Charting Odysseus’ epic voyage

Nearly 3,000 years after it was first told, Homer’s epic tale of Odysseus’ 10-year journey home – through monsters, temptations, and the wrath of the gods – remains a timeless story that continues to captivate audiences around the world

Movie adaptation by Hollywood director Christopher Nolan stars Matt Damon (above) as Odysseus, King of Ithaca

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Troy: Trojan War ends after 10-year siege with fall of city. Odysseus departs for Ithaca with fleet of 12 ships

Ismaros: Odysseus raids city of Cicones – Trojan allies – before counterattack forces retreat

Lotophagi: Crew members eat lotus fruit and lose all desire to return home

Cyclopes: Odysseus blinds one-eyed giant Polyphemus to escape captivity, enraging sea god Poseidon

Aeolia: Wind god Aeolus gives Odysseus bag of winds to guide fleet home. Crew opens it too soon and is blown back off course

Lamos: Giant cannibal Laestrygonians destroy most of fleet

Aeaea: Sorceress Circe turns Odysseus’ men into swine

Underworld: Following Circe’s directions, Odysseus travels to edge of world to consult blind prophet Tiresias for guidance home

Sirens: Odysseus ties himself to ship’s mast while crew blocks ears with beeswax to survive deadly songs

Scylla and Charybdis
Crew sails through strait between six-headed monster and massive whirlpool – losing six men

Thrinacia: Crew eats sacred cattle of sun god Helios despite warnings, bringing destruction in violent storm

Ogygia: Sea nymph Calypso detains Odysseus for seven years

Scheria: Hospitable Phaeacians provide Odysseus with ship to sail home

Ithaca: Odysseus finally reaches home, infiltrates palace disguised as beggar, slays suitors vying for Penelope’s hand and reclaims throne

For centuries, scholars have tried to map the Odyssey without reaching consensus. Map follows World History Encyclopedia, drawing on modern scholarship to illustrate one possible route rather than definitive itinerary

Sources: World History Encyclopedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Picture: Universal Pictures
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