ensured the victory of the famous Trojan War, and he was at the head of the soldiers who secretly entered the Trojan walls inside the horse that night. He was the king who succeeded his father on the island of Ithaca in the Ionian Sea.

He had married Penelope, cousin of the beautiful Helen for whom the Trojan War would break out, and had a son named Telemachus. But his happy life was turned upside down by the Trojan War. When Agamemnon's soldiers came to take him, he pretended to be insane to avoid joining the war. He was sowing salt in his field and yoking himself to the plow instead of an ox. But Palamedes, one of the soldiers, placed baby Telemachus in front of the plow. When Odysseus turned the plow away from his son, his ruse was exposed. Helplessly, he donned his armor and went to war that would last 10 years. But he committed two great sins during the war. His first sin was deceiving Achilles so that Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia could be sacrificed. His second sin was stealing the Palladium, the sacred statue that protected Troy. The punishment for these sins would be very severe.

Through his idea, the Trojan War ended with a great deception. After Troy fell, his pride betrayed him. Before boarding the ship, he shouted to the enemies he had defeated: "I am Odysseus! Son of Laertes! King of Ithaca! I am the one who won this victory!" These words full of pride angered Poseidon, god of the seas. However, Poseidon's true curse would be compounded by what Odysseus would do to his son. Odysseus, who set out from Troy with 12 ships and 720 men, did not yet know what kind of hell awaited him. Because the wrath of the gods would keep him captive at sea for 10 years.

The Cicones People

They were returning to their homeland in fine weather, with favorable winds. But after setting sail, a violent storm began. Odysseus's fleet separated from Agamemnon's ships. His second-in-command, Eurylochus, spotted a city on the shore: he wanted to plunder it. Odysseus accepted his idea. They attacked Ismarus, the city of the Cicones people in Thrace. The people fled to the mountains. They plundered the city and killed the people. They only left Maron, the priest of Apollo, alive. From him, Odysseus received 12 jugs of strong Ismarus wine - this wine would later be used to intoxicate the Cyclops. When the plunder ended in the evening, Odysseus said to board the ships and leave immediately. But his men didn't listen. They indulged in food and wine in the intoxication of victory. They fell asleep on the shore. Toward morning, the Cicones people descended from the mountain and attacked them en masse. Trojan warriors were with them too. Six men from each ship died - a total of 72 losses. Odysseus hurriedly put out to sea. But this was only the beginning. Because Poseidon's true curse had not yet begun.

The Lotus Eaters

After escaping the Cicones attack, Poseidon sent a storm. They drifted at sea for 9 days. Water and food were beginning to run out. On the tenth day, they arrived at an island that appeared to be paradise. The Lotus Eater people welcomed them warmly and offered them magical fruit. The men who ate this fruit forgot everything. Their homes, their families, their duties... Odysseus saw with horror that his companions no longer wanted to return to Ithaca. "Why should we leave? We're happy here," they said with vacant eyes. Odysseus forcibly dragged his men onto the ship. But as they were leaving, the leader of the lotus eaters looked at him and smiled: "Don't forget, Odysseus, forgetting is sometimes the greatest blessing." He would understand the meaning of these words in later adventures.

Cyclops Island and the Giant Polyphemus

After escaping from the lotus eaters, they were caught in a storm again. They landed on an unknown island to search for water and food. The island was full of sheep. Smoke was visible at the top of the island. This meant there were inhabitants on the island. Odysseus set out to explore with his 12 bravest men. They gathered the sheep in a cave. In this large cave there were jugs full of cheese and milk. His men wanted to leave immediately, but Odysseus decided to wait out of curiosity. What they didn't know was that this island was home to man-eating one-eyed giants, the cyclopes. In the evening, the one-eyed giant Polyphemus arrived. Polyphemus was also Poseidon's son. He closed the cave with a giant rock. Now the trap was set. Giant Polyphemus ate 6 Ithacan sailors in his first move. Odysseus made a brilliant plan: He got the Cyclops drunk with wine. He spoke pleasant words to him. Polyphemus liked him and asked his name. Odysseus told him his name was "Nobody." After the giant got drunk and fell asleep, he blinded his eye with hot iron. When the Cyclops opened the door, he shouted to his friends: "Nobody is killing me!" and upon these words, the other cyclopes thought their friend had gone mad. They didn't help him. Odysseus and his men escaped by hiding under the sheep. But while on the ship, he made the same arrogant mistake again: "I am not Nobody! I am Odysseus! King of Ithaca! I am the one who blinded you!" he said. Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon: "Father! Punish this man! If he is to return home, let him return alone, having lost all his companions!" And the god accepted this prayer. Thus began Odysseus's true punishment.

