 Helios, Titan god of the sun (above) Artist: Hendrik Goltzius (1558–1617) This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less. Source: Wikimedia Commons (right) Artist:Polyphemos Painter (circa 660 BC) This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Attribution: Napoleon Vier from nl Source: Wikimedia Commons Lucky for Odysseus the other gods see him in a favorable light and wish to stand against Poseidon and help him have the homecoming he deserves. What amazes me is that Odysseus has at this point been away for approximately twenty-years. Ten years in the battle at Troy and has wandering the seas for another ten-years, yet his wife, Penelope, still believes him to be alive. This seems to hold true for the villagers as well, as they have held no proper burial for Odysseus, yet suitors are running amok in his home. | Update time for the Odyssey read-along. I have seen a few post from participants for Book I and II, so I will post for these as well and add a linkity link spot so everyone can stay connected. Book One starts with a muse telling us about how this great and powerful Odysseus has sacked Troy and struggled for a homecoming for himself and his companions. Even so he could not save his companions, hard through How could Odysseus, a powerful and strong leader lose all of his men yet survive himself? The muse tells us, how a great leader cannot save his men from their own stupidity, eating the oxen of Helios, the Titan god of the sun, does not bode well. While Odysseus has escaped the wrath of Helios, he is not without his own troubles. He has greatly offended Poseidon, ruler of the sea, by blinding Polyphemos. Polyphemos is said to be the Cyclops son of Poseidon, and ruler over all Cyclopes. Poseidon is able to keep Odysseus wandering the sea away from his homeland.  Odysseus and his men blinding the cyclops Polyphemus My child, what sort of word escaped your teeth barrier? |
When Odysseus left for Troy, he had a new infant son, Telemachos. This son has now grown and is trying (failing) to keep his father's estate intact. As Odysseus has not returned home, nor has he been given a hero's burial his good name is being trodden upon. Many of the village men wish to take Penelope as their wife and obtain Odysseus' great wealth. They spend night and day about the estate eating and drinking whatever they can pilfer instead of minding their own homes. Book One closes with Athene, disguised as Mentes (Mentor) a neighboring islands merchant friend of Odysseus', convincing Telemachos that he must set out on a final quest to seek information regarding his father. Telemachos understands that this is the gods speaking to him and he must not refuse this mission.
In Book Two we see Telemachos gaining confidence from the boost Athene gave him. He decides it is high time to address the men of Ithaka and tell them to stop squalling away his riches in the absence of their King Odysseus.
 Penelope, Laertes and Telemachus This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in countries with a copyright term of life of author plus 70 years. Source: Wikimedia Commons 'Surely now Telemachos is devising our murder. | 'Here me now, men of Ithaka, and the word I give you. (Book II: Line 25) One would think the king's son scolding the men of Ithaka would have gained the household some reprieve from the suitors. However, they didn't appear to fear his words or his threat of unleashing the wrath of Zeus upon them for disrespecting the king. Upon his return home from his day out and meeting with the disguised Athene he was met with them skinning goats in the courtyard. Mentor (Athene) has told Telemachos what preparations he must finish to set-out on the journey. Athene has promised to find him the fastest ship and the best crew to take on this journey. He asks his nurse, Eurykleia, to finalize a few things and bids her to not tell his mother right away what he has left to do. She fears for his departure, believing he needs to stay and guard his possessions and his life. Athene helped the suitors into a deep sleep so that Telemachos and his companions could leave unseen. Once the ship was stocked with all the provisions Athena went aboard first and took a place at the stern and willed a strong wind to aid them in their journey. |
Commentary
Is the fact that everyone believed Odysseus to still be alive because no Rumor has been sent from Zeus? This is the only reason I can conclude as to why hope is still given that he lives and did not perish at some point over the last twenty years. Did I miss another clue?
These suitors sound like house-guest from hell, poor Penelope. How could you fathom wanting to take one of these men as your husband when they have shown no respect for your household. This isn't even just another man's domain, but the king's estate and they feel at free will to abuse it. No wonder Athena was so disgusted by their behavior. Seemingly the stories of how the other warriors meet their demise by wrongdoings was not enough to deter these men either.
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[Notice: Original posting 2014-02-19 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com]
Tags: Odyssey; Read-Alongs
