Resumo de The Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey: Charting the Travels of Odysseus

In 24 books, Homer relates the homegoing journey of Odysseus after
fighting in the Trojan War for 10 years. By the time he is able to
finally return to his native Ithaka, Odysseus has been away from Home
for almost 20 years.

Odysseus had been reluctant to join his fellow Akhaians to fight in the
Trojan War. However, he had sworn an oath to help uphold the honor of
Menelaos when Helen left Sparta and fled to Troy with Paris.
Telemakhos, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, was a baby when his
father went to war. Now, some 19 years have past and Telemakhos is a
man who wishes to rid his Ithakan home of 100 suitors who are vying for
his mother's hand in marriage.

Persuaded by Athena, disguised as an old friend of the family,
Telemakhos sets sail to look for his father, Odysseus. The lad does not
know that his father is on the island of Ogygia with the nymph,
Kalypso. Kalypso has detained Odysseus for 7 years, hoping to convince
him to remain with her and become immortal.

As Telemakhos travels first to Pylos and then to Sparta to search for
his father, Zeus sends Hermes to Kalypso's island to free Odysseus.
Reluctantly, Kalypso sets Odysseus free and allows him to build a raft
that will take him to Skheria, home of the Phaiakhians. Upon his
arrival on Skheria, Odysseus tells all of his adventures from the time
he left Troy until the present moment.

Odysseus relates how the Greeks constructed the wooden horse and hid
warriors inside. The Trojans, thinking the Greeks had abandonned their
cause to sack Troy, bring the horse inside the city. Later that
evening, when the Trojans have celebrated with much wine, the Greeks
spring from the horse's belly and burn Troy to the ground.

After sailing from Troy, Odysseus and his Men fight battles among the
KiKones and sustain heavy losses. Their next stop is on the coast of
North Africa, where his men encounter the Lotus-eaters. Those who eat
the lotus flower lose all memory of home and do not wish to continue
their journey. Odysseus is finally able to constrain his men to resume
their journery.

On an island that is usually identified with Sicily, Odysseus fights a
giant Kykops, Polyphemos, and puts out his one eye. After some very
skillful manuevering, Odysseus and his men are able to escape from the
island. However, Odysseus does not know that Polyphemos is a son of
Poseidon. The sea god now becomes his nemesis and hinders the hero for
the rest of his journey home.

Assisted by the wind god, Aiolos, Odysseus's fleet almost reaches
Ithika. However, a crew member takes advantage of Odysseus's slumber
and opens the bag containing all the contrary winds that Aiolos had
captured. The winds blow the fleet off course again, forcing them to
undergo many more frightening adventures.

After landing on the island of Aiaia, Odysseus encounters the
sorceress, Kirke, who, after turning Odysseus's men into pigs,
ultimately decides to help the crew reach home. First, they must
consult Teiresias, a blind seer in hades, who provides further
instructions for the homegoing.

After traveling past the Sirenes and surviving their perilous sounds
(being bound to the ship's mast), Odysseus and his men must make it
past two more perils, Skylla (a six-headed monster) and Kharybdis.
Skylla kills six more of the men, one for each mouth, but the ship
safely avoids the whirlpool, Kharybdis. When the men disobediently eat
some of the sun god's cattle, Zeus hurls a lightning bolt to destroy
the ship. All are lost except for Odysseus, who is rescued by Kalypso
and her nymphs. After Odysseus complets his tale and reveals his
identity to the Phaiakhians, King Alkinoos makes arrangements to take
him home in one of the fast ships.

Once back on Ithika, Odysseus must battle the suitors who are in his
home. Called home by Athena, Telemakhos arrives from his travels in
time to help his fatherish the task. Odysseus returns to his
home, disguised as a beggar. After stringing a bow and shooting an
arrow through a row of twelve axe handles, Odysseus and his supporters
turn on the suitors and kill them all. Finally, he reveals himself to
his wife, Penelope, who, after testing him further, receives Odysseus
as her husband.

The next day, the families of the dead suitors pursue Odysseus to the
farm of his father, Laertes. A battle breaks out, but is soon stopped
by Athena who decrees there will not be civil war on the island. Zeus
confirms his daughter's words and the factions lay down their weapons
and sign a treaty of peace. Odysseus resumes his reign as king of
Ithaka.

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