Homer's Odyssey: The Complete Story

0:01 Tell me muse about the man of many turns who many ways wandered when he had sacked Troy's holy citadel. This is how Homer invoked the muses before singing the story of the hero Odysius. Brave warrior who with his shrewdness helped the Greeks to cross the divine walls of Troy. Among all the heroes who survived the ravages [music] of war, Odysius was the only one who had not yet returned home. On Mount Olympus, the gods gathered in an assembly. Zeus, high on his throne, spoke about how men blame all their ills on the gods, when in fact, most of their misfortunes were the result of their own choices and follyies, and for that they paid the

0:48 price for their sins. At this point, Athena intervened and asked why Odysius, the wise king of the island of Ithaca, even though he was god-fearing, continued to suffer away from his beloved homeland. The goddess lamented the hero's fate, who had been stranded for 7 years on the island of Ogia. There, the beautiful Nyo Calypso, daughter of Atlas, was keeping him on her island because she wanted to have him as her husband. Zeus explained [music] that he was not responsible for Odysius not having returned home yet, but rather Poseidon, who felt hatred for the hero ever since he pierced the eye of the god's son. But at that moment, Poseidon was in faraway Ethiopia, where

1:33 he was worshiped. Therefore, he did not participate in the assembly. With the approval of the council of the gods, Zeus decreed that Odysius had the right to return to his home. Zeus's favorite daughter was pleased, stating that she would go to Ithaca to find Telmachus, Odysius's son. Zeus ordered Hermes, the messenger god, to go to the island of Ogia to order Calypso to free Odysius. Hermes put on his winged sandals and set off to fulfill the god's wishes. The island of Ogia was in the navl of the sea. It was a place where the vegetation grew exuberantly and the breeze blew gently, but strong waves pummeled its coastline. There, Calypso tried in every

2:19 way to convince Odysius to stay with her and even offered him immortality. But Odysius knew that he was just a mere mortal. It was wrong to desire immortality, for his place was not among the gods, but beside his family. Hermes entered the cave where Calypso lived, being received by the nymph with all reverence. The divine messenger informed Calypso that by order of Zeus, she was to free Odysius and secure the means necessary for his journey. The nymph was enraged, saying that the Olympian gods were envious, that they were not pleased with the happiness of the lesser deities when they relate to mortals. But Calypso knew that she could do nothing against Zeus's will. Sometimes her heart broke

3:06 when Odysius cried and sighed with homesickness. After delivering the message, Hermes left and the saddened Calypso went to meet Odysius. As usual, Odysius was by the sea thinking about his beloved Penelope. Calypso told him to stop crying for he could finally return home. Odysius, surprised and skeptical, looked back suspiciously, telling the nymph that he could stay if that was her will. The nymph laughed at the wy Odysius, who, although he wanted to return home more than anything else in his life, knew better than to anger a deity. She told him not to worry, for she spoke the truth. His time on the island of Ogia was coming to an end. Calypso pointed

3:52 out to Odysius the places where he could find the materials needed to build a raft, as well as explaining to him the design of the boat so that it could withstand the waves. Odysius did everything as he was ordered and finally the transport that would help him reach his home [music] was ready. The nymph handed Odysius supplies for the journey, telling him that if he knew the dangers that still awaited him, he would have chosen to stay. But the king of Ithaca would not waste that opportunity. Odysius and Calypso said goodbye and with the help of favorable winds brought by Calypso, Odysius set off toward his destination. In his precarious vessel, Odysius braved

4:37 the great sea that separated the European from the African peoples. His goal was to return to the arms of his beloved wife, Penelope, and reunite with his young son, Telamakus. On the island of Ithaca, the kingdom of the fearless hero was in danger, for it had been years [music] since the king had left for the War of Troy. Almost everyone believed that Odysius had died in his venture. Odysius's [music] palace was full of suitors who wished to betro the Queen Penelope and assume the vacant throne. The queen was no longer young, but still had incredible beauty. Young Telmachus, who was just a baby when his father [music] left, was now a man. The suitors had chosen to stay in the palace, squandering Odysius's

5:23 fortune while waiting for Penelope to choose her new husband. Athena assumed the form of a seemingly noble man. In disguise, she entered the palace through the suitors who looked at the visitor with suspicion. Telmachus received [music] the visitor with hospitality, just as Zeus had commanded men. The man said his name was Mentes, king of the Tafias, allies of Telmakus's father. Telmachus told the visitor about the chaos in his [music] father's kingdom, and how the suitors were squandering his inheritance. Finally, he asked if the visitor had any news of Odysius. Mentes said he did not know Odysius's exact location, but he was alive and

6:09 [music] doing everything he could to return home. The nobleman said that Telamakus should try to find clues to his father's whereabouts, for he was now a man and should take control of his destiny. Telamakus' heart felt great courage. Mentes assumed the form of a bird and took off. Witnessing [music] that scene, the young man was sure that the gods were on his side. With the firmness and courage transmitted by the goddess, Telamakus announced to the suitors that the next day he would organize an assembly to decide the fate of his father's kingdom. Penelopey realized that something had changed in her son. He was no longer a boy, and this filled her with pride. The next day, all the men of Ithaca gathered at

6:55 the assembly called by Telamachus. The young man spoke about the chaos in his father's kingdom and scolded the suitors for depleting the missing hero's fortune. Antonyus, one of the most insolent suitors, interrupted Telmachus, saying that the [music] culprit for the whole situation was Penelope, who had deceived the suitors. Penelope had promised the suitor that as soon as she finished the shroud she was sewing for Leertes, Odysius's father, she would choose her new husband. During the day, she would weave the shroud for her father-in-law, but as night fell, she would undo the work [music] during the morning. Thus, for almost 4 years, she deceived the suitors [music] until her trickery was discovered.

7:42 The suitors [music] claimed that they would hold consecutive banquetss in Odysius's palace [music] until Penelope chose her new husband, even if it depleted Telmakus' entire inheritance. Telmachus threatened his rivals, warning that because of this insult to hospitality, Zeus would ruin the suitors. Two eagles suddenly began a flight in the skies, an omen of something important. The soothsayer Halithes [music] interrupted the omen and told the suitors that the king was returning and the fate of his opponents would be terrible. Iramus, another renowned suitor, ignored the elers's words and said that as soon as the assembly was over, they would again delight in Odysius's possessions, for he was dead.

