Where the sea winds blow

It is only now, urged by Alcinous, that Odysseus reveals his identity and to tell of the trials and tribulations that befell him and his men upon leaving Troy to find their way back home – of the complicated journey befitting a complicated man – and as willed by Zeus. With Book 9 begins the Apologoi – the story within a story.

Book 9: A pirate in a Shepherd’s Cave

pp. 240-258

So Odysseus tells his Phaeacian hosts, and still not without some pride, of his deeds of piracy, of the brutal sacking of the land of the Circones and the men he lost (through his own recklessness), of storms at sea and a land of seductive lotus fruit tempting his men from their mission of “getting home”.

And then the land of the Cyclops! And Polyphemus – a radical shepherd if ever there was one; a man-eater who tends his flock with care. The cunning Odysseus out tricks this giant, one-eyed son of Poseidon, but only after Polyphemus has feasted on some of his crew, and with the help of wine and sheep and a play with words. Not satisfied with the clever escape he manoeuvres, Odysseus can not leave well enough alone, and taunts the vanquished Polyphemus. Does he know not that he risks the further ire of Poseidon? A little bit too clever for his own good is our hero.

Book 10: The Winds and the witch

pp. 259-278

Odysseus continues his tale of woe upon the high seas – next stop the island of Aeolus and his incestuous familial troupe! But they treat the visiting humans well for one month, and send them on their way with a gift of winds – to be used wisely. Odysseus though neglects to share the secret with his crew who, after the affair with the Cyclops, are becoming more and more suspicious of their leader, and prying open the bag they let free all the winds; hurtling again their ships off course and then back to whence they had begun. Aeolus is impressed not at all and drove them away from the island, leaving them to their fate. For now that fate is Laestrygonia – a land of cannibalistic giants who slaughter then feast upon many, and only Odysseus’ ship can escape.

And the winds blew, and they came to rest in Aeaea, the home of the goddess Circe. With potions and wand she weaves her dark magic and one half of the crew become “pigs in a pen”! But Hermes to the rescue! His intervention save Odysseus and his men, and they spend a year in an uneasy truce with the goddess and her promise to help them find their way home. But, as ever on this odyssey, nothing is ever as easy as it seems and the book ends with Odysseus’ telling of Circe’s instruction that they first must go down to Hades to consult with the spirit of Tiresias; but their descent is preceded by that of the youngest of them, Elpenor; falling as he does to a most untimely (and prophetic) death.