Gods, Myths and Heroes - Part 70b

Odysseus/Ulysses, part 2

We continue the story of Odysseus from Homer's epic poem The Odyssey.

After Odysseus has been living with the nymph Calypso for seven years, the gods intervene and let Odysseus build a raft to sail away.  However, the sea god Poseidon still has a grudge against Odysseus, because the Cyclops, whom Odysseus had blinded in order to escape, was Poseidon's son.  Poseidon destroys Odysseus' raft with a storm.

Above, Neptune (the Roman name for Poseidon) by Giambologna c. 1565.

Odysseus swims ashore to the land of the Phaeacians.  Above, detail from Ulysses Among the Phaeacians by Jean Broc, 1771-1850.

Odysseus meets Nausicaa, queen of the Phaeacians, and he tells her the whole story of his adventures.  Above, detail from Odysseus vor Nausicaa (Odysseus before Nausicaa) by Pieter Lastman, 1619.

After hearing his story, the Phaeacians take Odysseus back to his home kingdom, Ithaca.

In Ithaca, Odysseus is reunited with his son Telemachus.  Above, Odysseus and Telemachus by Bill Littlefield, 1939.  It looks a bit more friendly to me than a typical father-son reunion.

Aided by Athena, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar.  Only his faithful dog Argos recognizes him.  Odysseus had been gone for twenty years – ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and ten years sailing home.  The ancient dog, joyful to see his master after waiting so long, wags his tail and then dies.  Argos has become a symbol of faithfulness, in contrast to what was going on at the royal court.

Another beggar, Irus, picks a fight with Odysseus, and Odysseus knocks him out with one blow.  Above: The Fight Between Ulysses and Irus by Jan Muller, 1589.

Meanwhile, at the royal court, suitors had been pestering Odysseus' wife Penelope to remarry, assuming that Odysseus was dead.  Penelope announces that she will marry the winner of an archery contest with Odysseus's bow.  None of the suitors can even string the bow (which requires strength).  Odysseus, still in disguise, strings the bow, wins the contest, and then kills the suitors.  He and Penelope are then reunited.

Above, Ulysse et Télémaque massacrent les prétendants de Pénélope (Ulysses and Telemachus massacre the suitors of Penelope) by Joseph-Ferdinand Lencrenon, 1812.

The next day, Odysseus reveals himself to his father, Laertes.  Laertes had been king of Ithaca, but had abdicated in favor of his son Odysseus when Odysseus came of age.  Odysseus reuniting with Laertes marks the end of this complicated story.

Above, Odysseus with Laertes on a fragment of a Roman sarcophagus, c. 150 AD.