8:29 Telmachus revealed the real reason for the assembly. He needed help to get a boat, men, and supplies for a trip to the island of Pyos in Sparta, where he would try to find clues to his father's whereabouts among the brothers in arms who fought alongside him at Troy. If unsuccessful, he would let his mother choose a suitor. [music] No one supported the idea of Telamachus. Therefore, Mentor, the man Odysius commissioned [music] to take care of his family, scolded the people of Ithaca for showing such ingratitude to the family of the king, who was always kind and generous [music] to them. The assembly was dissolved and Telmachus did not achieve his goal. At the seaside, [music]

9:15 Telmachus asked the goddess Athena for help in a prayer. She quickly answered. Athena assumed the form of mentor and [music] assured the young man that she would give him the means necessary for his journey. For she perceived that the prince had the courage of his father. Obeying mentor's directions, Telmachus asked the old servant Uricia for [music] help in gathering supplies for the journey. Meanwhile, the goddess induced a deep sleep in the suitors so that Telamachus could escape in hiding. Telamachus boarded the ship that the disguised goddess had provided. Like his father, he set off bravely, leaving Ithaca behind to face the dangers and obstacles [music] between him and his goal.

10:05 After years trapped on the island of the nymph Calypso, Odysius, guided by the stars, took his ship back to Ithaca. But Odysius would not sail with impunity through the kingdom of Poseidon, [music] who still had a lot of resentment for the hero, not having been at the divine assembly that ordered the return of the king of Ithaca. The god would pour out his wrath on him. The sea began to get rough, and Odysius had to use all his skills as a sailor to fight the waves. The terrible ordeal imposed by Poseidon on Odysius made him envious of [music] the heroes who died at the gates of Troy. If he had fallen there, he would be exalted among men and not have the englorious death that lay ahead of him.

10:52 A great wave capsized his boat, throwing Odysius into the water. In the waters, he struggled to emerge, but everything indicated that that would be his end. He was about to give up when a female figure appeared and his will to live was renewed. Odysius rose to the surface and managed to fill his lungs with air while spitting out the salty water he had swallowed. He managed to cling to the remains of his ship which had been destroyed by the waves. And over the wreckage, he saw a beautiful woman who could only be a goddess. The sea goddess was Lucia, a deity who had been mortal. Therefore, she was very

11:38 empathetic to the suffering [music] of men. She asked Odysius to remove his robes, which made swimming more difficult. While offering her handkerchief to Odysius, Leoa assured him that that handkerchief would help him [music] reach dry land safely. Odysius tied the handkerchief to his chest as commanded by the goddess and swam to the shore of the Fikes. Poseidon was pleased. That man had already suffered too many torments [music] in the past years. It was time to allow the will of the council of the gods to be carried out. Poseidon would no longer pursue the king of Ithaca. Odysius used all his strength to reach the beach and almost died when he was thrown by the sea against the rocks. But

12:24 at last he was protected on hospitable land. His first action on dry land was to return the handkerchief of the goddess Lucia to the sea. She who saved him [music] from certain death. The hero slept on a bed of leaves in the forest to regain his energy [music] before seeking help in the unknown land. The next morning he awoke to the sound of female voices which seemed to be enjoying themselves. Among the trees, Odysius saw a group of girls playing with a ball. Among them, one young woman stood out from [music] the rest. The hero realized that she was a nanny to the other young women, and that this noble woman would probably tell him what place that was. But his nakedness was an

13:09 obstacle. Odysius approached [music] the young girls, using a branch with leaves to hide his private parts. The girls were startled by that scene, except for the noble and beautiful young woman. Odysius knelt before the girl and said, "I don't know if you are a goddess or [music] a mortal. If you are a goddess, you seem to me to be Artemis, who stands out for her poise and beauty among the most beautiful nymphs in her retinue. If you are [music] mortal, thrice blessed are your parents to birth a daughter who blossoms so splendidly." Flattered, the young woman said her name was Nasica and decided to help the man, telling her [music] servants to give Odysius robes. Clean and dressed in a beautiful robe, Odysius looked like

13:56 another man, different from the castaway the youngsters had found. Nasica was captivated by that elegant and seductive man. She wanted to introduce him to her father, King Alcinius of the Fikes, thinking about [music] the possibility of making him her future husband. The princess pointed Odysius the way to the city of the fakes, but did not accompany him, for it would not be right for her to appear with a man in the city. At the city's entrance gates, Odysius prayed that the gods would protect [music] him and not let another barbarian people keep him from his goal. With Athena's protection, the hero was able to make his way to the palace without being harassed for being a foreigner. Upon reaching the palace, he knelt before

14:42 Queen Arettet, asking for assistance and returning home. Touched, the queen asked the king to receive the visitor with all hospitality as required by Zeus. The king decided to offer all his hospitality. Odysius was given a bed and the next day great festivities were organized in honor of the gods. Athletic games [music] were held to show how skillful and strong the Fikes were. Odysius even showed his strength by throwing a discus. During the banquet held to honor the guest, the Idos sang of the Greeks achievements in the War of Troy. Odysius listened to the poet with admiration, for he was certainly inspired by the muses. He sang the deeds of the heroes in such detail that he

15:28 seemed to have been there. Odysius wept, remembering the war that had kept him away for so long from his beloved land and family. King Alenus, who until then had not known that his guest was one of the heroes of the deeds sung by the Idos, asked why those stories [music] moved him so much. Odysius said he would explain everything to the king, but he didn't even know where to start. The hero took a deep breath [music] and finally revealed his identity. He said he was Odysius, the king of [music] Ithaca, who for 10 years had fought alongside the bravest men before the great [music] walls of Troy. Everyone was astonished at the revelation. Odysius said he would tell his [music] hosts about the adventures and hardships

16:14 that caused him much pain. It all started after he and his men left Troy behind. This [music] is how Odysius's adventures began. After 10 years of war, thanks to Odysius's wit, the city of Troy had finally been captured and pillaged. The king of Ithaca and his men, after years of fighting before the walls of Troy, were ready to return home. Odysius and his squadron of 12 ships were sailing alongside the squadron of the great hero Agamemnon until they were separated by a great storm. The storm blew Odysius's men off course, taking them close to the

