The Odyssey Allof the gods except Poseidon are gathered in the palace of Zeus in Olympus. Thegods speak of how Aigisthos killed Agamemnon, and how Agamemnon’s son Oresteskilled the murderer of his father.
Then Athena brings up Odysseus and hissufferings, and the gods agree that they should send Hermes to instruct Calypsoto let Odysseus go. After that Athena takes on the form of Mentes, a familyfriend of Odysseus and goes to the town of Ithaca to speak to Telemachos. Shetells Telemachos that he should call together the council and say that hewishes to go search for his father. After the council meeting, Athena helps himget a ship and a crew. They gather some supplies and sail out at night to findnews of Odysseus.
They stop by Pylos, and Nestor takes Telemachos in, feedshim, and tells him what he knows of the whereabouts of Odysseus. The next dayNestor gives him horses, gifts, and his son, Peisistratos to accompany Telemachos.At night they set out for Lacedaimon, to King Menelaos. At first, the king doesnot realize that the stranger at his door is Telemachos. Nevertheless, Menelaostakes him in, gives him food to eat, and wine to drink. Helen is the first torecognize the youth’s resemblance to Odysseus, and then Peisistratos tells thehosts that their guest is indeed Telemachos. Meanwhile,Hermes is sent to Calypso’s island. After Hermes tells her the will of thegods, Calypso instructs Odysseus to make a raft and sail home.
Odysseus does ashe is told, but when he sails out, Poseidon finds out and sends a storm towardsOdysseus, and wrecks his raft. Athena saves him, and Odysseus swims ashore. Hefinds himself in the lands of the Phaiacians, in Scheria. After waking up inthe morning he encounters the Phaiacian princess Nausicaa who gives himclothes, food, and drink.
She then takes him to the city and tells him wherethe palace is. At the palace, Odysseus tells of his adventures. He tells of theLotus- Eaters and the Cyclops, the goddess Circe, how he went into the Kingdomof the Dead, and of the Sirens. After he finishes telling his story, the hostsgive him gifts and promise him safe passage to Ithaca. In the morning thePhaiacians take him to Ithaca. Odysseus wakes up and after realizing that he isin his homeland, hides his gifts. Theprince then goes and finds his loyal servant Eumaios,and the swineherd takes him in.
Athena goes and tells Telemachos to go backhome, and he does so at night. When Telemachos returns, Odysseus reveals histrue identity to his son. Together they make a plan to get rid of the suitors.The next day Odysseus continues acting like a beggar and goes to the palace tobeg, but the suitors insult and bully him. While washing him, his old nurse Eurycleiarecognizes him, but after being threatened by Odysseus swears not to tellanyone. Penelope organizes an archery contest in which whoever can takeOdysseus’s bow and shoot an arrow through a row of twelve axes will be able tomarry her. No-one is able to string the bow except Odysseus. Once he shoots thearrow through the axes, he turns and starts shooting the suitors.
With the helpof Telemachos, Eumaeus, and Philoetius, he kills all of the suitors. Odysseusthen reveals his identity to his wife, Penelope, but she only believes aftertesting him. After that, the prince reveals himself to everyone else in hispalace. He then goes to visit his old father,Laertes, and peace is restored in Ithaca.
