Places visited by Odysseus Flashcards
TROY
The name Troy refers both to a place in legend and a real-life archaeological site. In legend, Troy is a city that was besieged for 10 years and eventually conquered by a Greek army led by King Agamemnon.
Homer describes Troy as ‘well-founded’, ‘strong-built’ and ‘well-walled’; there are also several references to fine battlements, towers and ‘high’ and ‘steep’ walls. The walls must have been unusually strong in order to withstand a ten-year siege and in fact.
ISMARUS ; city of the CICONES
Odysseus and his companions stop at Ismaros. They sack the town, and attack the Cicones, the inhabitants of the adjacent region. They kill the men and divide the women and treasures among themselves, then begin to feast, despite Odysseus’ advice that they leave immediately. The Cicones, who have left in search of help, come back in the morning in great numbers. Odysseus manages to escape, although he loses several men in the process. He embarks with the survivors and continues his journey home to Ithaca.
THE LAND OF LOTUS -EATERS
island dominated by a lotus tree,a plant whose botanical identity is uncertain. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were a narcotic, causing the inhabitants to sleep in peaceful apathy. After they ate the lotus they would forget their home and loved ones, and only long to stay with their fellow lotus-eaters. Those who ate the plant never cared to report, nor return.
Figuratively, ‘lotus-eater’ denotes “a person who spends their time indulging in pleasure and luxury rather than dealing with practical concerns”.
LUXURIANT ISLAND
NOT TOO FAR FROM THE LAND OF CYCLOPS
“COVERED WITH WOODS”, “ HOME OF INNUMERALE GOATS”, “FORESTS”, “MOUNTAIN TOPS”
“it is by no means a poor country, capable of yielding any crop in due season”;” the subsoil is exceedingly rich”, “safe harbour”, “stream of fresh water”
SICILIY (CYCLOPS)
it’s the land of the Cyclops; a rough and uncivilized race of one-eyed giants. “Fierce, lawless people who never lift a hand to plant or plough but leave everything to the immortal gods. All the crops they require, spring up unsawn and untilled, wheat and barley and vines with generous clusters that swell with the rain from heaven to yield wine. The Cyclopes have no assemblies for the making of laws, nor any established legal codes, but live in hollow caverns in the mountain heights, where each man in lawgiver to his own children and women, and nobody has the slightest interest in what his neighbours decide.”
LARGE FLOCK OF SHEEP AND GOATS
A YARD WITH A GREAT WALL
STONES, TALL PINES, HIGH-BRANCHED OAKS
baskets laden with cheeses, whey
The floating Island OF AEOLIA , THE HOME OF AEOLUS (GOD OF THE WINDS)
all around the island runs an Ubroken wall of bronze, and below it, the cliffs rise sheer from the sea.Magnificent palace, ornate beds, plenty of rugs, 6 daughters and 6 sons, all married to each other.
LAESTRYGONIAN land, where the Cannibals live
Herding cattle, flocks of white sheep. They found an excellent harbour, closed in on all sides by an unbroken ring of cliffs with a narrow channel. No cultivated fields of herds of cattle were visible. Loads of timber. Antiphates, King of the Laestrygones, a mythological tribe of gigantic cannibals
THE ISLAND OF AEAEA - inhibited by Circe; a beautiful Goddess, child of the Sun
The island has rocky heights, dense oak scrubs and forest trees. Circe’s house is built of polished stone. They are a number of animals living on the island, who used to be men.
Land of the Dead-; “a murky realm”,
Odysseus and his men go down to Hades to talk to the spirit of Tiresias, on recommendation of Circe. Odysseus goes to the River of Ocean and makes sacrifices , as Circe told him to do, so as to attract the attention of the souls. Odysseus goes there to speak to the spirit of the prophet- Tiresias. , “the shadowy hall”
THE SIRENS ISLE
They sit beside the ocean, combing their long golden hair and singing to passing sailors. But anyone who hears their song is bewitched by its sweetness, and they are drawn to that island like iron to a magnet. And their ship smashes upon rocks as sharp as spears. And those sailors join the many victims of the Sirens in a meadow filled with skeletons.
THE ROCKS
SCYLLA, THE MONSTER OF THE ROCKS ON ONE SIDE OF THE CLIFF AND CHARYBDIS,SUCKING UP THE SALST WATER ON THE OTHER
SUN-GOD (hyperion) ISLE THRINACIA
an island with splendid cattle and flocks of sheep; “sea-girt” isle
OGYGIA - THE HOME OF GODDESS CALYPSO
where Odysseus was kept for 7 years
PHAEACIA
also known as Phaeacia (/fiːˈeɪʃə/), was a region in Greek mythology, first mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey as the home of the Phaeacians and the last destination of Odysseus in his 10-year journey before returning home to Ithaca. It is one of the earliest descriptions of a Utopia. An idyllic country with flowing rivers with constant supply of perfect fruit.
ITHACA
Odysseus introduces Ithaca as a “rough land”,which nurtures fine men. In book 13 Athene talks of it’s resources, describing “ corn, wine, pasture for goats and cattle, timber and watering places than never fail”
