Letter from Odysseus

Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I discontinue this travel blog. It is with my deepest regrets to inform you that all of my beloved companions have... passed on, leaving me behind. If only they hadn't eaten the cattle... There is not much tale left to tell, I am afraid. To the faithful readers of this blog, do not despair for me, I will return to Ithaca safely. One day.

Oh, I hear Calypso coming. This is Odysseus, signing out for the final time.

- Odysseus

Hard-Headedness, Hunger on Helios Hyperion's Home

Re: Eating Helios's cattle - We had no choice.

"Listen to what I say, my companions, though you are suffering evils. All deaths are detestable for wretched mortals, but hunger is the sorriest way to die and encounter fate. Come then, let us cut out the best of Helios' cattle and sacrifice them to the immortals who hold wide heaven, and if we ever come back to Ithaka, land of our fathers, presently we will build a rich temple to the Sun God Helios Hyperion, and store it with dedications, many and good. But if, in anger over his high-horned cattle, he wishes to wreck our ship, and the rest of the gods stand by him, I would far rather gulp the waves and lose my life in them once and for all, than be pinched to death on this desolate island."

Eurylochos, The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book XII, 340 to 351

Eurylochos' Journal: The Cattle Ordeal 
(Translated by Javier Gamboa)

Just when I thought I had made it out alive of yet another horrifying jam, praising the gods that I was one of 'resourceful' Odysseus' followers who escaped the Sirens, Charybdis and Scylla with my life, out of the blue, misfortune strikes again. As our ship neared the shore of Helios' beautiful isle, Thrinakia, for once, I actually believed that I would finally make it home to magnificent Ithaka, that I could settle down after more than a decade of facing life-threatening episodes with 'thoughtful' Odysseus. Fate just loves proving me wrong.

Docking at the Sun God's beach, we could hear the sound of cattle mooing, and this was music to our ears. 'Food, glorious food!' I exclaimed in my head, salivating at the thought of feasting on sumptuous cows. However, Odysseus, our oh-so-fearless leader, was quick to interrupt our fantasies, forbidding us from even touching these cattle because, according to the warnings of Teiresias and the sorceress Circe, they were sacred to Helios and tasting their luscious meat would spell doom for us all. In retrospect, this was a rational restriction, and Odysseus was wise to address us before we could do anything stupid. Unfortunately, out of intense hunger and desperation, none of us were of the right mind, and we were all outraged. As Odysseus' second-in-command, I took it upon myself to answer for his men, and with much bitterness in my heart, I spoke against my superior, "Odysseus, how could you be so heartless? Why not allow we who are battered and who have experienced many a treacherous trial to have just one night to feast on a hearty meal while we have the chance, as disaster could strike us at any moment?" He replied, moaning about how he is but one man against all of us, which was evidently a means of gaining sympathy from my all-too-easy-to-sway fellows. Then, he made us pledge to eat the food Circe provided us in the cows' stead, which, I believe, was a distraction to keep our minds off the cattle. Despite this very apparent diversion, my companions, who only think of their present needs and not those that they will need in the near future, were quick to swear their oaths. Though I, with my great powers of foresight, predicted that this would be problematic in a few days' time, I could not go against the majority without making several enemies, and reluctantly swore the oath.

Days passed and we devoured our bounty from Circe's ever-generous hands, meanwhile, the South Wind continued to blow, indicating that we'd have a strong breeze to take us home. But as days flew by, our supplies were steadily depleted, and in no time there was nothing left of our resources, my predicted fears coming to fruition. I wanted to tell Odysseus 'I told you so', but I didn't want to anger a hero who was so beloved and favored by the gods. That would be an incredibly stupid move on my part, so I just kept this thought to myself, grinning with satisfaction for actually foreseeing something 'godly' Odysseus didn't. With no options, we then resorted to hunting birds and fish, but these weren't enough to satiate our collective hunger. Slowly, our stomachs' yearning for food grew louder and louder, and when famine had reached its inevitable climax, that was the last figurative straw. I had no choice but to defy Odysseus or die of starvation.

So, when Odysseus went away to sleep, I addressed the community saying, "Brethren, there is no worse death than by hunger. Join me in feasting on Helios' cattle, and if we ever reach Ithaka alive, we will build a grand temple for the Sun God. But if the gods are infuriated by our sacrilegious actions, and we are fated to die before arriving at our homeland, so be it. At least we die still with some dignity." Plagued by hunger, my companions agreed, and we slaughtered the best of the cattle, guzzling down each individual animal like it was the first meal we had eaten in a century. It was utter bliss. When Odysseus returned, he was flabbergasted at what he saw, mouth agape as we gobbled the remains of the slaughtered creatures. Upon seeing him, fear rapidly formed in our hearts, and not wanting to be the one responsible for enraging him, we blamed one another. Thankfully, Odysseus said that there was no point in pointing fingers, as the deed was already done. Relieved, I let out a sigh of relief and clapped by hands together, thinking I was off the hook. Again, I didn't know how wrong I was.

