Odysseus’ Journey Home

By: Claudia Allos Grade: 8

A long time ago, there was a storm tossed man, Odysseus. He was trapped on the island of Ogygia because the fair haired nymph Calypso held him there, for she was madly in love with him. Odysseus wanted nothing but to go home to his wife and son. He had been away for 20 years. Odysseus had almost all the gods support in getting home, everyone but the god of the sea, Poseidon.

One day the gods sat down to council. Athena wished to help Odysseus get home to Ithaca. “Does anyone remember princely Odysseus who has been held captive with the nymph Calypso for seven years?” said bright- eyed Athena “We will send Hermes, the slayer of Argus to demand that Calypso let Odysseus go.” said Zeus

Hermes was mesmerized when he saw the “dark blue sea” that surrounded Calypso’s grotto. The grotto had a “fragrance of cleft cedar and of sandal wood”. When he entered he saw the nymph sitting upon a hearth were a great fire blazed and “singing with sweet voice” Calypso addressed Hermes:

“What brings you here, honored and welcomed you are though.” Calypso brought food to Hermes and attended to his needs and only after he was content he delivered his message from Zeus.“Calypso, Zeus demands you free Odysseus at once. Give him an axe so he may build a raft and leave this island.” Grudgingly, Calypso agreed and gave Odysseus an axe so he could build a raft to sail to Ithaca.

Before Odysseus left Calypso, she laid out a feast for Odysseus. “Odysseus I warn you now, you are going to have endure many woes before you reach your homeland.” warned Calypso After they had finished eating Odysseus dressed into a tunic and coat while Calypso wore a finespun silvery robe, a beautiful belt around her waist and a veil.

Calypso gave Odysseus an axe that fit his hands perfectly, so that he could start building a raft. It took four days for Odysseus to finish building the raft so on the fifth day Calypso sent him off. The nymph gave Odysseus a bath and fragrant clothes. As Odysseus was leaving, the fair haired nymph Calypso gave Odysseus a skin with dark wine, another with water and provisions in a sack.

A little into Odysseus’ journey he ran into a conflict. Earth- shaking Poseidon had come back from his feast in Ethiopia. “The other gods have decided to help Odysseus while I was away with the Ethiopians!” raged the god of the sea.

Poseidon gathered the clouds and brought forth the north, south, east and west winds. The waves grew, towering over Odysseus’ tiny raft. Odysseus’ knees grew weak as he began to face the wrath of Poseidon. “Oh no, what will happen if my raft breaks? I fear that what Calypso told me was true. I will surely be facing death soon!” said worried Odysseus.

A great wave soon faced long tired royal Odysseus and sent him plugging into the sea, his raft far from reach. Odysseus was submerged underwater because the wonderful clothing Calypso had given him was weighing him down. Athena noticed Odysseus struggling and sent the winds away. Odysseus rose above the water and fair- ankled Ino, daughter of Cadmus pitied the man and decided to help.

“Storm tossed man, what have you done to anger the god of the sea, mighty Poseidon? Take off your clothes, leave your raft to float and put this veil on, it is immortal. ” said Ino handing Odysseus a veil. “Swim to the coast of Phaeacia were you will find safety and when you reach there remove the veil” advised Ino.

Odysseus drifted around the sea for two days and two nights and on the third day Odysseus spotted the land of Phaeacia. He swam towards the land but soon faced a problem. He couldn’t climb the ledge to reach the mainland. Odysseus asked for the gods help saying:

“Zeus, I have reached this new land but alas, I cannot climb the ledge without falling to my death and I fear if I keep swimming Poseidon will raise another storm and I will drift away from this land.”Odysseus started to climb the ledge but then fell and it would have been the end of him if clear-eyed Athena hadn’t noticed and given him wisdom to help himself stop.

Odysseus climbed down the ledge and swam back into the water and around the cliffs, looking for a harbor or shore. Instead this long tried man came upon a fair-flowing river. It was free of stones and away from the breeze. Odysseus prayed:“Oh gods, whoever is listening, I have found myself fleeing from the sea and Poseidon’s threats and now I am tired. Show me pity as I call myself a suppliant.”Odysseus laid down, naked, bloody and alone. A wave of sleep came over him as he laid down. Odysseus closed his eyes and went to sleep.

While Odysseus slept sleeping Athena came up with a plan. Athena came down to Phaeacia disguised as a normal person and went to the home of the king, Alcinous. There she sought his daughter who had beauty like the gods, Nausicaa. Athena walked up to Nausicca and said: “Nausicaa your clothes are lying uncared for and since your wedding time is near you should be wearing fine clothing. Go wash them at the dawn of day, for you will be married soon. As your father in the morning to harness a wagon with mules and a cart, bring your brother’s clothes as well.”

Nausicaa quickly rushed to her father obeying the directions of Pallas Athena. Nausicaa’s mother gave her food and oils so she could bathe in the spring. White-armed Nausicaa and other waiting-women set off to the spring on the wagon. White-armed Nausicaa and other waiting-women set off to the spring on the wagon.

When the women arrived they quickly set off to work cleaning and hanging the clothing to dry, unknowing that a still sleeping Odysseus wasn’t very far from them. They spent until afternoon cleaning clothing and rugs from the palace of mighty king Alcinous. They ate from the food that the queen had packed and bathed with the oils.

After all the work was done the women decided to play a game of catch and this was when the second part of Athena’s plan began. Athena was going to make one of the women miss the ball and where the ball was Odysseus would be too. Soon after they began to play one of the women missed the ball as she went to get it a shriek of terror left her lips.

There saw the women-waiting a naked and messy Odysseus. Then woke with a startle royal Odysseus. Seeing him everyone but Nausicaa fled because Athena had given her the courage to stay. He crept from his hiding place, only a leaf covering his nakedness. Odysseus spoke to the shocked daughter of Alcinous:“I am your suppliant princess. Are you some god or mortal? If you are human then your parents must be very pleased having someone as beautiful as you for a daughter. Could you please help me?”

Nausicaa sat Odysseus down and gave home the remaining food from the dinner the queen had packed. After he ate to his heart’s content Nausicaa gave him oils and told him to bathe in the river and handed him clothes as well. When Odysseus returned clothed and full Nausicaa instructed Odysseus how to get back to the palace and ask her father for help with returning back to Ithaca. As Odysseus set off toward the palace he knew he would be okay.