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| As with the Iliad, the Odyssey opens with an invocation of the Muse and the
presentation of its central theme, the adventures of the resourceful man.
It has also been divided by the Alexandrian scholars into 24 rhapsodies (short narrative poems)
symbolized by the lower case letters of the Greek alphabet. |
| 1 (Theon agora. Athenas parainesis pros Telemachon. Mnistiron euochia.
The assembly of gods. The admonition of Telemachus by Athena. The banquet of the suitors):
The narration begins with the last adventures of Odysseus on the island of
Ogygia with Calypso. The preceding events will be related in a long flashback by Odysseus himself
in subsequent books. Poseidon, infuriated, hinders the return of the hero
to Ithaca. However, during his absence in the land of the Ethiopians, Athena
manages to extract a promise from Zeus to assist Odysseus. He proposes to send Hermes
to Calypso, whilst Athena herself, in human disguise, appears and gives counsel to
Telemachus. Following this, Telemachus' attitude towards the suitors,
who feast in the palace, becomes wiser. |
| 2 (Ithakission ekklisia. Tilemachou apodimia. The assembly of the Ithacans.
The departure of Telemachus): On the following day at the
people's assembly, Telemachus states his wish to search for his
father and decides to travel to the Peloponnese. His statement is met with ridicule
and insolence from the suitors, but Athena, disguised as Mentor helps
in the preparation of the ship on which Telemachus sails at night. |
 3
(Ta en Pylo. Events in Pylos): In Pylos, Telemachus meets Nestor, who cannot provide him
with any information about his father. The next day, along with Peisistratus, the son of Nestor, they leave
for Sparta. |
| 4 (Ta en Lakedaimoni. Events in Lacedaemon): In Sparta, Menelaus is celebrating the double wedding
of his son and daughter. From him Telemachus learns the story of the homecoming
of other Achaean leaders and that his father is on the island of Ogygia with Calypso. Back in Ithaca,
the suitors plot the murder of Telemachus, while Athena consoles Penelope. |
| 5 (Odysseos schedia. Odysseus' raft): During an assembly of the gods, Zeus decides to send Hermes
to Calypso. Obeying the divine will, she instructs Odysseus to make a raft and allows him
to leave. After sailing for 18 days, Poseidon sees him and creates a storm. Odysseus
escapes death thanks to the intervention of Leucothea and reaches the shores of Scheria,
land of the Phaeacians, three days after the shipwreck. There he falls into a deep slumber. |
 6
(Odysseos aphixis eis Phaiakas. The arrival of Odysseus in the land of the Phaeacians): Athena sends a dream to Nausicaa
-daughter of the king of the Phaeacians- which urges her to go with her girlfriends to
the beach. There they meet Odysseus. The girls are scared, but Nausicaa offers him help
and leads him to a wood outside the city. |
| 7 (Odysseos eisodos pros Alkinoun. Odysseus enters the palace of Alcinous): Enveloped in fog sent by Athena,
Odysseus manages to enter the palace, where he asks Queen Arete for shelter. He relates
his adventures after his departure from Calypso, and Alcinous promises to assist
him in returning home. |
| 8 (Odysseos systasis pros Phaiakas. Odysseus meets the Phaeacians): The next day, at the feast
given in honour of Odysseus, Demodocus sings the deeds of Achilles and Odysseus,
making the latter cry, hiding his face as he does so. Antenor realizes this and interrupts the feast.
Games then follow at which Odysseus causes a sensation in the discus-throwing. At the evening table
Demodocus sings this time of the Wooden Horse. Odysseus becomes emotional and now Alcinous
asks him for his name and adventures. |
 9
(Alkinou apologoi. Kyklopeia. The narration of Odysseus to Alcinous. The book of the Cyclopes): Odysseus reveals his identity and begins to relate
the events that occurred after his departure from Troy. He tells of the destruction
of Ismarus and the losses to the Cicones. A storm ensued that directed them to the
land of the Lotus-eaters, where Odysseus and his companions ran the risk of losing their memories.
Then they reached the land of the Cyclopes, where many met their deaths when trapped in a cave by one of them.
Odysseus, however, tricked the Cyclops, telling him that his name was Outis (No one), and
finally blinded him, after having first gotten him drunk. Owing to a fatal over-confidence,
the hero revealed his real name and the curse of the Cyclops was what turned
the fury of Poseidon against Odysseus. |
| 10 (Ta peri Aiolou kai Laistrygonon kai Kirkis. Concerning Aeolus, the Laestrygonians and Circe): They leave the island
of Aeolus with a fair wind. However, when his companions open the goatskin in which
Aeolus has enclosed all the hurricanes, they find themselves back where they
started. This time, however, Aeolus sends them away, fearing that the gods are unfavourable
to Odysseus. They pass through the land of the Laestrygonians where all the ships but
that of Odysseus are destroyed, and reach the island of Circe. Odysseus sends out a
scout party whom the witch-goddess transforms into pigs. He saves them, though, with the help of Hermes. They stay on the island for
a year and when Odysseus asks to leave, Circe advises him to first visit
the land of the dead. |
| 11 (Nekyia. The book of the Dead): They pass through the Ocean river and reach the land of the Cimmerians,
where darkness reigns. There Odysseus sacrifices an animal and the souls of the dead
gather around the blood. He sees Achilles, learns of the death of Agamemnon
and finally Teiresias predicts what will happen in the future; even some events not
included in the Odyssey. Then they return, without difficulty, to the island of Circe. |
 12
(Seirines, Skylla, Charybdis, voes Iliou. The Sirens, Scylla, Charybdes, The cattle of Helios): Departing from the island of Circe,
they encounter the enchanting Sirens, to the song of whom only Odysseus listens
tied upon the mast of his ship. They then fall upon Scylla and Charybdes
and many of his companions are lost. Those who survive land on the island of Helios
where, disobeying the order of the god, they slaughter his cattle and provoke his anger.
