The Odyssey Book I

 The Trojan war has ended  Homer asks the Muse (Calliope) to tell him about Odysseus  The Trojan war has ended  Homer asks the Muse (Calliope) to tell him about Odysseus

 Odysseus longed for home and couldn’t wait to be with his wife  However, Odysseus’s companions offended Apollo by eating his sacred cattle  They died.  Odysseus longed for home and couldn’t wait to be with his wife  However, Odysseus’s companions offended Apollo by eating his sacred cattle  They died.

 Odysseus ends up on the island of Ogygia after angering Poseidon  He is stuck with Calypso, daughter of Atlas, who wants to marry him  All Odysseus wants is to go home  Odysseus ends up on the island of Ogygia after angering Poseidon  He is stuck with Calypso, daughter of Atlas, who wants to marry him  All Odysseus wants is to go home

 The gods of Olympus are having a discussion about mortals blaming the gods, when Athena brings up Odysseus.  She asks why Zeus is angry with Odysseus and why he hasn’t been allowed to go home to Ithaca.  The gods of Olympus are having a discussion about mortals blaming the gods, when Athena brings up Odysseus.  She asks why Zeus is angry with Odysseus and why he hasn’t been allowed to go home to Ithaca.

 Zeus explains that he’s not mad, but poseidon is.  Odysseus blinded the cyclops Polyphemos, Poseidon’s son.  This obviously made Poseidon a bit sore at Odysseus.  Zeus explains that he’s not mad, but poseidon is.  Odysseus blinded the cyclops Polyphemos, Poseidon’s son.  This obviously made Poseidon a bit sore at Odysseus.

Odysseus and Polyphemos

Poseidon’s Anger

 The gods try to devise a plan to bring Odysseus back to Ithaca, with hopes that Poseidon will cool his jets  Athena suggests that they send Hermes to Ogygia to deal with Calypso while she goes to Ithaca to speak with Telemachos, Odysseus’ son.  The gods try to devise a plan to bring Odysseus back to Ithaca, with hopes that Poseidon will cool his jets  Athena suggests that they send Hermes to Ogygia to deal with Calypso while she goes to Ithaca to speak with Telemachos, Odysseus’ son.

Athena traveling to Ithaca

 Athena disguises herself as the Taphian leader Mentes.  Telemachos greets her and offers food.  Suitors of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, have been helping themselves to food, wine, and whatever else they desire, all while trying to win her over.  Athena disguises herself as the Taphian leader Mentes.  Telemachos greets her and offers food.  Suitors of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, have been helping themselves to food, wine, and whatever else they desire, all while trying to win her over.

 Once the suitors are full and drunk, they sing and dance.  This is Athena’s time to speak to Telemachos about why she is there.  Once the suitors are full and drunk, they sing and dance.  This is Athena’s time to speak to Telemachos about why she is there.

 She tells him that his father Odysseus is not dead, but held captive by savages on an island.  When Athena asks about the suitors, Telemachos says they are sucking his house dry and there is nothing he can do about it.  She tells him that his father Odysseus is not dead, but held captive by savages on an island.  When Athena asks about the suitors, Telemachos says they are sucking his house dry and there is nothing he can do about it.

 Athena suggests that Odysseus would do something and tells Telemachos to drive the suitors out, gather a crew, and set out in search of his father.

 She tells him first to go to Pylos and speak with Nestor, then sparta to speak with Menelaos, the co-captain of the Greeks and husband of Helen. If Odysseus is dead, then he can dispose of the suitors however he chooses.

 Athena says he can have glory like Orestes had when he avenged the death of his father, Agamemnon, by killing Aigisthos.  This gives Telemachos courage.  Athena says he can have glory like Orestes had when he avenged the death of his father, Agamemnon, by killing Aigisthos.  This gives Telemachos courage.

 The singer, Phemios, begins to sing, but the song upsets Penelope, and she scolds him.  Feeling revived, Telemachos tells his mother to get a grip. Amazed by his authority, she goes back up to her room and weeps for Odysseus.  The singer, Phemios, begins to sing, but the song upsets Penelope, and she scolds him.  Feeling revived, Telemachos tells his mother to get a grip. Amazed by his authority, she goes back up to her room and weeps for Odysseus.

Telemachos and Penlope

 Once the suitors are gone, he goes up to his room and ponders what Athena said to him.