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

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

The war lasted ten years.The war lasted ten years.The Meceneans took HelenThe Meceneans took Helenand they set out to returnand they set out to returnhome. For some of them home. For some of them

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

Ten days later theyTen days later they

arrived in the country of arrived in the country of

Tunesia where lotus-eaters Tunesia where lotus-eaters

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

anybody who ate a lotus lostanybody who ate a lotus lost

his memory.his memory.

Three mean ate loti and wanted to stay there Three mean ate loti and wanted to stay 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 country men arrived in the country

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

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

But the sailors But the sailors pushed by curiosity pushed by curiosity foolishly opened the bag foolishly opened the bag while Odysseus was while Odysseus was sleeping. All the winds sleeping. All the winds blew out and the storm blew out and the storm drove the ships back to drove the ships back to the Aeolus’ islands again. the Aeolus’ 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 a with them. On the island Stromboli there is a

cave where Aeolus lived.cave where Aeolus lived.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Map of Odysseus tripMap of Odysseus trip

- The End -- The End -