The Odds At Sea: Odysseus and His Odyssey

So it is no secret that Odysseus is back in Ithaca with his love and his handsome son, but how exctly did he get back home? What did he see on his travels? Who did he meet? Our readers have been extremely curious about exactly what happened on Odysseus' journey and what odds he faced at sea. Here is the inside look at Odysseus' unique and fascinating travels

We learned that Poseidon hated Odysseus and that Athena was trying to help him get off of Calypso's island, where he was stuck.

Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, everyone thought he was dead.

Finally, after seven years, Zeus sent down Hermes to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go (well Calypso would tell you otherwise); he set out on a raft, which Poseidon immediately wrecked.

He made his way to shore, where he was found by the princess Nausicaa. She brought him to court, where he begged mercy of the queen and was welcomed.

King Alcinous declared the next day a festal day in Odysseus's honor, and Odysseus started weeping when he heard the bard singing about Troy.

So, he launched into the longest dinner party story ever:After leaving from Troy, Odysseus and his crew landed in the city of Ismaros and raided it for no good reason. The next day, the people retaliated with a late-arriving cavalry and killed many of Odysseus's men.

Odysseus and his men suffered through three days of intense storms.

Ten days later, they landed on the island of the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus explored the land with a scouting party. When he discovered that they lost their memory and all their will to go home after eating the lotus flower, he forced them all back to the ship as fast as he could and sailed away. Close call!

They next arrived at the land of the Cyclopes, giants with only one eye, where Odysseus made the mistake of not getting out as quickly as he could. There was a whole bunch of trickery, but Odysseus and (most) of his men escaped—but not without seriously ticking off the now-blind Cyclops Polyphemos.

When Polyphemos learned Odysseus's real name, he asked Poseidon to curse him. Forever. Poseidon obliged.

There were more misadventures: winds blew them off course, the men turned into pigs, they visited the underworld, passed Skylla and Charybdis, and then made their worst and last mistake of eating the sun god Helios's sacred cattle. What were they thinking?!?!?!

When they next sailed, Zeus striked them down with a thunderbolt, destroying Odysseus's ship and killing everyone but Odysseus.

After escaping Skylla and Charybdis for a second time, Odysseus drifted for nine days until he washed ashore on Calypso's island.

There he was seduced and trapped for seven years by the enraptured nymph Calypso, although he chose not to go into details and ended his story.

The Phaeacians were so moved by Odysseus's story that they offered his safe passage home.

When Odysseus woke up in Ithaca, Athena revealed herself to him and they made plans to defeat the suitors.

Odysseus, dressed as a beggar, went to the forest home of his swineherd Eumaeus and crashed on his couch.

Shortly after, Telemachas showed up. Odysseus revealed his true identity to his son and together they made a plan to defeat the suitors. Reunited and it feels so good.

Odysseus went to town disguised as a beggar and, well, begged in the great hall, his own home, to find out which suitors were naughty and which were nice. (Most of them are naughty).

He also checked out the servants, and enlisted some to help him fight.

Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, won Penelope's contest by stringing his own massive bow and shooting an arrow through the twelve axe heads.

He and Telemachas, along with the loyal herdsmen, killed all the suitors in the great hall. So badass.

Afterwards, Odysseus forced all the disloyal maids to clean up the slaughter and then had them killed as well. Best to not leave any loose, treacherous ends we guess.

Odysseus won back Penelope by revealing their "secret" to her—the fact that their bed is carved from the roots of an olive tree and is therefore immovable.

The reunited couple spends the night together. (Bow chicka wow wow).

The next day, Odysseus visited his father Laertes and revealed himself to him. It was all very touching, until a group of Ithaca rebels showed up; they wanted revenge for their murdered sons (the suitors).

They fight until Athena makes them stop, because ya know, where would Odysseus be without her?

Eventually, the people and Odysseus formed a pact. Restored to his kingship, Odysseus brought peace to Ithaca once more.

So there you have it. The incredible journey of Odysseus and all his accomplishments and sights and adventures. If only each of us could experience our own unique odyssey.

#Travel