17:00 country of the Sikons. These people allied themselves with the Trojans during the war, being responsible for the deaths of many Greeks. His crew demanded revenge against their enemies. In a surprise attack, Odysius and his men pillaged the city of Ismirus, killing the warriors who resisted and enslaving those who did not flee. But the invasion of the island by the men of Ithaca would not go unpunished. The men and women who fled the city ran to the neighboring towns and cities in search of reinforcements. Meanwhile, Odysius tried in vain to get his men to return to the ships, but they were determined to celebrate the newly won spoils. That's when one of the lookouts warned that an army was

17:46 approaching. Odysius's battalion had more than a 100 experienced warriors with several years of fighting in Troy. They were not afraid to fight. The battle began and Odysius felt foolish to be fighting again in an unnecessary conflict even after achieving ultimate glory in Troy. The men of Ithaca fought like lions against more numerous enemies. But the countless amounts of Saconian warriors made victory [music] impossible. Odysius ordered a retreat and his men fled to their ships. The ships quickly fled the lands of the Secones, and each ship lost six brave warriors in vain. But the hero's adversities had only just

18:32 begun. A strong wind tore the sails of the ships, leaving his vessels at the mercy of the sea currents. His men worked at mending the sails, wanting to find their way home as quickly as possible. With the sails already sewn up, they found an unknown island, heading for it to supply the ships with drinking water. On land, Odysius ordered three of his men to scour the island to find out who the resident people were. The ships were already stocked, and the scouts had yet to return. Odysius then led a search quest. The hero was unaware that his men had been welcomed by the natives and were entitled to taste and exotic food. They had been offered lotus flowers and

19:19 fruits. When Odysius met them, they were eating the lotus fruit with great satisfaction. [music] A compatriate greeted him as if he were a foreigner and gave him the exotic fruit. Odysius looked suspiciously at the fruit, which looked quite appetizing. The man [music] who had lived with his king for the past 10 years seemed not to recognize him. And Odysius realized that this could only be caused by some toxin in the fruit. The king of Ithaca tried to convince the men to return with him to the ships, but they wished to stay [music] there eating lotus for the rest of their lives. Odysius ordered his men to forcibly drag their colleagues back to the ships while they were begging to stay. These men were tied up and put back on the ships.

20:06 The squadron departed, leaving the island of the Iodafagi behind while its lotus eating inhabitants waved before eating the fruit that would make them forget about those visitors. Meanwhile, one of Odysius's men was [music] crying, for he wished only to eat the lottoous fruit to forget all the horrors he had witnessed in the war. But Odysius's men would encounter even more terrible images during their return home. Odysius and his men spent several days without seeing solid ground in their heroic attempt to return home when they finally found an island on the horizon. It was the famous island of the Cyclops, oneeyed creatures, sons of Poseidon, the

20:53 mighty [music] god of the seas. Odysius wanted to meet the island's inhabitants [music] and chose 12 of his best men to explore the island with him. They found a large cave and the sound of screeching sheep could be heard from inside. Upon entering the cave, Odysius realized that this was the home of one of the beings [music] that inhabited the island. Inside the cave, there was an enclosure with some sheep, m4i filled with goats [music] milk, and bowls with fresh cheese made from it. Odysius tasted some of the cheese and thought about stealing it, but decided to wait for [music] the return of the cave dweller and negotiate with him, but the hero would regret [music] this decision. The huge cyclops

21:39 appeared in front of the cave, bringing with him part of his herd that he had taken out to graze. Odysius and his men hid, fearing for their lives. But the hiding places of the sailors were revealed when the Cyclops lit a fire in the center of the cave. Odysius came out of [music] his hiding place and introduced himself to the monster, saying who he was and what he was doing there by asking for hospitality. The Cyclops said that his name was Polyphimmis, the most glorious of his race. He claimed that he owned no hospitality to inferior beings, for he did not recognize the laws of men. Polyphimis grabbed two of Odysius's men by the legs and slammed them to [music] the ground, killing them immediately. As

22:25 if this weren't enough, the beast still devoured them completely. The mighty Cyclops moved a huge stone [music] and blocked the exit of the cave. After that nasty meal, the cyclops decided to sleep. Odysius's men wanted to kill him while he slept, but the cunning leader stopped them because it would be impossible to move the heavy stone blocking the cave exit. The next day, the giant took his sheep out to pasture, leaving the men locked in the cave. Odysius, together with his men, planned a way to avenge the death of his colleagues. They found a large log of wood and sharpened one end. At the end

23:12 of the day, the Cyclops returned and after re-entering, closed the exit of the cave. Odysius poured into a [music] jar the wine from the wine skins of all his men to offer it to the oneeyed giant. Polyphimmas drank with satisfaction the strong wine offered by Odysius and liked the gesture. He told the hero that as a reward he would be the last to be devoured and asked Odysius his name. He replied that his name was nobody and that everyone knew him that way. Drunken Polyphimas felt an irresistible urge to sleep. Odysius and his [music] men took the makeshift weapon and prepared their revenge. They ran with the sharp stake

24:00 toward the monster's one eye. The Cyclops woke up and screamed in pain. After hearing his brother's terrible screams, two other Cyclops appeared at the entrance to the cave. They asked who had done it, and Polyphimas shouted, "Nobody. Nobody has pierced my eye." Since there was no one to punish, they returned to their homes. The next day, the blind cyclops let the animals out to graze. But he did not expect Odysius to use another trick. Clinging to the bellies of the strong rams, Odysius and his men managed to escape Polyphimas's [music] cave. When they were all out of the cave, they quickly ran to the ships. On the ship, Odysius shouted at the

24:45 monster, saying that being blinded was a deserved punishment for a criminal who disregarded Zeus's designs by devouring those who had asked for hospitality. Polyphimas pulled a large chunk out of a mountain and threw it in the direction of Odysius's cries. The great rock fell near the ship of the king of Ithaca. His men begged him to stop taunting the beast, but Odysius continued. He shouted again, saying that when someone asked him who had pierced his eye, he should answer that it was the man who devastated the city of Troy, son of Leertes, the great Odysius, the king of Ithaca. The furious Polyphimas threw another boulder at Odysius's ship, and it grazed the ship of the Greeks.

