Flynn Odyssey

Trojan War

1200 BCE

Odysseus was famous for his strategical strategy throughout the Trojan War. Odysseus sailed to Troy alongside many other Greeks. For 10 years Odysseus participated in the war and with Diomedes and others he would have small victories over the Trojans. But one day he got an idea that gave them triumph over the Trojans. He would create a hollow horse that the greeks would hide in. Once the Trojans took it inside they were ambushed and subsequently lost the war.

Trojan War (Analysis)

1200 BCE

In the Trojan War, Odysseus gained lots of honor and respect. The win against Troy was actually attributed to Odysseus and his plan to create the Trojan Horse. However, he loses many allies as a result of the war and after the Greek's win he attempts to return home to Ithaca where he gets caught up in a bunch of other issues.

Lotus-Eaters

1200 BCE

The land of Lotus-Eaters proves to be a tough challenge for Odysseus and his men. The lotus-eaters offer Odysseus and his men the fruit and it severely intoxicates them. The lotus fruit deprives them of all energy and purpose. The men lose all thoughts of returning home and instead wish to stay there forever, forcing Odysseus to take action.

Lotus-Eaters (Analysis)

1200 BCE

As Odysseus travels in hopes of returning to Ithaca he realizes that there will be many challenges on the way. Due to the intoxication of the lotus fruit, any of those who ate the fruit lost all mental will. Odysseus loses them to the fruit but has to continue on ahead. This is the beginning of the end for his men.

Cyclops

1200 BCE

When Odysseus and his men go through the land of the Cyclopes they go into a cave full of food. The greed of Odysseus' men entices them to steal the food for themselves, but then the cyclops returns. Polyphemus (the Cyclops) turns hostile and eats 2 of Odysseus' men. As the rest are imprisoned in the cave, Odysseus must find a way to get him to remove the rock. To save the rest of his men and himself, Odysseus gets Polyphemus to loosen up by drinking and using charisma.

Cyclops (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Odysseus loses more of his men and a pattern starts to unravel with how the journey home won't be easy. In this part of the story we can get a look at Odysseus and get a sense of how prideful he is and how that will be his downfall. Even though Odysseus is a great tactician, he foolishly reveals his true name to Polyphemus which in turn threatens the safety of his men once more. Odysseus' actions are affecting those around him and his journey back to Ithaca.

Circe (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Though Circe first appears as an enemy she eventually comes around and proves to be helpful to Odysseus. When he wants to leave the island she allows him to and tells him how to get home. She even warns him of the dangers he will face until he can return back to Ithaca (Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, and Helios' Cattle)

Aeolus Bag of Wind

1200 BCE

When Odysseus and his men travel from the land of the Cyclopes to the home of Aeolus he gives Odysseus a bag of wind to travel home. Though Odysseus is close to returning to Ithaca his men are greedy and jealous. They think he has a bag of gold and when they rip it open they are taken back to Aeolia where they are told they won't receive any more help. When Odysseus and his men come into contact with the Laestrygonians only few of them survive. They then flee once more to get back to Ithaca.

Aeolus Bag of Wind (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Although Odysseus is a great tactician his men don't think of him that was a leader. When Aeolus gives Odysseus the bag of wind it shows how greedy his men are. They think Odysseus is lying to them when they are close to Ithaca and are more worried about the gold that they believe he has. They rip open the bag and then are even more further from there destination. His men don't trust Odysseus and are more worried about themselves.

Sirens

1200 BCE

When Odysseus and his men leave from Circe's island they come into contact with the Sirens. The sirens were beautiful, but very dangerous and used their voices to lure sailors and lead them to their deaths. Odysseus uses Circe's advice and helps his men by putting wax in their ears to block out their music. However, since Odysseus desperately wanted to hear the song he tells his men to tie him to the mast of the ship

Sirens (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Odysseus is very intellectual, but sometimes he makes questionable decisions. Instead of putting wax in his ears to block out the siren song he decides to listen to it. This means his men must tie him up to the mast of the ship and make sure he doesn't escape and run out to the Sirens. This is incredibly unwise because this is putting him and his men at an even bigger risk than the deadly song,

Scylla and the Charybdis (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Odysseus' leader skills are called into question when he doesn't tell any of his men about these dangers he was warned of. After foolishly listening to the song of the Sirens, Odysseus doesn't tell his men that he will sacrifice any of them. If they found out his men would become even more distrusting of him (shown when they ripped open Aeolus' bag of wind thinking he was hiding gold). Even if it was to avoid panic, Odysseus could've been one of the six men himself and there would be no leader.

Helios' Cattle

1200 BCE

Disaster after disaster, Odysseus and his men continue towards Ithaca when his men decide to go to Thrincia against his wishes. His men sneak out and eat Helios' cattle, once more tempted by something that wouldn't even matter in the long run. Helios is greatly angered by this and tells Zeus to punish the men for what they've done. All of the remaining men die to his lightning bolt, and Odysseus is left to float in the ocean. He is rescued by Kalypso but she keeps him prisoner for 7 more years.

Helios' Cattle (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Once more are we shown the stupidity of Odysseus' crew and how they really don't like to listen to him. Even though Odysseus has screwed up, his crew has done it on several occasions and put their needs before the true objective. They disobey him twice and in return they all die (and once more Odysseus' trip to Ithaca is prolonged)

Suitors/Home

1200 BCE

Odysseus has now feturned back to his home on Ithaca when he discovers that 100 suitors have come to take the hand of Penelope (his wife). Penelope, who has been very distraught by the 'death' of Odysseus, decides to hold a contest to see who can use his bow and whoever wins can marry her. Odysseus comes disguised as a beggar when he gets help from his two only loyal men Philoteus and Eumaeus. Philoteus tells Telemachus his father is alive while Eumaeus helps Odysseus win by getting him his bow.

Circe

1200 BCE

Circe is the goddess of magic and a powerful sorceress in the Odyssey. Circe is on the island of Aeaea when Odysseus and his men travel there. Though Euralychous (Odysseus' second in command) is wary the other men enter her palace and are turned into pigs. Odysseus then must go and rescue them, when he meets Hermes who gives him moly to be protected from Circe's drug. Odysseus becomes Circe's lover and him and his men live on the island for a year before they decide to leave.

Scylla and the Charybdis

1200 BCE

When Circe tells Odysseus of the dangers he is warned of Scylla and the Charybdis. This is when he has to make a choice, have his ship sunken by the whirlpool into the sea, or sacrifice 6 of his men to a beast in order to come closer to getting home. Odysseus doesn't tell his men of this and when he avoids Charybdis, Scylla appears to feast on 6 of his men to feed its 6 heads.

Suitors/Home (Analysis)

1200 BCE

Odysseus must once again face another challenge even though he is now safely back home. It is revealed that all of his men and everyone that knows him has betrayed him and want to take Penelope for themselves (except for his loyal swineherd Eumaeus and cowherd Philoteus). It is shown that these two are REALLY loyal to Eumaeus with how much they are willing to go through to help him. This is shown when Eumaeus (who is known to be a coward) risks his well-being to help Odysseus.