An illustration of Odysseus' ship from Homer's Odyssey
The Odyssey is an incredible story that has survived generations and generations through verbal storytelling and, eventually, the written form. The portion of the story begins with the great Greek hero Odysseus trying to return home to his kingdom of Ithaca ten years after the events of the Fall of Troy. He is trapped on Calypso's island and escapes with the help of the gods of Mount Olympus and builds a ship and forms a crew, while his wife, Penelope, is being treated by suitors who do not know that Odysseus is still alive. After happening upon the land of the Cyclops and the son of the god of the sea Poseidon, who is named Polyphemus, Odysseus does battle with the Cyclops to escape being eaten and killed by him, though this is very difficult because Poseidon holds a grudge against Odysseus for blinding one of his sons, and Poseidon later sends an incredible storm to wreck his ship. Later, Odysseus and his crew must escape the magic of Circe, who attempts to enchant him with a drug in his tea and seduce Odysseus in order for his crew and himself to leave safely. Following the death of Elpenor, Odysseus and his crew are able to escape the wrath of Circe and leave Circe's island. This piece of the story is one of my favorites, and I am so happy to be able to read and enjoy part of it once again.
Bibliography: The Odyssey by Homer (translated by Tony Kline in 2000). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-homers-odyssey.html
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