Chapter 20: The Returns

Planctae

"The Wandering Rocks," through which Odysseus has to navigate.

Cyclopes

A race of one-eyed giants, one of whom, Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, terrorizes and eats many of Odysseus' men. Using cunning and the gift of wine received from Maron, Odysseus is able to escape from the Cyclops' cave, but as he is sailing away, he discloses his identity and is cursed by Polyphemus.

Sirens

Alluring singers of song who "know everything that happens upon the fertile earth." In Homer, they are human in form. Later tradition ascribes to them birdlike features, wit women's heads. Odysseus has himself lashed to the mast and his crew's ears stopped with wax, so he may listen to them without danger.

Idomeneus

Cretan king who is caught in a storm on his return home. He vows to Poseidon that, should he return safely, he will sacrifice the first thing he encounters. Unfortunately, the first thing he meets is his son. He is eventually exiled from Crete and sails to Italy, where a hero cult develops in his honor.

Calypso

Daughter of Atlas. Odysseus spends seven years in captivity on her island of Ogygia.

Laërtes

Father of Odysseus.

Helius

God of the sun. Odysseus lands at the island of Thrinacia, where his men steal the cattle of the sun. For this sacrilege, they die before they reach Ithaca.

Polytropos

Greek adjective used of Odysseus and meaning "of many twists and turns."

Peripheron

Greek adjective used of Penelope and meaning "circumspect."

Diomedes

Greek hero of the Trojan War, he eventually sails to Italy, where a hero cult develops in his honor.

Moly

Herb given by Hermes to Odysseus to protect him from Circe's witchcraft.

Menelaüs and Helen

His return from Troy is delayed when he is blown off course and lands in Egypt. Eventually, he returns to Sparta with her, where Telemachus visits them to learn news of his father.

Sisyphys

In some traditions, it is claimed that Odysseus was actually his son, not Laërtes'.

Lotus-eaters

Inhabitants of an outwardly friendly land, harboring a very real danger, the fruit of the Lotus, which blots out all desire to return home.

Cicones

Inhabitants of the Thracian city of Ismarus. Odysseus sacked the city, but spared Maron, a priest of Apollo. In return, Maron gave the Greeks a gift of wine.

Ogygia

Island home of Calypso.

Ithaca

Island kingdom of Odysseus.

Aeolus

Keeper of the winds; he gives Odysseus a bag of winds to aid his return home. Odysseus' men open the bag before their reach their destination. He refuses additional aid.

Nestor

King of Pylos, oldest and wisest of the Greeks at Troy, of whom Homer says, "His speech flowed more sweetly than honey." He survives the war and returns to Pylos, where Telemachus visits him to seek information about his father.

Antinoüs

Leader of the suitors for Penelope's hand. He is the first one who Odysseus kills.

Argus

Odysseus' aged dog. Ill treated by the suitors, upon Odysseus' return, he recognizes his master and dies.

Euryclea

Odysseus' aged nurse, who recognizes him by a familiar scar.

Anticlea

Odysseus' mother, whom he unexpectedly meets in the Underworld. She had died in longing for her son's return.

Phaeacians

People who lived close to the gods and were renowned sailors. They warmly welcome Odysseus and transport him home. Because they aided Odysseus, Poseidon punishes them by stopping up their harbor and removing their access to the sea.

Nausicaä

Princess of the Phaeacians, she is the first to encounter Odysseus when he washes ashore on Scheria. She smooths his welcome into the court of her father and mother.

Arete

Queen of the Phaeacians, husband to Alcinoüs, mother to Nausicaä. Hers is the crucial welcome Odysseus must receive, if he is to get home.

Neoptolemus

Son of Achilles, who leaves his hime in Phthia and eventually is killed at Delphi.

Autolycus

Son of Hermes and father of Anticlea

Odysseus (Ulysses)

Son of Laërtes and Anticlea, husband of Penelope, father of Telamachus, hero of the Trojan War. He spends 10 years at sea trying to his kingdom and family. He is the "man of many ways," and his name may mean "one who causes or receives hatred."

Telegonus

Son of Odysseus and Circe, in one tradition Odysseus is eventually killed by him.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus and Penelope. Guided by Athena, he goes on a mini-odyssey to learn whether his father is alive or dead, and how to be a son worthy of such a father. When Odysseus finally returns, he and this character plan the murder of the suitors and cleanse the palace.

Circe

Sorceress and daughter of Helius. At first, she is hostile to Odysseus' men, transforming them into swine. With Hermes' gift of the moly plant, Odysseus remains unharmed and eventually spends one year with her. She conceives Telegonus. She also counsels Odysseus to journey to the Underworld.

Nostos

The Greek word for "return."

Demodocus

The bard at the court of the Phaeacians.

Pylos

The kingdom of Nestor.

Eumaeus

The trusty swineherd of Odysseus, who aids his master in his plan to kill Penelope's suitors.

Tiresias

Theban seer. Odysseus goes to the Underworld to speak with him and learn more about his return to Ithaca.

Nekuia

Title that refers to Homer's Odyssey Book 11, which details Odysseus' journey to the land of the dead. It was the rite by which the dead were summoned and questioned about the future.

Scylla and Charybdis

Two terrors that inhabited the Strait of Messina. Scylla was a monster with a girdle of dog's heads. Charybdis was a whirlpool.

Laestrygonians

Violent race who sink all of Odysseus' ships but his own ad eat his men.

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus, mother of Telemachus. SHe is a perfect match for her husband in cunning and guile. One of her most important epithets is periphron ("circumspect").