Odyssey 3 Books 12-24

Book 12 Circe’s instructions: pp. 353-355 Sirens: what do they sing to Odysseus? How do they compare to Muses? (p. 357) Scylla. What kind of monster is this, what elements is she composed of? Charybdis Thrinacia and cattle of Helios: unlawful and perverted sacrifice and rampant meat-eating (pp. 362-363), “recklessness” (moral and ritual transgression) of crew (cf. with suitors’ consumption of meat and “reckless” behavior); cattle are immortal but do not reproduce, not replaceable. Portents associated with unlawful meat-eating pp. 363-364; cf. portents seen by suitors in connection with meat

Odysseus and the Sirens. 5th c. BCE Athenian red figure vase

White-ground lekythos by the Edinburgh Painter, late 6th century BCE White-ground lekythos by the Edinburgh Painter, late 6th century BCE. Odysseus and the Sirens. Athens, 1130. From Eretria. White-ground lekythos by the Endinburgh Painter, late 6th century BC. Odysseus and the sirens. Athens, 1130. From Eretria.

Scylla. Detail from side A from a Boeotian red-figure bell-crater, 450–425 BC.

The Cattle of the Sun depicted on a 6th-century BCE vase from Cerveteri

Book 13 Odysseus returned to Ithaca by Phaeacians in magical ships; note death-like sleep of Odysseus p.368, death and rebirth theme of Odyssey Encounter with Athena and mutual testing and recriminations (Odysseus’ “Cretan Tale”): pp. 370-371, 372-374 Decision to use disguise as beggar

Odysseus and Athena pp. 372-373 “Only a master thief, a real con artist Could match your tricks—even a god Might come up short. You wily bastard, You cunning, elusive, habitual liar! ….. Never mind about that though. Here we are. The two shrewdest minds in the universe, You far and away the best man on earth In plotting strategies, and I famed among the gods For my clever schemes. Not even you Recognized Pallas Athena, Zeus’ daughter, I who stand by you in all your troubles…”

[Book 19 – we did not get to this in class so not on final] Encounter between Penelope and Odysseus (in disguise as beggar) Each uses coded speech to test the other out Detail of brooch in Odysseus’ lying speech Penelope’s dream of twenty geese Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus by hunting scar on thigh

[Odyssey 21 – we did not get to this in class – so not on final] Contest of the bow and axes as a way of choosing husband for Penelope, who suggests the contest. Cf. bow test organized in Indian epic Ramayana by King Janaka for daughter Sita: institution of svayamvara (“self-choice”). Hero Rama is the only one to string the bow. Comparison of Odysseus stringing bow like musician stringing lyre p. 435

[Odyssey p. 435 - we did not get to this in class – so not on final] Odysseus, deep in thought, Was looking at his bow. And then, effortlessly, Like a musician stretching a string Over a new peg on his lyre, and making The twisted sheep-gut fast at either end, Odysseus strung the great bow. Lifting it up, He plucked the string, and it sang beautifully Under his touch, with a note like a swallow’s. The suitors were aghast. The color drained From their faces, and Zeus thundered loud, Showing his portents and cheering the heart Of the long-enduring, godlike Odysseus.

Apollo with bow and lyre

Two reconstructions of the bow test

Odysseus strings the bow

[Odyssey 22 we did not get to this in class – so not on final] Killing of the suitors: note animal similes (p. 446 vultures after smaller birds, p.449 fish in nets) Aftermath: p. 450 Odysseus as bloodied lion (familiar?), his words to Eurycleia about exulting over the dead (p. 450); cf. Clytemnestra over corpse of Agamemnon Killing of unfaithful maidservants: Odysseus’ instructions (p. 451); Telemachus’ change of plan (p. 452) and simile of birds in a snare

[Odyssey 23 we did not get to this in class – so not on final] Penelope continues to test Odysseus: the bed test (pp. 459-460) Final reunion, simile of survivors at sea (p. 461)

[Odyssey 24 - we did not get to this in class – so not on final] Souls of suitors conducted to underworld by Hermes Problem of counter-vengeance by families of suitors Only intervention of Zeus and Athena prevents further vengeance (pp. 480-482). Appearance of Athena in form of Mentor (cf. Mentes, who appears to Telemachus, and men- root) What other reconciliation brokered by Athena have we come across?