- Odyssey :A myth travels in the Mediterranea - Odyssey :A myth travels in the Mediterranea sea-sea-

The Myth starts when the Mediterraneans The Myth starts when the Mediterraneans sailed to Troy to bring back Helen, the sailed to Troy to bring back Helen, the beautiful queen of Sparta who had been beautiful queen of Sparta who had been kidnapped by Paris the prince of Troy.kidnapped by Paris the prince of Troy.

The war lasted ten The war lasted ten years.years.

The Meceneans took The Meceneans took HelenHelen

and they set out to and they set out to returnreturn

home. For some of them home. For some of them thethe

travel was short and easytravel was short and easybut for some others likebut for some others likeOdysseus it was long and Odysseus it was long and full of adventures. full of adventures.

At the beginning Odysseus’ ship arrived in At the beginning Odysseus’ ship arrived in

Evia and then in Thraka, the country of CiconesEvia and then in Thraka, the country of Cicones

an area opposite the island called Samothraka.an area opposite the island called Samothraka.

Odysseus and his men conquered the Odysseus and his men conquered the area, stole a lot of goods and kidnapped a lot area, stole a lot of goods and kidnapped a lot of women. Zeus punished them by sending a of women. Zeus punished them by sending a storm.storm.

Ten days later theyTen days later they

arrived in the country of arrived in the country of

Tunesia where lotus-Tunesia where lotus-eaters eaters

lived. They ate loti but lived. They ate loti but

anybody who ate a lotus anybody who ate a lotus lostlost

his memory.his memory.

Three mean ate loti and wanted to stay Three mean ate loti and wanted to stay there there

for ever. But Odysseus forced them to follow for ever. But Odysseus forced them to follow him and fastened them on the ship not to him and fastened them on the ship not to escape.escape.

Then Odysseus with his Then Odysseus with his

men arrived in the men arrived in the country country

of Cyclops who used to of Cyclops who used to eat eat

people. Sicily is said to be people. Sicily is said to be

the country of Cyclops the country of Cyclops

while some others believe while some others believe

that the island Ortihia is that the island Ortihia is the the

Cyclop’s island.Cyclop’s island.

Odysseus met Polyphemus -Posideon’s son- and Odysseus met Polyphemus -Posideon’s son- and asked him food and shelter but Polyphemus ignored asked him food and shelter but Polyphemus ignored him, ate six men and locked the rest in his cave. So him, ate six men and locked the rest in his cave. So Odysseus found a chance and blinded him with a Odysseus found a chance and blinded him with a wooden stake and escaped with his men. Polyphemus wooden stake and escaped with his men. Polyphemus tried to kill them by throwing huge rocks at them tried to kill them by throwing huge rocks at them between Katania and Taormina. The rocks are still in between Katania and Taormina. The rocks are still in the sea and are called “the Cyclop’s rocks”.the sea and are called “the Cyclop’s rocks”.

Then Odysseus and his men arrived in the Then Odysseus and his men arrived in the island of the master of the winds called Aeolus. He island of the master of the winds called Aeolus. He gave Odysseus a bag containing all the winds, except gave Odysseus a bag containing all the winds, except one : the west wind, to help them return home.one : the west wind, to help them return home.

But the But the sailors pushed by sailors pushed by curiosity foolishly curiosity foolishly opened the bag opened the bag while Odysseus while Odysseus was sleeping. All was sleeping. All the winds blew out the winds blew out and the storm and the storm drove the ships drove the ships back to the Aeolus’ back to the Aeolus’ islands again. islands again.

Aeolus as well as all the gods were angry Aeolus as well as all the gods were angry

with them. On the island Stromboli there is with them. On the island Stromboli there is a a

cave where Aeolus lived.cave where Aeolus lived.

Then they travelled to the island of the Then they travelled to the island of the Cannibal Laestrygones, huge creatures who Cannibal Laestrygones, huge creatures who destroyed all the ships except Odysseus’ own ship. destroyed all the ships except Odysseus’ own ship. This island is supposed to be Bonifacio in Corcica.This island is supposed to be Bonifacio in Corcica.

Odysseus sailed to the island where the Odysseus sailed to the island where the witch-godess Circe lived. She turned half of his witch-godess Circe lived. She turned half of his men into pigs. Odysseus was lucky to meet men into pigs. Odysseus was lucky to meet Hermes who gave him “Moly” (a drug that Hermes who gave him “Moly” (a drug that resisted to Circe’s magic) . resisted to Circe’s magic) .

But Circe fell in But Circe fell in love with Odysseus so love with Odysseus so she released his men she released his men and gave them and gave them instructions how to instructions how to cross the Ocean. cross the Ocean. Those who crossed the Those who crossed the Ocean visited “the Ocean visited “the country of dead” Ades. country of dead” Ades. (an area near Ancona)(an area near Ancona)

Odysseus Odysseus sacrificed to the dead sacrificed to the dead and spoke with spirits and spoke with spirits and prophets (Tiresias) and prophets (Tiresias) who warned him that who warned him that his journey would be his journey would be long and difficult. long and difficult.

So, Odysseus, being wise, returned to Circe’s So, Odysseus, being wise, returned to Circe’s island who advised them about their journey. They island who advised them about their journey. They reached the land of Sirens, a beautiful place called reached the land of Sirens, a beautiful place called Sozzento near Napoli (some other say it is Capri). Sozzento near Napoli (some other say it is Capri).

Then they passed between the many-headed Then they passed between the many-headed monster Scylla and (the whirlpool) Charybdis. It monster Scylla and (the whirlpool) Charybdis. It is southwest of Kalavria where there is still a is southwest of Kalavria where there is still a small town called Skylla and on the opposite small town called Skylla and on the opposite coast a city called Charybdis.coast a city called Charybdis.

Odysseus and his men landed on the island of Odysseus and his men landed on the island of Thrinacia. Here Odysseus’ men hunted down the Thrinacia. Here Odysseus’ men hunted down the sacred castle of the sun god Helios. sacred castle of the sun god Helios.

Six days later when they sailed again Jupiter Six days later when they sailed again Jupiter punished them sending them a shipwreck in which all punished them sending them a shipwreck in which all but Odysseus fought for nine days and nine nights to but Odysseus fought for nine days and nine nights to survive and in the end he was washed ashore on the survive and in the end he was washed ashore on the island of Calypso who loved him at first sight and island of Calypso who loved him at first sight and kept him as her lover for seven years. This island is kept him as her lover for seven years. This island is supposed to be in Malta (a place called Gogo).supposed to be in Malta (a place called Gogo).

The story is nearly over. The gods decided to help Odysseus to return The story is nearly over. The gods decided to help Odysseus to return home at last. So they obliged Calypso to give him a ship and anything home at last. So they obliged Calypso to give him a ship and anything else he needed.else he needed.

So Odysseus So Odysseus finally sails to Ithaca finally sails to Ithaca and after ten years of and after ten years of adventures and risks adventures and risks Odysseus reaches his Odysseus reaches his beloved island, Ithaka. beloved island, Ithaka. It sounds like a It sounds like a miracle.miracle.

Map of Odysseus tripMap of Odysseus trip

- The End -- The End -