The Odyssey ByHomer

No Not This Homer!!

The Famous Greek Poet Homer

The Homeric Problem Who is HOMER? Who is HOMER? One man? One man? Many men? Many men? The Iliad and The Odyssey are too different – NO way the two epics were written by the same person The Iliad and The Odyssey are too different – NO way the two epics were written by the same person

The Trojan War 10 Year war in Troy 10 Year war in Troy Odysseus travels to Troy to rescue Helen Odysseus travels to Troy to rescue Helen The Greeks are successful in winning the war when they trick the Trojans with the infamous Trojan Horse The Greeks are successful in winning the war when they trick the Trojans with the infamous Trojan Horse

The Trojan Horse The Greeks gave the Trojans a “gift” The Greeks gave the Trojans a “gift” Greek soldiers hid inside the wooden horse and while the Trojans slept, the soldiers opened the city gates and ambushed Troy Greek soldiers hid inside the wooden horse and while the Trojans slept, the soldiers opened the city gates and ambushed Troy

Calypso’s Island Calypso – goddess of the sea Calypso – goddess of the sea Madly in love with Odysseus Madly in love with Odysseus Holds Odysseus captive (under a spell) on her island for 7 years Holds Odysseus captive (under a spell) on her island for 7 years

Phaeacia Ruled by Alcinous Alcinous offers to give Odysseus a ship to sail back to Ithaca in exchange for Odysseus’ story of adventure Alcinous offers to give Odysseus a ship to sail back to Ithaca in exchange for Odysseus’ story of adventure

The Island of Ismarus Odysseus’ crew kill the men and enslave the women Odysseus’ crew kill the men and enslave the women The crew celebrates and is attacked (while they are intoxicated) by the Ismarus army The crew celebrates and is attacked (while they are intoxicated) by the Ismarus army Odysseus loses a large number of men Odysseus loses a large number of men

The Lotus-Eaters Island Odysseus sends 3 men onto the island to see if the natives are friendly Odysseus sends 3 men onto the island to see if the natives are friendly The 3 men eat the lotus flower and lose their will to go home The 3 men eat the lotus flower and lose their will to go home The 3 men are tied to their benches The 3 men are tied to their benches

The Cyclops Odysseus takes 12 of his best fighters onto the island with him The men become trapped in the Cyclops’ cave The Cyclops begins eating the men two at a time

Polyphemus guards the door Odysseus and his men poke out Polyphemus’ eye Odysseus and his men poke out Polyphemus’ eye The men tie themselves to his sheep and escape The men tie themselves to his sheep and escape From the ship, Odysseus teases the Cyclops From the ship, Odysseus teases the Cyclops

Aeolia Ruled by Aeolus Aeolus, the god of wind, gives Odysseus a gift Aeolus, the god of wind, gives Odysseus a gift The gift is a bag containing all of the winds, except for the West Wind that would blow them home to Ithaca The gift is a bag containing all of the winds, except for the West Wind that would blow them home to Ithaca The men open the bag and are blown back to Aeolia The men open the bag and are blown back to Aeolia

Laestrygonians (Cannibals) The Laestrygonians destroy all of Odysseus’ ships, except the ship Odysseus is on The Laestrygonians destroy all of Odysseus’ ships, except the ship Odysseus is on The Laestrygonians eat all of Odysseus’ men, except the men on Odysseus’ ship The Laestrygonians eat all of Odysseus’ men, except the men on Odysseus’ ship

Aeaea – Circe’s Island Circe – sorceress Circe – sorceress In love with Odysseus In love with Odysseus Turns Odysseus’ men into swine Turns Odysseus’ men into swine Holds Odysseus captive (under a spell) on her island for 1 year Holds Odysseus captive (under a spell) on her island for 1 year Helps Odysseus get to The Land of the Dead Helps Odysseus get to The Land of the Dead

The Land of the Dead - Hades Odysseus must go to The Land of the Dead to find Tiresias the blind prophet Odysseus sees Elpenor and Anticlea Advice from Tiresias: DO NOT eat Helios’ cattle - why?

The Sirens and the Wandering Rocks Lure sailors to their destruction with their songs Odysseus listens to the song from the mast where he his tied The ears of the crew are covered with beeswax

Scylla the Sea Monster and Charybdis the whirlpool Odysseus and his crew are faced with TWO life threatening events at the same time Odysseus and his crew are faced with TWO life threatening events at the same time Why did Odysseus choose to sail closer to Scylla? How was he a hero through this? Why did Odysseus choose to sail closer to Scylla? How was he a hero through this?

Thrinacia – Helios’ Island Odysseus and his crew have been warned not to eat Helios’ cows, however, the men are starving and decide to face Helios’ wrath and eat the cows rather than starve to death. The men are all killed and the ship destroyed. Odysseus and his crew have been warned not to eat Helios’ cows, however, the men are starving and decide to face Helios’ wrath and eat the cows rather than starve to death. The men are all killed and the ship destroyed.

Ithaca at last!!! “Twenty years gone, and I am back again.” With the help of the Phaeacians, Odysseus is finally back home in Ithaca

Athena’s Assitance Athena – goddess of wisdom and war Athena – goddess of wisdom and war Assists Odysseus in his attempt to reclaim his rightful place as King of Ithaca Assists Odysseus in his attempt to reclaim his rightful place as King of Ithaca She promises to help Odysseus battle the suitors She promises to help Odysseus battle the suitors

Home Sweet Home Suitors attempt to Suitors attempt to woe Penelope and woe Penelope and plot to kill plot to kill Telemachus Telemachus

Penelope and Telemachus Penelope tricks the suitors into waiting for her decision about the pending marriage by telling them she must weave a burial shroud for her father- in-law, but at night she undoes the weaving of the shroud Penelope tricks the suitors into waiting for her decision about the pending marriage by telling them she must weave a burial shroud for her father- in-law, but at night she undoes the weaving of the shroud

The Challenge Odysseus challenges the suitors to an archery contest Odysseus challenges the suitors to an archery contest Odysseus wins the contest Odysseus wins the contest Odysseus and Telemachus kill all of the suitors Odysseus and Telemachus kill all of the suitors

Odysseus is Victorious Penelope tests Odysseus to see if he really is who he says he is and not just a clever suitor Penelope tests Odysseus to see if he really is who he says he is and not just a clever suitor Odysseus passes the test by telling Penelope in detail about their olive tree bed Odysseus passes the test by telling Penelope in detail about their olive tree bed