25:33 Odysius walked away from the island of the Cyclops, regretting that he had lost some men, but excited that he had overcome a huge challenge. Polyphimas asked his divine father and begged Poseidon to punish the man responsible for piercing his son's eye. He asked that the god of the seas prevent Odysius from returning home. If the gods so willed, he should wander the seas for years, arriving home without ship, treasure, and companions. Odysius's hottiness, which led him to mock the son of Poseidon, would cost him dearly, for he now had the god of the seas as an enemy. Days after leaving the island of the

26:20 Cyclops, Odysius's fleet found a floating island that was not [music] attached to land. There was only a splendid bronze palace on top of a hill. The king of Ithaca and his men disembarked on the island, setting off in the direction of the residents of the island's inhabitants. Odysius met Aololis, the guardian of the winds, who cordially welcomed the visitors. During the banquet in honor of their illustrious visitors, Aololis and his sons listened cheerfully to Odysius, who narrated to them the great deeds of the heroes during the Trojan War. To thank them for the entertainment, Aololis opened a large wine skin and placed inside it all the winds except for Zephr, which would blow quietly to guide Odysius and [music] his men to their

27:06 home. The favorable wind drove the hero ships close to home. After sighting the island of Ithaca, Odysius could see the smoke from the chimneys. Relaxing for a moment, he entered the realm of Hypnos, the god of sleep, and started snoozing. Odysius's men were unhappy to return home with virtually no spoils of war. They envied Odysius for having received a big bag from the gods. They wanted to know what kind of treasures were in the bag. They imagined that there was a lot of gold, so they opened the wine skin. After they opened the bag, all the winds came out and seemed furious. Odicius awoke, startled by the great noise made by the strong winds. The winds caused

27:53 great waves and gathered storm clouds, pushing the ships far from home. Odysius, feeling disillusion and frustration, thought of throwing himself [music] into the sea and ending all that suffering, but eventually regained his sanity. They returned to the island of Aulus, seeking help, but they were driven away by the ruler. He would not disregard the will of the gods, who certainly did not wish Odysius [music] to return home. Odysius and his men fought against the winds which seemed to carry them further and further away from home. After a long time at sea, they found a new island. On it was a protected area where almost all of Odysius's ships could find shelter. Only the hero ship was morowed outside the bay as there was

28:40 no more room. Odysius [music] ordered two men to inspect the island and find out who its inhabitants were. They found a child who was bigger than a normal adult and asked him to take them to his ruler. They were taken to a large house where a giant queen welcomed them. The queen called her husband who was huge and had a menacing appearance. He grabbed one of Odysius's men and devoured him immediately. His partner escaped and ran to the ships. Meanwhile, the king of the giants, known as Lstragonians, called the others to hunt the little men. The giants attacked the men and their ships in the bay as they tried to escape. The giants grabbed the men and

29:26 sank their ships, throwing huge stones. The men who were not devoured immediately ended up trapped to be eaten later. By failing to dock in the bay, only Odysius's ship escaped the massacre. His fleet now consisted of only one ship. Everyone in it mourned the loss of the brave friends who had survived the Trojan War, but perished before terrible creatures. Odysius's entire fleet, which had set sail from Ithaca for Troy, had been destroyed in his attempt to return home after the war. Only Odysius's captaincy ship escaped the tragedy. After a long time of sailing aimlessly on the sea, they found a beautiful island. But this

30:12 did not gladden the hearts of the men of Ithaca, for they were traumatized by their last experiences on the island of the Cyclops and the Lstreonians. The men set up camp on the beach, but the soldiers low morale left them inert and without the courage to explore the island. But Odysius grabbed a bow and set off after a prey for dinner. Due to the grace of the gods, Odysius found a small deer. Using his exceptional marksmanship, he brought the animal down with a perfect shot. As [music] he was returning to the beach with the animals carcass on his back, he spotted a puff of smoke on the other side of the island. The men [music] of Ithaca were overjoyed to see the king return with precious food. But these smiles quickly vanished when Odysius ordered the formation of an expedition to find out

30:59 who lived on that island. The hero did not wish to be responsible again for sending more men to their deaths. Therefore, the chosen ones would be elected by the gods through a lottery. The group of men led by Yuri Locus went out to find who oversaw the island. They found a beautiful palace, but the entrance was filled with wolves and lions, which terrified the men. But to the explorer's amazement, these creatures seemed as docel as pets. Suddenly, one of the men heard the singing of a woman coming from inside the palace. A beautiful woman was singing as she weaved. She was Cersei, daughter of Helios [music] and Percy. She had an enchanting beauty.

31:45 Cersei stood up and welcomed her visitors, inviting them in. She asked the guests to share a magnificent feast with her. Odysius's men enjoyed the splendid delicacies offered by the lady while Cersei filled their cups with a magic potion. Suddenly, one of the men tried to speak and his throat emitted a horrendous anim animalistic sound. The terrified visitors began to undergo a metamorphosis. A large snout started to appear on their faces and their hands were replaced by split hooves. Cersei had turned all the visitors into pigs, and with her staff, she led them into the pig's dye. But as a precaution, Urlokus had not entered the palace, suspecting a trap.

32:31 He was an eyewitness to that [music] grotesque scene. Uriilous desperately told everything he witnessed to Odysius, who promptly set out to rescue them. Urallus begged Odysius not to go to Cersei. He recommended that they leave that island immediately before they were all turned into pigs or worse. [music] But Odysius felt it was his duty to try to save the few men he had left, even if it cost him his life. And he set off. On his way through the forest, he met a young man. This was Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Hermes related exactly what had happened to Odysius's men. He said that the same would happen to him if he did not take precautions during his journey. The god gave the

33:16 king an antidote to the sorceress's potion. He advised him to threaten her vigorously [clears throat] to make her submit once she brandishes the staff. Eventually, she would attempt to invite him into her bed. Odysius was to accept and win her friendship to free his countrymen, but first she would have to swear that she would not try to do him any more harm. Odysius drank the antidote and proceeded towards the palace. Cersei was excited by the arrival of yet another visitor, welcoming him kindly. She led Odysius to a beautiful throne where he could rest [music] and where he was served a refreshing drink. Odysius took the potion offered by his hostess, who looked on excitedly as he drank all the liquid from the golden cup. Then Cersei

