By: Matthew Matusovskiy

Once upon a time Odysseus was on an island with Calypso, a goddess. Calypso deeply wanted Odysseus to stay on the island with her but Odysseus wanted to go home to his son and wife, whom he loved and cared for more than anyone else. The entire time, he was halted by the magic and was forced to stay on the island.

After 7 years passed, Calypso agreed to let Odysseus go home because Hermes the messenger god told her it was time to release Odysseus. She gave Odysseus an axe to chop a tree down on her island and make a little ship out of it.

When the raft was completed Odysseus sailed happily away. What he didn’t know was that there was a tremendous storm created by his enemy Poseidon waiting for him ahead.

Odysseus ship began shaking as Poseidon created huge waves an roaring wind to destroy Odysseus’ boat. Odysseus was in the water, but Ino, a goddess, came and saved him by giving him a veil that makes him immune to drowning. He swam towards shore.

With Ino’s veil, Odysseus reaches shore near Phaecia, but there are multiple sharp rocks blocking his path. The waves crash down upon him and his hands become bloody from grasping the rocks. Luckily for him, Athena comes to the rescue. She gives him the knowledge of going AROUND the stones, and reaching a patch of barren beach.

Odysseus falls asleep upon the beach exhausted from his swim. Meanwhile, Athena, The Goddess of Wisdom, comes disguised to Nausicaa, the king of Phaecia’s Daughter, to tell her “Your clothes are dirty, go to the river and wash them next morning… with a carriage”

As Odysseus awakens from his deep slumber, he is greeted by multiple girls playing ball outside of the bushes ahead of him. One of those girls is Nausicaa. The ball eventually rolls towards Odysseus. Being the gentleman he is, he attempts to give the ball back to them, but all of the women run away, all but Nausicaa.

Nausicaa decides to help Odysseus and tell him what he needs to do to get help from her parents, “Stride by him, and throw your arms around my mother’s knees, if you want see the day of your return come quickly and joyfully, no matter how far away your home may be. If you win her favor, you may hope to see your friends, and reach your fine house in your own country.” Odysseus is almost home. This is final stop before he arrives in Ithaca to deal with more problems there. Odysseus learned that he can and should trust others and accept their help.