Odyssey

Summary

Book 1 - A Goddess Intervenes

The epic begins ten years after the fall of Troy. While most other Greek heroes have returned home or died, Odysseus languishes on the island of Ogygia, held captive by the beautiful nymph Calypso who desires him as her husband. The narrator invokes the Muse to tell the story of this versatile and suffering hero. Meanwhile, on Mount Olympus, the gods convene. Athena, Odysseus's devoted protector, passionately pleads his case to her father, Zeus. She highlights his suffering and the injustice of his prolonged absence from home. Zeus agrees that the noble Odysseus deserves to return, noting that it's primarily Poseidon, god of the sea, who bears a grudge against Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. Zeus decrees that Hermes will be sent to order Calypso to release Odysseus, while Athena will go to Ithaca to inspire Odysseus's son, Telemachus.

Disguised as Mentes, an old family friend and Taphian leader, Athena travels to Odysseus's palace in Ithaca. She finds a scene of chaos: dozens of arrogant suitors are feasting extravagantly, consuming Odysseus's wealth, harassing his servants, and relentlessly pressuring his wife, Penelope, to choose one of them as her new husband. Telemachus, now a young man, sits among them, disheartened and powerless, dreaming of his father's return to drive the insolent men away. Athena (as Mentes) approaches Telemachus, who offers her gracious hospitality despite the surrounding disorder.

During their conversation, Athena skillfully questions Telemachus about the situation and his father. She reassures him that Odysseus is not dead but is detained somewhere and will surely find a way back home soon. Crucially, she urges Telemachus to shed his passive despair and take action. She advises him to call an assembly of Ithaca's leaders the next day to publicly denounce the suitors and demand they leave his home. Following the assembly, she instructs him to equip a ship and sail to Pylos and Sparta to seek news of his father from the wise King Nestor and King Menelaus, respectively, who were among the last to return from Troy.

Inspired and invigorated by the divine encouragement (though he only partly suspects Mentes's true identity), Telemachus feels a newfound resolve. He thanks the visitor for the counsel. After Athena departs "like a bird," Telemachus confronts the suitors with uncharacteristic boldness, announcing that he will call an assembly. He even speaks assertively to his mother, Penelope, when she becomes upset by a bard's song about the Greeks' difficult homecomings, telling her to return to her quarters and that he is now the master of the house. Book 1 thus sets the stage by establishing Odysseus's predicament, the dire situation in Ithaca, and initiating Telemachus's journey toward manhood as he prepares to seek his father and reclaim control of his home.

Book 2 - The Assembly at Ithaca

Following the advice given by Athena (disguised as Mentes), Telemachus calls the first assembly of Ithaca's leaders since his father Odysseus departed for Troy twenty years earlier. Stepping forward decisively, he delivers an impassioned speech, lamenting the loss of his father and condemning the suitors who infest his palace, consume his resources, and endlessly pressure his mother Penelope to remarry. He appeals to the assembly's sense of shame and demands the suitors leave his home, expressing his own helplessness to forcibly remove them.

The defiant lead suitor, Antinous, retorts sharply, placing the blame squarely on Penelope. He reveals how she deceived them for years with her trick of weaving a burial shroud for Laertes by day and unraveling it by night to postpone choosing a husband. Antinous insists Telemachus must force his mother to return to her father's house to be married off, otherwise the suitors will continue their feasting at his expense. Telemachus refuses to cast out his mother and calls upon the gods for justice. At that moment, Zeus sends a dramatic omen: two eagles fly overhead and tear at each other. The elder seer Halitherses interprets this as a sign of Odysseus's impending return and warns of bloody revenge against the suitors, but another prominent suitor, Eurymachus, mocks the prophecy and dismisses the threat, reinforcing their intent to stay.

Seeing the assembly will not act against the powerful suitors, Telemachus shifts tactics and publicly requests a ship and crew to sail to Pylos and Sparta, seeking news of his absent father. While Odysseus's old friend Mentor speaks up in support of Telemachus and criticizes the assembly's apathy, the suitors scorn the request and the assembly dissolves without resolution. Feeling disheartened, Telemachus walks to the seashore and prays to Athena for assistance. The goddess appears to him again, this time disguised as Mentor, offering encouragement and practical help. She assures him he has the potential for courage and wisdom like his father, promises to gather a ship and loyal crew herself, and instructs him to go home and secretly prepare provisions for the voyage.