34:02 touched the hero with her staff and ordered him to head for the pigsty, for that was where the pigs were. But Odysius was immune to her charms, and he [music] pushed the staff away, threatening Cersei with his sword. With a seductive look, the lady asked Odysius to spare her life and invited him to share her bed. Odysius said he would accept the invitation, provided she swore not to attempt his life or do any harm. Cersei took the oath and the king of Ithaca and the sorceress were united in the divine bed. The next day, Odysius was very well treated by the nymphs [music] who cleaned and dressed him. Cersei was sitting at the table waiting for the king. A great feast had been served. But he said it would be unworthy to eat

34:49 while his men lived in a dump like pigs. Cersei went to the pigsty and used her powers to restore the pigs to their previous form. Odysius was amazed by the scene, noting that his companions seemed to be younger and healthier than before. The men embraced [music] and celebrated their return to their former form. Cersei was magnanimous to the men who entered her domains. She invited them to stay until they felt ready to move on. Odysius and his men stayed on Cersei's island for a year, enjoying the hospitality of their divine [music] hostess. But one day, the warriors of Ithaca pressed the hero to return home. Odysius confessed [music] to Cersei his desire to leave. She replied that she

35:36 did not want to keep him there against his will. But before he could head home, Odysius was to visit one of the most frightening places in the world. The hero was to go to the realm of Hades in search of answers. On the island of Cersei, Odysius and his men [music] spent their last night before sailing off to a nightmarish destination. They were due to go to the terrifying realm of Hades to encounter the fortune teller Turis's spirit and find out if it would be safe to return home. Elpor, one of Odysius's comrades, slept on the roof of Cersei's palace to avoid the heat. but he [music] would wake up dazed and

36:22 having forgotten that he was on the roof, he fell off the top of the roof, breaking his neck. Then Odysius and his men grieved the loss of yet another shipmate, but they had no time to waste. And so they set off in their boat toward the kingdom of Hades. They landed at a place on the edge of the world, close to the land of the Samarans. That spot was shrouded in a thick [music] mist. Once there, they disembarked, bringing the animals offered by Cersei to be sacrificed. When they arrived at the exact place designated by the sorceress, Odysius performed the sacrifice of two lambs, and their blood was poured into a pit. Odysius and his men proceeded to be

37:07 surrounded by spirits who wanted to drink the blood inside the den, but Odysius was advised [music] to chase them away until Terrarius appeared. Much to everyone's surprise, between the spirits was Elpenor, the friend they had just lost. He still had not been buried, and so he requested Odysius to promise him that he would grant him due burial honors. The Ithaca king assured him that he would do so. Next, the spirit of Odysius's mother appeared. She had been alive when the hero left for the Trojan War, and the vision of his mother in that place broke the king of Ithaca's heart, and tears welled up in his eyes. Then old Teresus appeared, who had been a master [music] sage in life. He asked

37:55 to drink from the blood of the pit Odysius made. He quenched his thirst with the blood of the animals, and with blood still on his lips. Terresius [music] explained that Odysius would encounter many more hurdles before he could return home. Poseidon harbored hatred for the hero for having wounded his son, the Cyclops Polyphimas. The soothsayer predicted that Odysius [music] would still be able to return home. But if his men disregarded the beasts of the god Helios, the king would get home alone on a foreign ship, as all of his comrades would perish on the way. But [music] Odysius was astonished to find Agamemnon there, the greatest leader of the Greeks during the Trojan

38:40 War. He was assassinated by his wife [music] after returning home from the war. There he also met the great hero Achilles who appeared to have become embittered. Odysius told him how his achievements in the Trojan War were reckoned [music] and commemorated among men. But Achilles said that he preferred a thousand times to be a meager peasant and be allowed to see the light of day than to be the lord of the world of the dead. He also wondered how his son Neoptoamus was doing. Odysius told him that he battled in the Trojan War and had proven himself a true disciple of Aries, accomplishing great deeds. Several others of his battle brothers would appear, such as Petroas, Ajax, and

39:27 others. But the mission of Odysius in that land was finished. And so he and his men returned to the ship, heading [music] back to the island of Cersei to accomplish the promise made to Elenor. Once there, they laid their friend's body on a p so that his spirit could ultimately rest in peace. During the farewell banquet thrown by the sorceress, she would whisper in Odysius's ear the horrendous dangers he was about to face. The hero and his men would soon confront the most dangerous things that the kingdom of Poseidon had to [music] offer. After his run-in with the soothsayer Turricus in the underworld, it was prophesied that Odysius would succeed in

40:12 returning home. But he would still face nightmarish challenges before that. The sorceress Cersei warned Odysius of the dangers he would still encounter. But the Ithaca king preferred not to fully disclose them to his comrades, for he feared their hearts would be seized with dread. The first challenge was the mermaids, hybrid creatures, but with an incredible power of seduction. Their song was irresistible to all who heard it and attracted their victims to their damnation. Odysius ordered his men to plug their ears with wax so that they would be unable to hear anything at all. Favorable winds were driving them near the mermaid's island. But Odysius was

40:58 gripped by curiosity and wanted the opportunity to hear such irresistible singing. He ordered his men to tie him rigidly to the ship's mast. And even if he gave the order, his men would not release him until they were far from the island. Towering over the rocks, the beautiful mermaids sang and waved, attempting to lure the men to certain death. Scattered around them were countless bones of those who had been bewitched. Odysius cried out for his men to free him and lead the boat towards the rocks, but they paid no heed to his orders. The sirens flattered the hero in their songs, who had achieved great things in

41:43 the Trojan War and promised to write songs that would make his deeds immortal. Odysius pleaded with his men to set him free, but they only tied the hero even more strongly to the mast. It was only when they were already at a safe distance from the island that Odysius's companions pulled him free. The king of Ithaca took a while to recover mentally from that desperate experience. But now they were faced with a deadly challenge as they would encounter two of the greatest dangers of the ocean, Sila and Sheridis. A gigantic [music] whirlpool was attempting to pour all the water out of the seas. This underwater creature was trying to engulf any vessel that came

42:30 within its reach. To avoid the monster, Odysius ordered his men to steer the ship as close as possible [music] to a cliff. However, nestled in a huge cavern encrusted in the cliff was Sila, a gigantic, hideous beast. It had several heads and tentacles. Just the sight of it made the men desperate. The creature plucked the men from the ship's deck and tore them to pieces. Survival spirit was what kept the men rowing vigorously, avoiding being pulled by Sharibdis and pulling themselves away from Sila. Odysius and his men dodged that death trap, but now they were only a handful of warriors when compared to the army that had traveled to Troy 20 years ago.

