MMythWeaveGreek Mythology Library
Stories

The Odyssey Homecoming

From the fall of Troy to Ithaca, follow twelve turns in a ten-year homecoming.

Chapters

  1. 01

    Leaving Troy

    The ten-year war is over. Odysseus turns the Ithacan fleet west, but the longer story has only begun.

    OdysseusTroyTrojan WarIthaca
  2. 02

    The Bag of Winds

    Aeolus binds the hostile winds and Ithaca comes into view, until the crew opens the bag they mistake for treasure.

    OdysseusAeolusIthaca
  3. 03

    Harbour of the Giants

    The Laestrygonians rain boulders from the cliffs. Of twelve ships, only Odysseus' vessel outside the harbour escapes.

    OdysseusLaestrygonians
  4. 04

    Nobody and the Cyclops

    Wine, a false name and a flock win an escape. From offshore, Odysseus declares his true name and turns victory into Poseidon's vengeance.

    OdysseusPolyphemusBlinding of PolyphemusPoseidon
  5. 05

    Circe's Island

    Hermes' moly defeats the transforming spell. An enemy becomes an ally, and Circe points toward the realm of the dead.

    OdysseusCirceHermesAeaeaDescent to the Underworld
  6. 06

    Asking the Dead

    Tiresias names the journey's taboo. Odysseus also meets his mother and the heroes of Troy, each bearing a different fate.

    OdysseusUnderworldDescent to the UnderworldTiresiasAnticleaAchillesAjax
  7. 07

    The Song of the Sirens

    The crew seal their ears with wax while Odysseus is bound to the mast. He hears the forbidden song without losing the ship.

    OdysseusSirensCirce
  8. 08

    Between Two Monsters

    Avoiding Charybdis means passing Scylla. Odysseus is forced to choose the lesser catastrophe.

    OdysseusScyllaCharybdis
  9. 09

    The Cattle of the Sun

    A storm traps the crew on Thrinacia. Starving, they break the taboo and kill Helios' cattle; only one voyager survives the consequence.

    OdysseusHeliosThrinacia
  10. 10

    Immortality or Home

    Calypso offers immortality, yet Odysseus looks seaward for home. Zeus and Hermes finally order his release.

    OdysseusCalypsoOgygiaHermesZeus
  11. 11

    The Final Storm

    Poseidon shatters the raft and Odysseus swims to Scheria. Nausicaa and the Phaeacian court provide the final passage.

    OdysseusPoseidonPoseidon's StormScheriaNausicaaAreteAlcinous
  12. 12

    Bow, Scar and Bed

    After disguise, bow and vengeance, the true ending is recognition: Penelope tests the secret of the marriage bed known only to them.

    OdysseusAthenaIthacaReturn to IthacaPenelopeTelemachusEumaeusEurycleiaThe SuitorsContest of the Bow

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

Open in the interactive atlas →