Trojan War and The Adventures of Odysseus

             The Odyssey tells of the adventures of Odysseus. After fighting ten years in the Trojan War, the story tells it took Odysseus ten more years to reach home, in Ithaca, and his wife, Penelope.

             The Odyssey begins describing the current circumstances. The Trojan War is over, and all of the survivors are home except one: Odysseus. He is at the Nymph Calypso's island, detained for she wishes him to marry her. All of the gods felt sorry for him, except Poseidon. Poseidon is in Eithiopia, however, and the rest of the gods hold a meeting where Athena brings up poor Odysseus.The gods come to the conclusion to rescue Odysseus from Calypso, even though Poseidon holds a grudge and wishes to keep him there. The gods send a messenger, Hermes, to tell Calypso to release Odysseus. Zeus instructs Hermes to tell Calypso that she is to let Odysseus go. Odysseus shall not have the help of gods or any men. He must build his own boat, and then after twenty days at sea, he shall reach the land of the Phaeacians. The Phaeacians will help him on his final journey to his homeland. .

             Meanwhile, Athena goes to Odysseus's home in Ithaca to visit Odysseus's son, Telemachus. Many suitors were there, trying to win the hand in marriage of Penelope, Telemachus's mother and Odysseus's wife. These many suitors had eaten Telemachus out of house and home. Athena arrives in the form of Mentor, a Taphian chief. Very generously, Telemachus invites Athena in. After they introduce themselves and Telemachus explains how the suitors have been living off of him, Athena puts Telemachus in his place.

             Athena explains to Telemachus that he needs to rid his house of the suitors, tell Penelope to return to her father's house if she wishes to be wed, and to take his best ship and twenty of his best men on a journey. She tells him to go to Pylos and talk to Nestor, then to Sparta to see Menelaus. If Telemachus learns that his father is alive, then he should keep looking.

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