43:18 Ahead of them lay the island of [music] Thratia, the one which was to be Odysius's last stopover before he could finally [music] return home. Odysius and his men were sailing near the island of Thratia, from whence they heard the mooing of the cows and oxmen that lived there. Odysius's comrades yearned for [music] supplies and rest. But the king of Ithaca was told by Cersei that that island might bring complete ruin to his men. He attempted to convince them to move away from the island. However, his men were greatly disgruntled, even to the point of mutiny. Odysius consented to take them there as long as they promised not to touch the

44:04 cattle on that island, which was owned by the god Helios. They agreed and headed for the beach. Shortly after sheltering the ship in a cave to protect it from the winds, a storm raged over the island. Odysius informed his men that they were to consume only the supplies offered by the sorceress Cersei while leaving Helios's animals in peace. Inclement weather and unforgiving winds [music] kept Odysius stranded on that island for months. The supplies were very close to running out. Odysius said it was best for his men to try to fish [music] and gather whatever berries and roots they could find, but to keep away from the sun god's oxen. While on one of his hunts, the hero reached the top of the hill. Feeling close to the gods, he

44:50 asked them to help him. He felt as if the gods had sent him a peaceful sleep, and right there he took a nap. He would wake up smelling the distinctive aroma of roasting meat. Nearby, his men were grilling calf meat, as they had slaughtered the best animals to [music] appease the god's wrath. They would rather bear the risk of divine vengeance than the ordeal of starving to death. Odysius [music] was desperate to witness the scenario he had feared so much. The revenge of the gods would come soon. In heaven, the son accused men of profaining his sacred cattle. He said that he would go to Hades to illuminate the dead while the earth and heavens would no longer see his light. Zeus

45:37 pleaded with Helios not to stop illuminating the world, as he would end the lives of those responsible for such a crime. The headwind ceased and Odysius and his men set off, leaving the island of Thratia behind. But the thunderbolts in the sky pointed to [music] Zeus's foul mood. A powerful lightning strike shattered the shipmast, collapsing on the helmsmen. Further lightning struck the ship, utterly destroying it. Many of Odysius's men died by electrocution, while others drowned in the sea waters. Leertes's son survived by grabbing onto the planks of the ship's wreckage. He would be the only one not to have his body swallowed by the sea. He would

46:24 drift for a while until realizing that the currents were taking him towards a dreadful fate. Odysius was once again heading for the gorge of Sila and Shardis. The wreckage was being tugged by Chardis' whirlpool, and his end seemed inevitable. But he managed to reach the branches of a fig tree that sprang up by the walls. Hanging from it, the hero waited until Shardis had swallowed all the water as he always did. The water flow reversed, and Odysius jumped onto the debris spewed out by Charardis, using the strength of his arms and legs as he attempted his best to distance himself from that place. For days, Odysius was a drift at sea until he was carried to the shores of the Ogia Island where the nymph

47:11 Calypso lived. After describing his stay on Calypso's island and how he had arrived in the land of the fashions, Odysius concluded his adventures at the court of King Alenus. Overwhelmed with emotion, Odysius felt in his heart the pain of recalling that almost all of his companions who perished on his journey cried out for his name in despair before they took their last breath. While Odysius was trying to return home, his son Telamakus had departed for the Greek region of the Pelpineese in [music] search of his father. He had the goddess Athena by his side, disguised as a mentor. His first stop was Pyos, the kingdom of the wise old Neestor, a

47:58 famous hero from the Trojan War. The old king and his two sons were making sacrifices to the god Poseidon. They invited the young man and his chaperon to join them in the ceremony. Telancus introduced himself as Odysius's son, and Netor was happy to meet the young man his father had mentioned so much. Unfortunately, however, Netor had no news of Odysius. He only knew that the Ithaca king was one of the four great heroes who had not made it home safely soon after the war ended. The mighty King Agamemnon had been murdered by his wife and her lover. Ajax the Great had died on the seas due as a result of the god's rage and Menaus had been lost for 8 years before returning home. But he

48:44 knew nothing about Odysius's whereabouts. The wise neester recognized that Telamakus was quite [music] a valuable person for he had the goddess Athena by his side. He recommended that the prince of Ithaca meet with Menaaus as he would know some news of his father. The king of Pyos asked his son to accompany Telmakus to Sparta where Menaaus and his queen reigned. They arrived during the festivities of the betroal of Princess Hermione, daughter of Menaaus and Helen to Nepalamus, the son of Achilles. The two young nobles were received with hospitality by the king. Although the latter was unaware of their identity, he was only fulfilling Zeus's designs. But Menaaus noticed on the young man's face the features of his

49:31 former battle companion. The queen, once known as Helen of Troy, also recognized Odysius's presence [music] and his son's features. Telmachus introduced himself and told her the reason for his visit. Menaaus asked him to sit down, for he had a story to tell. Menaaus said that his departure from Troy was difficult since the Greeks had angered the gods. So, like Adysius, he was lost at sea for a long time. But the ships reached the Egyptian coast. On this piece of land, he was plagued by depression until he was seen by a sea deity who took pity on him. The Nariad Edothea told Menaaus what he needed to do to return home. He was to gather some men and ambush

50:17 Proteius, a sea deity with prophetic powers. They were to seize him and [music] release him only when he promised to answer their inquiries. Following Idoa's orders, Menaaus found Proteius counting his seals before taking a nap. Menaaus and his men jumped on the god and grabbed him. He was strong and fought his way free of his attackers. Proteius had the power of metamorphosis and used it to assume the most diverse forms. Finally, due to the persistence of Menaaus, who would not let go of him, he surrendered to the wills of the Spartan king and promised to tell everything he knew. Proteius told Menaaus that if he wanted to return home, he should make a sacrifice to the

51:02 gods to appease their anger. Menaus asked about the fate of the other Greek nobles who had returned from Troy. He told of the tragedy of Ajax. But the news of his brother Agamemnon's death broke his heart and the Spartan broke down in tears. The god also revealed the fate of his great friend, the king of Ithaca. Finally, Menaaus told Telakus the information he had. Odysius had sailed for a long time aimlessly throughout the Mediterranean Sea. He had been stranded for several years on the island of the nymph Calypso. But this would not be a permanent situation for he was destined to return home. Telmakus told of suitors who were squandering his father's estate and wished to conquer