The Island of Aeolus, God of Winds

While escaping from the Cyclops island, violent winds began. The ships were tossing between the waves. Just as they were about to lose hope, they saw a mysterious floating island on the horizon. This island belonged to Aeolus, the god of winds. They caught a great opportunity in Aeolus's floating palace. The god of winds listened to Odysseus's story and wanted to help him. He gave him a bag in which all winds except the west wind that would carry the ships smoothly to Ithaca were trapped, and they set out. The voyage was wonderful, but Odysseus was cursed. For 9 days and 9 nights, Odysseus remained at the ship's helm without blinking. The shores of Ithaca were now visible! Even the smoke from his home could be distinguished from afar. But when he fell asleep from exhaustion, his curious men opened the bag, thinking there was gold inside. All the bad winds escaped, a storm broke out, and the ship was dragged back to Aeolus's island. The wind god Aeolus realized that Odysseus and his men who came for the second time were cursed and drove them away: "I cannot help someone who is under the curse of the gods," he said. When they were a day's distance from home, they returned to the beginning. Odysseus understood that night: This was not just bad luck.

The Man-Eating Giants, the Laestrygonians

After being expelled from Aeolus, they rowed without sails for 6 days. When they were exhausted from fatigue, they found a beautiful harbor surrounded by high cliffs. Odysseus was suspicious and anchored his ship outside the harbor. But the other 11 ship captains entered the harbor. Three men were sent to explore. Where they went, they encountered a giant woman. The woman took them to King Antiphates. But the king was also a giant and a man-eater! The giant Laestrygonians bombarded the ships with rocks. With stones thrown from the shore, 11 ships were shattered. They hunted the men who fell into the water like fish by spearing them and ate them all. Hundreds of men died. Only Odysseus's ship survived because it hadn't entered the harbor. Of 720 men, only 46 remained. That night Odysseus stood on deck, looking at the bloodstains on his hands. Everywhere were the corpses of his companions. But worst of all, they weren't even halfway there yet.

The Sorceress Circe

While escaping from the Laestrygonians, only one ship remained. In desperation, they took refuge on a nearby island. In the middle of the island was a large palace with smoke rising around it. Odysseus divided his men in two. Eurylochus went to explore with 22 men. A beautiful woman's voice came from the palace, singing. Eurylochus was suspicious and waited outside. But his other 21 men went inside. The sorceress Circe gave them a magical drink and turned them into pigs. But the god Hermes came to help Odysseus. He gave him the moly plant. This plant would protect him from magic. Odysseus entered Circe's palace. When the sorceress gave him the drink, nothing happened. Circe was surprised, and when Odysseus drew his sword, Circe submitted and turned his men back into humans. She even hosted them for a year. During this year, Circe showed Odysseus the future. She told him that suitors were trying to marry his wife at home. They were eating his property and making plans to kill his son. Before leaving, Circe warned him about a great danger and that if he wanted to return home, he must first descend to Hades and speak with the prophet Tiresias there.

The Land of the Dead

Upon this, they went to the end of the world, to the shore of the river Oceanus. There they dug a pit and summoned the souls of the dead with sacrificial blood. The prophet Tiresias had warned them not to touch the Sun God's cattle on Thrinacia island. In the land of the dead, Odysseus met his mother's spirit, Anticlea, who told him that she died while waiting for him, that his wife Penelope was still waiting for him, but the suitors were forcing her. The most painful was his meeting with his friends Achilles and Ajax who died at Troy. Achilles told him: "Choose death, Odysseus. If living is this painful, come with us." But Odysseus refused. Because he knew Penelope was waiting for him.

The Sirens' Song

They set out to sea again. As they approached the island of the Sirens, Odysseus plugged his men's ears with wax but left his own ears open. He asked to be tied to the mast. Because Circe had warned him. He knew that men who heard the Sirens' song would be caught in an enchantment that would lead them to their deaths. When the Sirens' song began, Odysseus was going mad. The song told of his future victory. Odysseus tried to break his bonds and begged his companions. But his men tied him tighter. They waited until they passed the island. Odysseus, who heard the song, now knew: When he returned home, he would fight.

Charybdis and Scylla

Having safely passed the island of the Sirens, Odysseus came to a crossroads as he proceeded following the prophet Tiresias's advice. He had to choose between two monsters: either Charybdis, who swallowed and spat out the seas three times a day and created terrible whirlpools in the seas, or Scylla, the six-headed monster. If they encountered Charybdis, the monster would swallow the entire ship. Scylla would only take six of his men. Odysseus made his decision and chose to lose six of his men. Scylla's six heads descended on the ship and took his six best warriors. The men begged Odysseus to save them. But Odysseus was helpless. The screams of his six companions wouldn't leave his ears and never would for the rest of his life. Only 40 men remained. And the greatest test was yet to come.

