The Odyssey of Homer

Proem; the gods in council; Athena goes to Ithaka, and Telémachos greets her.

The suitors dine; Athena advises Telémachos to seek news of his father

Penelope appears; Telémachos bids her to return and scolds the suitors.

In assembly Telémachos complains of the suitors, Antínoös of Penelope.

Halithérses warns them; Telémachos tells of his voyage; Mentor scolds them.

Athena encourages Telémachos; Antínoös tries to soothe him; he sets forth.

In Pylos Nestor greets and questions him and talks about the heroes at Troy.

The heroes' Returns; Telémachos tells his troubles and asks of Agamemnon.

Agamemnon's death, Orestes' revenge; Nestor bids Telémachos to go to Sparta.

Nestor sacrifices to Athena; Telémachos leaves for Sparta with Peisístratos.

Meneláos greets them, speaks of his travels, and regrets his comrades at Troy.

Helen names Telémachos; all mourn Odysseus; Helen tells a story of him.

Meneláos tells tales of Odysseus and of his own travels and what he learned.

With his daughter's help, Proteus is captured and tells Meneláos what to do.

Proteus talks of Agamemnon and Odysseus; Meneláos returns to Egypt.

The suitors decide to ambush Telémachos; Medon tells Penelope he left.

Penelope scolds her maids; the suitors set their ambush; Penelope sleeps.

Obeying Zeus, Hermes orders Kalÿpso to free Odysseus, who weeps by the sea.

Kalÿpso complains but obeys and tells Odysseus; he exacts an oath of her.

She helps him build a raft-boat; he departs; Poseidon raises a storm.

A wave shatters the raft; two days later Odysseus lands in Scheria.

Naúsikaä goes down to do laundry with her maids; they eat and play with a ball.

Their shouts awaken Odysseus; he seeks help, and the girl gives it.

Athena improves his looks; the girl admires him; they return, and he prays.

Athena guides him to the marvelous palace and tells him to approach Arétè.

He implores the queen's aid; King Alkínoös grants him conveyance.

Arétè asks of his clothes; he tells his story; the King admires him.

The king orders a convoy; Odysseus cries, hearing of his quarrel with Achilles.

The youths compete and bid Odysseus to join; he wins the discus-throw.

After they dance, Demódokos sings the story of Ares and Aphrodítè.

Odysseus praises the singer; they bring him gifts; Naúsikaä says farewell.

Demódokos sings of the Wooden Horse; Alkínoös requests Odysseus' story.

Odysseus tell his name and his story: the Kikonians, Lotus-eaters, Cyklops.

In a great cave, they are questioned by the Cyklops, who eats two men.

Blinded with a stake, the Cyklops tells his neighbors Nobody hurt him.

They escape beneath sheep; Odysseus taunts the Cyklops, who curses him.

Aíolos' wind-bag untied, they return; the Laistrygonians destroy many ships.

In Aiaía Circè enchants several men; Eurÿlochos returns to tell Odysseus.

Hermes helps him; he resists Circè, and they go to bed; she frees his men.

After a year, his men tell him to leave, and she advises him on the voyage.

They arrive at Hades, sacrifice, see Elpenor; Teiresias counsels Odysseus.

He talks to his mother about her death, then listens to women of old times.

More women's stories. The rulers get him gifts and ask him to continue.

He talks to Agamemnon and Achilles about their sufferings and their sons.

Ajax ignores him; he sees other mythical figures; they leave Hades.

Back in Aiaía, Circè advises Odysseus about his homeward voyage.

He and his men encounter Skylla and Charÿbdis and arrive at Thrinakia.

The comrades kill the cows of the sun and are lost in a shipwreck.

The Phaiákians give Odysseus presents and convey him to Ithaka.

Poseidon changes the Phaiákian ship to stone; Athena meets Odysseus.

Athena talks with Odysseus, giving advice and changing his appearance.