51:49 his throne. Menaaus advised the prince to return home for his father would need Telamakus' [music] help. Together they would teach the suitors a lesson. Having left the land of the fashions behind, King Alcinius made provisions for one of his ships to take the hero back to Ithaca. He would never forget his host's [music] hospitality. Odysius was gripped by a deep slumber and slept through the entire journey. When he reached Ithaca's beaches of [music] Dexus, the sailors had no courage to wake him, so they disembarked him with the gifts offered by the Fasian king. When Poseidon heard that his enemy had

52:34 finally reached his homeland, he was enraged and the sailors who carried the hero would pay a high price for dishonoring the god of the seas. Just as they were concluding their return journey, the ship of the Fishians was pulverized by Poseidon, who in a gigantic form smashed it with his bare hands. Upon parting his hands, there was only a large boulder in front of the Fascan's harbor. They had become a rock and from that day on the fascins never again assisted castaways in Sparta. Athena warned Telmachus that it was time to return home. The suitors planned to trap [music] him on his return. For that reason, he was to sail at night

53:20 and not head for the port, but to the home of Umus, the man who raised him in Odysius's absence. Eventually, Odysius woke up and had no idea where he was. He feared that he was again in an unknown foreign land fraught with danger. It was then that a young shepherd boy appeared and Odysius inquired what place that was, and the young man said Ithaca. Cunning Odysius, to disguise his identity, made up a story full of details which gave him a new biography. Meanwhile, the young man listened to his [music] story with a smile on his face. At this point, the young man took the form of the goddess Athena, who said that his story was of unequal astuteness and that it would

54:05 almost fool even the goddess of wisdom. The goddess told him that he would have to seek out the loyal umemus and bring himself up to date with the situation in his kingdom. But first, he needed a disguise. The goddess arranged for Odysius to adopt the form of an old beggar and he made his way towards the house of Umus the swine herd. Um abided by the duty of hospitality and welcomed the beggar with warmth. The pigkeeper told him about how the suitors squandered Odysius's fortune and intended to kill Telmachus and betrothed the queen Penelope. That was when footsteps were heard approaching the house of Umus. Odysius understood that the dog gave no alarm, and so it must have been someone known.

54:52 The young Telmachus came through the door and was greeted cheerfully by the pigman, who said the prince's name. Odysius's jaw dropped, and his eyes grew wide at the sight of his grown son. More than 20 years had passed since he had last seen him. Telamakus told the pigman he ought to go to the palace to tell him secretly about his return. As soon as the pigman left, the figure of the [music] goddess Athena appeared behind Telamachus, but only Odysius and the dogs could see her. She told Odysius that the time had come to reveal himself. Athena restored Odicius to his original form, much to Tel Amachus' astonishment, [music] who believed that the old man could only be a god. Odysius told them that [music]

55:38 he was not a god, but actually his father, who had been missing for a long time. Father and son embraced, and many tears were shed from Telmachus [music] and Odysius's eyes. Odysius wondered who and how many were the suitors who were trying to claim his rights. The young man said that there were dozens, and victory over them would be almost impossible. Odysius instructed his son not to tell anyone about his father's return, not even Umus [music] and his mother. He said he should fear nothing, for Zeus and his beloved daughter were on their side and would [music] lead them to glory. Again, in the form of an old beggar, Odysius went to the palace to beg among the suitors and know who they are and what their

56:24 enemies had been planning. Odysius went to Ithaca's royal palace alongside the swine [music] herd Umus. But before he reached the palace, he had an unexpected reunion. Lying on the ground was old Argos, Odysius's dog, to which he had devoted much affection and time to turn it into an excellent hurting and hunting dog when the animal was still a puppy. Upon seeing the beggar approaching, the dog raised its ears and wagged its tail. Even 20 years later, the animal recognized its master immediately and would have run to him if it had not been too weak. Odysius asked Umus why the animal was so badly treated. The swine herd replied that the

57:09 dog was unbeatable at hurting and hunting, but like the kingdom of Ithaca, it had lived through years of neglect, and so there were no signs left of its glorious times. Odysius knelt down and shed a tear upon meeting his old [music] and loyal friend again. After 20 years of waiting for Odysius's return, Argos ended its vigil and could rest on the other plane. Its master had returned to take care of what was his. Odysius entered the palace. Dozens of suitors were eating and drinking at the expense of the king of Ithaca's estate. The hero begged among the suitors to identify the good and bad. But Antonius, the most prominent of the suitors, [music] wanted to expel the beggar from the palace. Odysius retorted, saying that he

57:57 ate and drank at another man's expense, but still refused to share even a fraction. Outraged by the visitors insolence, Antonius threw a wooden seat at the beggar. Despite the powerful impact, Odysius was strong and absorbed the blow without any reaction. The other suitors told Antonius that he had not been correct. Sometimes the gods would disguise themselves to test men's hospitality, and their revenge could be grim. Odysius sat on the floor to eat the leftovers the suitors dropped off. Suddenly, Arnaeus entered the palace, a well-known local beggar. He was burly and aggressive. He was irritated to see another beggar occupying his place. He advanced against Odysius, telling him to

58:44 leave, for it was not his place there. Odysius told him not to overreach. Despite his age, he could still beat him up so they could both be left alone in the palace. The suitors were entertained by the bickering between beggars, challenging them to fight each other. Antonius replied that only the winner of the fight would have the right to beg in the palace as the other would have to leave. With no alternative, Odysius accepted the fight. Arnaeus was strong, but he was surprised [music] to see Odicius's muscles when Odysius removed his cloak. The burly beggar set out to attack Odysius, but he was knocked out by a single blow to the neck. The victorious Odysius was cheered by the suitors, who had fun at the beggar's

59:30 expense. The disguised king was greeted by one of the several suitors. Odysius realizing that he was not a bad person warned him to leave the palace to escape his wrath. But the young man did not listen to him. Queen Penelope suddenly appeared. Thanks to the goddess Athena, who bathed her with ambrosia, she looked beautiful. Odysius was delighted to see his wife again after 20 years. Although she no longer had her youthful features, she still retained an enormous beauty. But Penelopey's stunning gorgeousness also aroused the suitor's desire. Antonius said that their patience was running out. Therefore, the next day she was to choose her new husband. Odysius