In the ensuing bad weather, Odysseus loses all his companions and alone and
shipwrecked reaches Ogygia, the island of Calypso. |
| 13 (Odysseos apoplous para Phaiakon kai aphixis eis Ithakin.
Sailing from the island of the Phaeacians, Odysseus reaches Ithaca):
Laden with gifts, Odysseus is taken by the Phaeacians to Ithaca. They deposit him,
sleeping, on the beach and when he wakes up he does not recognize his fatherland,
until the moment Athena intervenes. Together they plot against the suitors
and finally the goddess transforms him into a beggar. |
| 14 (Odysseos pros Eumaion omilia. The meeting of Odysseus and Eumaeus): Odysseus goes to Eumaeus
the swineherd, to whom he does not reveal his identity but relates to him
a fake story. |
| 15 (Tilemachou pros Eumaion aphixis. Telemachus joins Eumaeus): Athena encourages Telemachus
to return from Sparta to Ithaca and instructs him how to avoid the trap of the
suitors. On the following day, Telemachus sails into harbour on Ithaca and goes
straight to meet Eumaeus. |
| 16 (Tilemachou anagnorismos Odysseos. Telemachus recognizes Odysseus): The swineherd leaves the estate
and goes to the palace to inform Penelope of the arrival of her son. During his absence,
Odysseus reveals himself to his son and together they plot
the punishment of the suitors. Eumaeus returns. |
| 17 (Tilemachou epanodos eis Ithakin. Telemachus returns to Ithaca): The next morning,
Telemachus leaves for the city and, a little later, Eumaeus and Odysseus -who has assumed the form of a beggar-
follow him. The goatherd, Melanthius, and the suitors behave slightingly to Odysseus,
whom, naturally, nobody recognizes. Eumaeus mediates and the beggar gives information
to Penelope. |
| 18 (Odysseos kai Irou pygmi. A boxing match between Odysseus and Irus): Odysseus beats the insolent
beggar Irus in a boxing match. Penelope turns up and insinuates that she may remarry. The female servant Melantho
and the suitors make fun of Odysseus. |
 19
(Odysseos kai Pinelopis omilia. Ta niptra. The meeting between Odysseus and Penelope. Eurycleia washes Odysseus'
feet): Odysseus and Telemachus remove the arms from the store with the aid of Athena. In his discussion
with Penelope, Odysseus prepares her for his return. As the maidservant, Eurycleia, washes
his feet, she recognizes him from a scar but remains silent
following his suggestion. Penelope announces a bow contest and has a foreboding
of the death of the suitors. |
| 20 (Ta pro tis mnistirophonias. Events preceding the murder of the suitors): There follow the preparations for the festive table
of the day, which is dedicated to Apollo. A bad omen from Zeus prevents the suitors from carrying out their
plot to murder Telemachus. Their unguarded and provocative behaviour, however, continues at the table. |
| 21 (Toxou thesis. The bow in place): Penelope brings the bow, Telemachus sets up the axes
and the suitors endeavour, in vain, to string the bow. Outside the chamber,
Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius. With their help, as well as that of Eurycleia,
preparations for the execution of the plan to murder the suitors are completed.
Returning to the hall, Odysseus convinces the suitors to allow him to have a go with the bow, he strings
it and easily drives the arrow through the twelve axes. |
  22
(Mnistirophonia. The murder of the suitors): With a second arrow, Odysseus kills Antinous and then reveals
his real identity. Despite the supplications and promises of gifts,
he continues. Eumaeus and Telemachus bring him weapons, whilst Melanthius
supplies the suitors with arms. A battle ensues and all the suitors are killed
with the assistance of Athena. Only the lives of the bard, Phemius, and the messenger,
Medon, are spared. Moreover, the female servants who had followed the suitors
along with Melanthius are severely punished. |
| 23 (Odysseos ypo Pinelopis anagnorismos. Penelope recognizes Odysseus): Penelope continues to doubt
the homecoming of her husband. He turns up after his bath even more attractive and
glowing, thanks to the intervention of Athena, and dispels the doubts of Penelope
with a secret he reveals about the construction of their conjugal bed. The night unites
the two spouses, who relate what they have been through. |
| 24 (Spondai. Libations): The souls of the suitors are led to Hades.
The ghost of Agamemnon talks about the difference between Penelope and Clytemnestra. Odysseus
meets his father, Laertes, on the estate. In the meantime, the relatives of the dead suitors
have revolted in the city. A battle breaks out, but once more Athena intervenes
for the last time granting peace and stability. |