The Island of Thrinacia of the Sun God Helios

They landed on the island of Thrinacia of the Sun God Helios. His men, driven mad by hunger, slaughtered the sacred cattle of the Sun God Helios. Odysseus warned them not to touch the cattle, but they didn't care. The hunger was too great. While Odysseus was praying on the mountain, his men slaughtered the cattle. Helios complained to Zeus: "Punish these men, or I will take the sun with me to the underworld to illuminate the dead!" Upon this, Zeus's lightning bolt shattered the ship. All his companions died. Only Odysseus survived by clinging to a piece of the ship. Of 720 men, only he remained. Poseidon's curse had come true.

Ogygia Island

After drifting at sea for several days, Odysseus washed up on the rocks of Ogygia island. On this island, he met the water nymph Calypso. He remained captive on Calypso's island for 7 years. The beautiful nymph offered him immortality; she had fallen in love with him. But Odysseus rejected her, saying he loved Penelope. Every day he sat on the shore, thinking of Ithaca, crying. By Zeus's command, Hermes came and told Calypso to release Odysseus. Calypso reluctantly agreed. Odysseus was determined. After 17 years, he finally had a chance to return home. He was caught in a storm at sea and washed up on the shores of Phaeacia. He told his entire story in the palace of King Alcinous. The king listened in amazement and wanted to help because of his pitiful story. Phaeacia's magical ship took him to Ithaca. The sailors landed him on the shore.

Ithaca Island

After 20 years, he was finally home. But the scene waiting for him at home was harder than all his sufferings. When he returned to Ithaca, Athena transformed him into an old beggar. That way no one would recognize him. He visited his faithful swineherd Eumaeus. Eumaeus didn't believe his master would return. Then they met with his son Telemachus. After 20 years, father and son embraced. Telemachus was astonished, and they made a plan: Odysseus would enter the palace disguised as a beggar to assess the situation. Because in the palace, there were 108 suitors who wanted to marry Penelope. Like everyone else, Penelope thought her husband had died in the Trojan War that ended 10 years ago.

Entering the palace disguised as a beggar, Odysseus was enraged by what he saw. 108 suitors were eating his property, drinking his wine, sleeping with his servants. They were showering Penelope with marriage proposals. Antinous, the leader of the suitors, treated him badly because he was a beggar and drove him away. Odysseus barely suppressed his anger. But he shouldn't spoil the plan. His old nurse Eurycleia recognized him by the lightning-shaped scar on his foot while washing him. Odysseus silenced her. Penelope organized a great contest: "Whoever can string Odysseus's bow and shoot an arrow through the holes of 12 axes will marry me," she said. The 108 suitors tried one by one. None could even string the bow. The beggar-disguised Odysseus said: "May I try too?" The leader of the suitors, Antinous, laughed: "You? Old beggar!" they mocked him. But Telemachus intervened: "Let him try!" Odysseus took the bow, easily strung it, and shot an arrow through the holes of the 12 axes. Then he shot his second arrow at Antinous. The arrow pierced his chest.

With Athena's help, Odysseus and Telemachus killed the 108 suitors. The battle was terrible. The leader of the suitors, Antinous, died first. The others tried to escape, but there was nowhere to run. Loyal servants helped Odysseus. Treacherous servants were also killed along with the suitors. The palace turned into a pool of blood. 20 years of anger exploded in one night. But Odysseus's work was not yet finished. The most important test remained.

Penelope looked suspiciously at her husband. 20 years was too long. "Are you really Odysseus? Prove it!" Odysseus was angry: "I waited for you for 20 years, and now you're asking me for proof!" Penelope told the servants: "Take my master's bed outside." Odysseus was furious: "How can the bed be moved? I carved that bed with my own hands from the trunk of a living olive tree! The tree's roots are still in place!" Only Odysseus would know this secret. Penelope ran and threw her arms around her husband's neck, understood the truth, and apologized.

After 20 years, they were finally reunited. The next day, the families of the suitors came for revenge. But by Zeus's command, Athena intervened and peace was made. Odysseus sat on his throne. Odysseus recounted all his adventures. The Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe, the land of the dead. Penelope listened in amazement, and thus, history's most famous journey came to an end. 10 years of war, 10 years of journey, 20 years of separation had ended. Odysseus was finally home. His story is the second oldest epic of Western written sources. A crater on the surface of Saturn's moon Tethys was named after him.