Telemachus directs his loyal nurse, Eurycleia, to gather wine and barley meal, making her swear an oath not to tell Penelope of his departure for several days. Meanwhile, Athena, disguised first perhaps as Telemachus to recruit sailors and borrow a ship from Noemon, then reverts to the guise of Mentor. As night falls and the suitors are lulled into drowsiness by Athena, she leads Telemachus down to the harbor. They load the supplies, board the vessel with the crew she assembled, and, with Athena sending a favorable wind, set sail into the darkness, embarking on the journey to seek news of Odysseus.

Book 3 - Telemachus Visits Nestor

Telemachus and Athena, still disguised as Mentor, arrive by ship at Pylos, the kingdom of the aged hero King Nestor. They find the Pylians on the shore engaged in a grand sacrifice of black bulls to Poseidon. Initially intimidated by the prospect of approaching the venerable king, Telemachus is encouraged by Athena to be bold and trust that the gods will help him speak well. Showing exemplary hospitality (xenia), Nestor's son Pisistratus warmly welcomes the strangers, inviting them to feast and participate in the religious rites before inquiring about their identity or mission. Athena (as Mentor) offers a prayer to Poseidon for the Pylians and for the success of Telemachus's quest.

Once the welcoming rituals are complete, Telemachus introduces himself and explains his purpose: he seeks any news, however uncertain, about his long-lost father, Odysseus. Nestor speaks fondly of Odysseus, praising his intelligence, endurance, and close comradeship during the Trojan War. However, Nestor recounts the troubled and fragmented return of the Greek heroes from Troy, explaining how a feud between Agamemnon and Menelaus split the fleet. Nestor himself had a relatively swift and safe journey home and thus has no firsthand knowledge of Odysseus's fate after the Achaeans left Troy.

Nestor provides a detailed and cautionary tale about the tragic homecoming of Agamemnon, who was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. He contrasts this sharply with the eventual vengeance taken by Agamemnon's son, Orestes, who killed Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, thereby winning great renown. Nestor implicitly presents Orestes as a model for Telemachus, urging him toward courageous action. Since he lacks current information about Odysseus, Nestor advises Telemachus to continue his journey to Sparta and consult King Menelaus, who returned later and traveled more widely, potentially having more recent news.

As dusk approaches, Athena spectacularly reveals her divinity by transforming into an eagle and flying away in full view of the court. Awed, Nestor recognizes that Telemachus is favored by the gods and insists the prince stay overnight. The next morning, after honoring Athena with a sacrifice, Nestor provides Telemachus with a chariot, horses, and provisions for his overland journey. Nestor's son, Pisistratus, joins Telemachus as a companion and guide, and the two young men set off for Sparta to seek answers from Menelaus.

Book 4 - Telemachus Visits Menelaus and Helen

Telemachus and Pisistratus arrive in Sparta and are welcomed into the opulent palace of King Menelaus and Queen Helen, who are celebrating the weddings of their son and daughter. Despite the festivities, Menelaus extends generous hospitality (xenia) to the young travelers, bathing them, clothing them in fresh cloaks, and seating them at the feast. Telemachus marvels at the riches of the palace. The famed beauty Helen descends from her chambers and immediately recognizes Telemachus as the son of Odysseus due to his striking resemblance. Menelaus agrees, and memories of the great Odysseus bring tears to their eyes – Telemachus weeping for his father, Menelaus and Helen for their lost comrade, and Pisistratus for his brother who died at Troy. To lift the mood, Helen adds a potent drug called nepenthe to their wine, capable of banishing sorrow. They then share stories: Helen recounts Odysseus's bravery infiltrating Troy disguised as a beggar, while Menelaus tells of Odysseus's vital self-control inside the Trojan Horse.

The following day, Telemachus directly asks Menelaus for any news regarding his father. Menelaus shares the epic tale of his own arduous journey home from Troy, including being stranded on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. There, following advice from the sea nymph Eidothea, he managed to capture the shape-shifting sea god Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea. Proteus revealed the fates of several Greek leaders and, crucially, informed Menelaus that Odysseus was still alive but was being held captive against his will by the nymph Calypso on her remote island of Ogygia, unable to sail home. This news confirms Odysseus is alive but deepens the understanding of his plight.

Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, the suitors discover that Telemachus has actually managed to sail away to Pylos. Led by the arrogant Antinous, they are enraged by Telemachus's audacity and fearful of him returning with powerful allies or news that could rally support for Odysseus. Antinous hatches a plot to take a ship and crew, lie in wait in the straits between Ithaca and the island of Samos, and ambush Telemachus's ship to kill him on his return journey. The herald Medon overhears this treacherous plan and immediately informs Penelope.

Penelope is utterly devastated, doubly grieving for her missing husband and now fearing for the life of her son, whose departure she hadn't even known about. Overwhelmed by anxiety, she prays fervently to Athena for Telemachus's protection. That night, as Penelope sleeps fitfully, Athena sends a comforting phantom in the guise of Penelope's sister, Iphthime. The phantom reassures Penelope in her dream that Telemachus has divine guidance and will be kept safe from harm, easing her immediate fears without revealing specific details of his journey or Odysseus's fate.

Book 5 - Calypso

The book opens with the gods assembled again on Mount Olympus. Athena makes another impassioned plea for Odysseus, detailing his suffering and long captivity on the island of Ogygia with the nymph Calypso. Zeus reaffirms his decision that Odysseus must return home. He dispatches the messenger god Hermes immediately to Ogygia with the direct command for Calypso to release her captive. Zeus foretells that Odysseus will have to sail alone on a makeshift raft, endure hardship for twenty days, and will eventually reach the land of Scheria, home of the Phaeacians, who will then escort him back to Ithaca.

Hermes swiftly arrives at Calypso's enchanting cave, finding her within, while Odysseus sits weeping on the seashore, gazing homeward with longing. Hermes delivers Zeus's decree. Calypso reacts with bitterness and anger, accusing the male gods of hypocrisy for denying goddesses the right to take mortal lovers, while they frequently do so themselves. She recounts how she saved Odysseus and offered him immortality, yet she ultimately yields to Zeus's authority. Reluctantly, she finds Odysseus and informs him he is free to leave. Wary after years of captivity, Odysseus suspects a trick and makes Calypso swear a binding oath not to harm him further before accepting her help.

Over the next four days, Odysseus, aided by tools and guidance from Calypso, constructs a sturdy raft. Calypso provisions it with food, water, wine, and clothing, and on the fifth day, summons a favorable wind to send him on his way. Odysseus navigates by the stars for seventeen days, sailing eastward across the sea. However, on the eighteenth day, his nemesis, the sea god Poseidon, returning from a trip to Ethiopia, spots the raft. Enraged that the gods have facilitated Odysseus's escape without his knowledge, Poseidon unleashes a tremendous storm, battering the raft with colossal waves until it begins to break apart.

As Odysseus struggles against the tempest, clinging to the wreckage and near despair, the sea nymph Ino (also called Leucothea) takes pity on him. Appearing briefly, she advises him to abandon the raft and swim for Scheria. She gives him a magical, buoyant veil to tie around his waist, promising it will protect him from drowning, instructing him to throw it back into the sea without looking once he safely reaches land. After battling the waves and currents for two more days and nights, aided subtly by Athena who calms most winds, Odysseus finally nears the coast of Scheria. He struggles to find a safe landing on the rocky shore but eventually finds refuge at a river mouth, praying to the river god for calm waters. Exhausted and battered, he crawls ashore, returns Ino's veil to the sea, finds shelter in a thicket of wild olive trees, covers himself with leaves, and falls into a deep, restorative sleep.

Book 6 - Nausicaa

While Odysseus sleeps soundly in his leafy shelter after washing ashore on Scheria, the goddess Athena visits the Phaeacian princess Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete, in a dream. Disguised as a close friend, Athena gently encourages Nausicaa to consider her marriage prospects and suggests she take the royal laundry down to the river mouth for washing the next day to appear suitably presentable. Inspired upon waking, Nausicaa obtains permission and a wagon from her father and leads her maids to the river, equipped with laundry and provisions for a day's work and leisure.

At the river mouth, Nausicaa and her maids wash the clothes, spread them on the beach pebbles to dry, bathe themselves, and enjoy a meal. Afterwards, they begin playing a game with a ball. Their cheerful shouts and laughter awaken the exhausted Odysseus nearby. Startled and unsure if he has landed among savages or friendly folk, the naked, brine-caked hero cautiously breaks off an olive branch for cover and emerges from the thicket. His startling appearance terrifies Nausicaa's attendants, who scatter, but Nausicaa herself, fortified by Athena, courageously holds her ground.

