Odyssey Timeline

Trojan War

Nov 12, 1200

A decade-long conquest by Greece to destroy the country of Troy after Helen of Troy was stolen from a Greek warrior, Menelaus. Odysseus was a leader on the Greek side, who used his cunning skills to trick the Trojans into allowing a Greek warhorse in their borders. Thus, the 10-year war ended, and Greece was victorious in battle. This prompted the beginning of the Odyssey, as Odysseus and his fellow warriors return to their kingdoms across the sea.

Trojan War: Part 2

Nov 12, 1200

This war sparked the reasoning behind such a fond homecoming in the Odyssey. Odysseus left his home, Ithaca, with his men, to fight this war for Greece. This shows his loyalty to his commrades, Melenaus and Agamemnon. This develops the theme of temptation and sacrifice because Odysseus sacrificed his time and happiness with his family on Ithaca in order to fight for a war for ten years, and then endure what was about to come: a long ten more years of suffering before he got back home.

Lotus Eaters

Nov 13, 1200

A tribe of natives that Odysseus and his men found on their way home after a devastating defeat at another island nearby. The natives give the warriors the the intoxicating fruit of the lotus, which makes them lose sight of the reasons for their long voyage home. Luckily, Odysseus sees this threat and disposes of it with a trick up his sleeve, and they escape the land of the Lotus Eaters.

Lotus Eaters: Part 2

Nov 13, 1200

The island of the Lotus Eaters was the first of many obstacles in Odysseus’s journey. We learned that Odysseus's crewmates were easily enticed by the Lotus Eaters, which brings forth the theme of temptation and sacrifice in the Odyssey. The crewmates could not resist the sweet-smelling Lotuses, but Odysseus was able to pull them out of their trance. This proves that temptation can be strong, but heroic traits shown by Odysseus can stop its undeniable reach.

Cyclops

Nov 13, 1200

Odysseus and his men next encountered the cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon. The cyclops seemed nice at first, but he was sooner than later devouring the crew of Odysseus's ship. Using his cleverness as an asset, Odysseus developed a well-thought plan that included strong wine, scalding-hot staves, and a flock of Polyphemus's sheep. His plan was indeed successful, and Polyphemus was left only to pray to his father for revenge.

Cyclops: Part 2

Nov 13, 1200

Odysseus lost many men in the battle with Polyphemus, and several of them were killed at the hands of the Cyclops. However, Odysseus was willing to make that sacrifice in order to save the rest of his men. In fact, he even puts his life on the line by bargaining with the Cyclops alone. This shows his selflessness for others and how it reflects in his heroic strides towards getting home to Ithaca.

Aeolus- Bag of Wind: Part 2

Nov 15, 1200

The opening of the bag is a significant part of this chapter's main idea. Odysseus finds a way to get home faster, and he puts his trust in his men to help him get there. Unfortunately, his men decide to take matters into their own hands and

Circe

Nov 15, 1200

Odysseus and his crew are now met by the beautiful goddess Circe. The Oceanic nymph opened up her house to the men, and they were treated as great guests. Soon, however, she plays a trick on them and transforms them into pigs for her amusement. Odysseus soons steps in and persuades her to let them go with his cleverness. She then lets them go and offers a few words of advice to Odysseus for his quest.

Circe: Part 2

Nov 15, 1200

Circe gave Odysseus many forewarnings about what was to happen and how he would prevail in the end. She also told him about the deadly monsters that were ahead and how he, most likely, wouldn't survive. Even so, he bravely put his life on the line in order to fulfill not only his promise of coming back to his men but also to his wife at Ithaca.

Aeolus- Bag of Wind

Nov 15, 1200

On this next part of the adventure, Odysseus and his men meet Aeolus, keeper of the winds and king of the island of Aeolia. They exchange goods and commerce with the king and in exchange, Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag full of powerful wind that could send his ship closer to Ithaca if pointed to the right direction. However, his men foolishly opened the bag thinking it was full of money and sent the ship back to Aeolia. Odysseus pleaded with Aeolus, but the king would not help them again.

Sirens: Part 2

Nov 19, 1200

Although this can connect to the theme that things aren't what they seem as the sirens are equally dangerous as they are beautiful and enchanting, this part of "The Odyssey" relates to the theme of temptation and sacrafice because Odysseus not only had to resist temptation from the sirens, but he risked his life by hanging on that pole and sacraficed himself for his crew.

Scylla and Charybdis: Part 2

Nov 19, 1200

The event of Scylla and Charybdis invoked fear in the hearts of the sailors, but Odysseus made the choice to not tell them so that they wouldn't back down from the fight. He also had to sacrifice 6 men in the end, which goes along with the repeating theme in "The Odyssey", temptation and sacrifice. This shows that Odysseus is a hard decision maker, and he is not slow to weigh out consequences and find a solution for battle.

Sirens

Nov 19, 1200

The crew of Odysseus's ship ventured into the territory of the sirens, and they prepared ahead of time thanks to Circe's forewarning. The men wound Odysseus to the starboard of the ship and filled their ears with wax plugs so they wouldn't be entranced by the siren's calls. Odysseus was tempted himself by the sirens, but his crewmates would not listen to his pleads either, and they followed the commands given. Soon, they made it out of the treacherous waters.

Scylla and Charybdis

Nov 19, 1200

After passing the siren seas, Odysseus and his men must next navigate the straits between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla is a 6-headed sea dragon who, when ships pass, swallows one sailor for each head on its body. Charybdis is a huge whirlpool that has the potential to swallow whole ships. Circe instructs Odysseus beforehand to steer clear of both obstacles, and Odysseus listens. They make it past Scylla, but as they stare at Charbydis ahead, the Scylla gobbles up six sailors.

Helios' Cattle

Nov 27, 1200

Odysseus and his men reach Thrinacia, the island of the sun god Helios. Odysseus didn't want to stay, but Eurylochus persuades them to camp out on the beach of the island. They stay for a month and feed off of provisions from their ship. However, once these run out, Eurylochus again persuades the men to disobey Odysseus and kill the cattle of Helios. This causes the sun god to uses Zeus to kill all the men except Odysseus, who survives barely. He then must re-encounter Charybdis alone.

Helios' Cattle: Part 2

Nov 27, 1200

The temptation to impose a visit to the sun god and kill his livestock was very strong for Odysseus and his men, and only Odysseus was able to control himself and not kill any animals on the island. This relates to the theme of temptation and sacrifice because he resisted temptation despite his hunger, which kept him alive after the ship crash even though he was badly injured.