1:00:17 talked with Telmakus and asked him to remove from the main hall all the weapons displayed on the walls. In this way, they would proceed with their revenge. While the young man was removing the weapons, he was questioned by a suitor who asked him what he was doing. Telmachus said that the weapons were being removed to be cleaned and polished. After all, they had not been maintained for many years. Meanwhile, Penelope questioned the visitor to learn more about him and to obtain possible information about her husband. The disguised king said that Odysius was about to return, and Penelope wept with emotion. In gratitude, the queen asked her old servant, [music] Urraa, to wash the visitor's feet. To the old maid's

1:01:02 surprise, she recognized an old scar that the king of Ithaca had suffered in a hunt when he was young. Uraclea knew that that man could only be Odysius. Odysius contained the maid so that she would not blow his cover. She promised the king that she would keep the secret, even from the queen. Penelopey told Odysius about her dream. 20 geese were roaming and messing up the palace courtyard, and she was forced to feed them. Then an eagle appeared and killed all the geese. The beggar told her that [music] her dream could not be clearer. Odysius would return and pour out his terrible vengeance on the suitors. But sadness plagued Penelopey's heart. With the arrival of the goddess of dawn, the

1:01:48 time would also come for her to choose a match among the suitors. The day came when Penelope would finally have to choose her new husband among the suitors. They were already once again ravaging Odicius's estate, feasting on his goods. Inspired by the goddess Athena, Penelope came up with Odysius's bow. She would set suitors a challenge, which was to be overcome by whoever wanted to be her husband. They were to bend Odysius's bow and shoot an arrow through the hole of 12 axes lined up. Telamakus asked to be the first to try. If he achieved that feat, his claim to the throne would be further legitimized.

1:02:34 The young man tried three times to bend Odysius's bow, but without success. On the fourth attempt, just as he was about to succeed, [music] Telamachus looked at his father and understood the message in the man's gaze. He gave up and said he [music] couldn't do it. The suitors began to try to bend Odysius's bow. One after another, they failed. Odysius revealed his identity by showing his scar to the pygmy [music] swine herd, Umus, and his servant Fletus, who had always been very loyal to the king. The two subjects were very excited to see Odicius again. He asked them to warn the maids and the queen. They were to lock themselves in their rooms and the palace doors were to be bolted. Then the

1:03:20 two main suitors tried to bend the bow. Yuramakus failed like all the others and Antonius even though he used tricks to try to bend the bow also failed. Antonius told the suitors to leave the task until the next day. That way they could go back to feasting at Odysius's expense for one more day. At that point, Odysius, assuming the form of a beggar, asked them to let him try to bend the bow. The suitors were outraged by the beggar's insolence. If he succeeded in bending Odysius's bow, they would all be humiliated [music] and their reputation would be ruined. Telmachus bravely opposed the suitors, telling them not to disregard the designs of the gods, which required that

1:04:08 guests be treated properly and that the beggar would have the right to try. Gave the beggar the bow, allowing him to try. To everyone's astonishment, Odysius managed to bend the bow with ease. The disguised king took a deep breath and aimed. The perfect shot went through the 12 [music] axes to the disbelief of the suitors. The beggar said that if Apollo was favorable to him, he would manage to hit a target that would leave the suitors even more shocked. Odysius shot an arrow at Antonius, who had a cup in his mouth. The arrow pierced the cup and struck the villain's neck. The king of Ithaca revealed himself to the suitors. At that

1:04:54 moment, due to Athena's blessings, Odysius was glorious, as in his golden days of bravery [music] and Troy. His son Telamachus with spear and shield stood beside him. Yuramakus, realizing the mistake he had made, tried to negotiate and guaranteed that all of Odysius's dilapidated possessions would be returned [music] in time. Gold and bronze would be offered in abundance until his anger was appeased. But the rightful king of Ithaca said that all the gold in the world would not stop his vengeance. Yurias advanced [music] against Odysius, drawing a dagger, but was killed by an arrow shot by the king. Odicius's great [music] battle against the dozens of suitors began. His enemies

1:05:40 were unarmed, for Telamachis had hidden [music] all the weapons that had been left exposed. Odysius did not waste any arrows. As if inspired by Apollo, the silver bow archer, he shot down the suitor one after another. The arrows ran out, but there were still dozens of enemies in the hall. Telmachus was defending his father's [music] flank with great bravery and ferocity. Odysius and Telmachus were at [music] a great disadvantage. Realizing that Odysius was beginning to falter, Athena encouraged him and told him to remember that at Troy, he faced and defeated a greater number of enemies more skillful and fearless than the suitors. Inspired by the goddess,

1:06:26 Odysius, Telmachus, the swine herd, [music] and faithful servant Felitus fought against the suitors, eliminating them one [music] after the other. The goddess shielded them against any mortal blow. Odysius's victory was absolute. All the suitors were dead. The palace hall was filled with corpses, and there was a pool of blood on the floor. The old maid at Odysius's behest brought Queen Penelope to the reunion. But she could not believe that her husband had returned. Only a god could have overcome so many adversaries. She remained silent before her husband, whom she hadn't seen for 20 years, without looking him in the eye. Odysius, disappointed by the cold reception from

1:07:12 the suspicious queen, demanded that they tidy his bed, for he wanted to rest. Penelope decided to test him and asked the servant Uracle to take Odysius's bed to another room. Odysius, realizing how cunning his wife was, said that such a thing was impossible. He had built the bed for the couple using an oak tree. It would be impossible to move it because [music] of its great weight. Penelopey's eyes sparkled at that moment, for only Odicius [music] could know the details of how the bed had been designed. Penelope threw herself into the arms of her beloved husband, for whom she had faithfully waited for his return for 20 years. They went to the couple's bedroom to make up for [music] lost time. During

1:07:57 the night, Odysius told Penelopey much of his adventures. On orders from Athena, Aurora, the goddess of dawn, took her time to appear. so that the couple would have more time for themselves. As the new day dawned, Odysius felt he had returned to the place he should never have left. His place in the [music] world was not beside great kings or gods. It was there, beside his beloved [music] and faithful wife, Penelope, and his son, Telmachus, who gave him such pride.