Displaying remarkable tact even in his wretched state, Odysseus chooses not to grasp her knees in supplication but addresses her from a distance with eloquent, flattering words. He praises her beauty, likens her to the goddess Artemis, briefly explains his plight as a shipwrecked survivor, and humbly begs for clothing, directions, and aid. Impressed by his speech and noble bearing, Nausicaa responds with kindness and composure, assuring him he has reached the land of the hospitable Phaeacians. She affirms their duty, ordained by Zeus, to help strangers and suppliants.

Nausicaa calls back her maids, gently chiding their fear, and instructs them to provide the stranger with food, drink, oil for bathing, and clothes. After the maids withdraw, Odysseus bathes in the river, washing away the grime of his ordeal. Athena then enhances his stature and appearance, making him seem exceptionally handsome and godlike. Nausicaa observes his transformation with admiration, even whispering to her maids that she wishes such a man might become her husband. Mindful of propriety and potential gossip, she gives Odysseus careful instructions for entering the city and seeking help from her parents: he should follow her party toward the city but wait in a sacred grove outside the walls, then proceed alone to the palace later. Crucially, she advises him to bypass her father Alcinous initially and appeal directly for mercy and aid to her wise and influential mother, Queen Arete, whose favor will guarantee his safe passage home. Odysseus agrees, and they set off towards the city, following her plan.

Book 7 - Odysseus at the Court of Alcinous

Here is a summary of Book 7 of Homer's Odyssey, titled "Phaeacia's Halls and Gardens":

Following Princess Nausicaa's instructions, Odysseus waits in Athena's sacred grove outside the Phaeacian city before proceeding towards the palace of King Alcinous. As he nears the city, Athena appears to him disguised as a young local girl carrying a water pitcher. She guides him through the town towards the palace, shrouding him in a protective mist that renders him invisible to the Phaeacians, whom she notes can be somewhat wary of outsiders. Athena also reiterates Nausicaa's advice, emphasizing the exceptional wisdom and influence of Queen Arete and urging Odysseus to make his appeal directly to her upon arrival. Shielded by the mist, Odysseus marvels at the impressive harbor, fortifications, and finally the breathtaking, almost magical palace and gardens of Alcinous, described in detail with its gleaming metal walls and perpetually fruiting trees.

Still invisible, Odysseus enters the great hall where the Phaeacian nobles are feasting. He walks straight past King Alcinous and makes directly for Queen Arete. Just as he reaches her, the divine mist dissolves, and he dramatically appears before the assembly. Falling to his knees, he clasps Arete's knees in the traditional gesture of a suppliant, humbly begging for her mercy and assistance in securing passage back to his distant homeland after years of suffering. Having made his plea, he respectfully takes a seat in the ashes near the hearth, awaiting their judgment. A stunned silence falls over the hall until the elder lord Echeneus gently admonishes Alcinous for leaving a suppliant in such a lowly position, reminding him of the sacred obligations of hospitality (xenia).

Taking the counsel to heart, King Alcinous quickly raises Odysseus, seats him honorably in the chair of his own son, Laodamas, and orders food and drink to be served. Alcinous assures the stranger that his plea will be considered and proposes the lords gather the next day to arrange his conveyance home. After Odysseus has refreshed himself, the perceptive Queen Arete speaks, noticing that the stranger is wearing clothes she recognizes as having been made by herself and her maids (the clothes Nausicaa gave him). She directly asks him who he is, where he comes from, and specifically, who gave him his clothing.

Carefully choosing his words and still withholding his name, Odysseus recounts the story of his seven-year imprisonment on the island of Ogygia with Calypso, his divinely ordered release, the building of his raft, the shipwreck caused by Poseidon, and his eventual arrival on Scheria. He explains how he encountered Nausicaa and her maids by the river and received clothing and provisions from the princess out of kindness. He tactfully takes the blame for not accompanying her directly into the city, claiming it was his own sense of propriety, thus shielding Nausicaa from any criticism. Impressed by the stranger's story and demeanor, Alcinous praises his daughter and, though briefly offering Odysseus Nausicaa's hand in marriage if he chose to stay, firmly promises that regardless of the distance, the Phaeacians will provide a swift ship and crew the very next day to see him safely home. Odysseus expresses deep gratitude, and the Phaeacians prepare guest quarters where he can rest.