Our Secret Symbol

(Wandel)

Telemachus and I successfully killed all of Penelope's suitors, and I have convinced Penelope that I am the real Odysseus. I have convinced her of this by telling her of a secret symbol that I had carved on our bed. I would tell you what it is, but then it would not be a secret anymore. Do not expect me to write a post on this blog once more, for I am finished with my adventure; now I will live happily ever after with Penelope and Telemachus.

Test of the Bow

(Woodeene)

I am finally on Ithaca! I met my son Telemachus after twenty years, and now my wife Penelope will meet me. For many years, there have been suitors in our house, eating my food and drinking my wine. They will pay for what they have done to distress my wife and steal my place in the house. Penelope says that she is going to test the suitors to string my bow and shoot it through a few rings. I will achieve this task and eliminate the suitors, fighting alongside Telemachus. I will then triumph and finally be with Penelope for the rest of my life. 

Calypso

(Island of Mljet)

When Zeus hit my ship with a lightning bolt, I drifted off, all of my men dead, and I ended up on the island of Ogygia, where the beautiful nymph Calypso lives. Now I am still on this island, listening to her songs and enjoying her love for me, but I still feel a longing for Ithaca and my wife. I will talk about this to Calypso, hoping that she might lead me to Ithaca. 

Helios' Cattle

(Dead Cattle)

The gods had me sleep for too long! When I tried to pray to the gods, I fell asleep. In the meantime, Eurylochus convinced my men to eat Helios' cattle, so all of my crew broke their vows and killed the finest cattle on the island for themselves to eat. I am sure that Helios will punish us now. 

The Island of the Sun

(Zafeiridis)

We have been on the island of the sun for one month now, and my men are starved and hungry. We have finished all the bread and red wine on our ship; we are eating whatever falls into our hands. The storms out at sea are continuing, not allowing us to set sail again. However, we are not helpless yet; today, I will pray to the gods, hoping that one of them will help me.

Scylla and Charybdis

(Atalanta)

We faced the two monsters Scylla and Charybdis today. The two sisters were very fierce; Charybdis instilled fear in my men by pulling our ship towards her whirlpool, and Scylla plucked sailors off my ship, eating them viciously. Finally, when we got past the monsters, we landed on the island of Helios' cattle. I originally didn't want to come here because of Tiresias' and Circe's warning, but my men were tired and all wanted to take rest on this island. They have taken vows to not eat Helios' cattle, but I don't know how long we can last; our food supply is running thin.

The Sirens' Song

(Music Notes)

We carefully avoided problems with the Sirens today. While sailing past them, my men stuck beeswax in their ears as to not hear their beautiful, luring song. I, on the other hand, wanted to listen to the song because I had heard stories that men come out wiser when they have listened to the song. My men tied me so that I wouldn't kill myself; I gave them clear orders not to let me loose even if I wanted to be untied. The song was so lovely that I wanted to swim over to them, so I pleaded with my men to untie me. Perimedes and Eurylochus simply tied me more. The song indeed made me wiser, and I am very thankful to my men for keeping me tied up.