After six days of eating cattle, totally neglecting the fact that we were forbidden from this, we embarked on a journey to return home. Just our luck, the winds chose this day to stop blowing, obviously the gods' handiwork, signifying their aggression at our monstrous deed. Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, lightning bellowed from the sky, waves clashed, and our ship was shattered to pieces. We, every single one of us, were indeed lost to the harsh ocean due to our own idiotic and reckless decision, Odysseus the only survivor. I guess it was only a matter of time before years of effort would be rendered moot in one moment of obliteration.

How am I able to write this despite my apparent demise? Let's just say that even the suffering souls of the underworld keep journals. What do I take away from this tale of foolishness? Never, EVER defy the gods. And when you're told not to do something, obey and don't do it. Because if you do, it will cost you dearly, and I experienced that first-hand. 

Another thing I realized was how insignificant I was. Though I had the makings of a great hero, and maybe could have become a leader in my own right, destiny did not plan this for me, as only Odysseus was fated to triumph and be honored for all time, while we, the dozens of followers whom he had to step on to get to the top were engulfed by death, never to be spoken of again. Tough luck.

I wonder... if I am so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, i there still a point in continuing this journal? Perhaps. Not much to do down here anyway.

Image Source:

http://www.rbhs.w-cook.k12.il.us/litfinal/helios.htm

Scylla and Charybdis

“Right in her doorway she ate them up. They were screaming and reaching out their hands to me in this horrid encounter.”
The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book XII

Diary of a Common Henchman

Dear Diary,

I’m very sad right now.

Let me tell you about the time when I was viciously devoured by the Scylla, the really hungry sea monster. At that time, I didn’t really realize it at once. I mean, I could smell blood, and I knew it was my own, and I stared in terror at the crazed eyes of the hulking, enraged beast in front of me, but I didn’t really care that much anymore. I knew this was coming.

Let me first tell you my story of how I got to this point. I was always one of those brawns-over-brains type of people. When I was a child, I usually got into fights, and listening to my teachers never interested me. My parents, they wanted me to climb the social ladder, and maybe even become a noble. Too bad, I let them down. I hated it, the way they looked at me whenever I came in the house. That look of disappointment when you put all your expectations into something only to be let down. I got sick of it.

So I joined the military. I loved it, and I was good at it. I quickly rose up the ranks. Soon, people began calling me “The Beheader," and even “The Circumsizer." Don’t ask.

Soon after that, I was drafted into the best of of the best, under Odysseus. All of us equally skilled warriors, equally not as bright, and equally bloodthirsty. I wasn’t The Beheader anymore. I’m just your everyday grunt, but I didn’t care.

And then came the Trojan War: Over a hundred-thousand casualties, ten years of siege and murder, two severed fingers, a kidney, countless scars and all my teeth. Those were the best times of my life.

Anyway, after that, on our way back some, some stuff happened and now, after about 90% of us have died, we’re now here, in between two pissed-off sea monsters. We had two options: go through the whirlpool of Charybdis and maybe survive, or go through the really hungry Scylla and sacrifice six of us to pass. Apparently, Odysseus has never heard of the phrase “No one will be left behind.” and just decided to pass through Scylla and let six of us expendable soldiers die without telling us. What is six lives worth when compared to the whole crew right? Right?!

Okay, let me confess something. I don’t like Odysseus that much. I mean, whenever he’s there, I just sense some kind of weird pride in him. It seems as if he just thinks of us as stepping stones to some kind of pursuit of glory. He doesn’t really care that much if we die or not, he just wants to go safely home. Oh yeah, he also gets all the glory for everything! You know that cyclops, Polythemus? It wasn’t Odysseus that heroically stabbed him the eye and gave us time to escape. No, it was Stanley, the cook, using a kitchen knife. The stories add too much glitter and glam into the reality. So yeah, even before this Scylla and Charybdis fiasco, I knew that my chances of making it back to Ithaca were slim. I’ve seen how the others were killed. I hope Odysseus won’t read this.

Oh yeah, so when Odysseus decided that we’ll pass through Scylla, he didn’t really tell us, so we were all busy staring at the gigantic whirlpool that was a few hundred meters away from us, betting on how many spins our poop will do until it reaches the center.

Suddenly, I saw five gigantic freakin’ snake heads with a thousand teeth burst out the water and grab Stanley, Dennis, Norman, Norman Jr. and Adolf. (Poor Adolf, he had 7 children waiting for him back home!) The sixth, of course, was behind me and bit me in the ass. IT HURT SO MUCH!!

I cried. I cried manly tears. The others were screaming for help, begging Odysseus to help them, but when I looked at Odysseus, and he looked at me, he gave me the guy nod. “Good job,” his eyes said. And it was then at that moment that I knew that this was my job, and that I would do it well just like a soldier jumping in front of a spear aimed at his commander.

Yeah, that didn’t help that much. I’m still very sad.

- Jeremy the Circumsizer

Pictures from:

http://blogalice.com/engl230spring2007/files/scylla.jpg

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Images2/Scylla.jpg

The Sirens

"Come this way, honored Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians, and stay your ship, so that you can listen here to our singing; for no one else has ever sailed past this place in his black ship until he has listened to the honey-sweet voice that issues from our lips"

The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book XII

Around the World with Oprah Winfrey

Hello Everyone! This is your favorite travel show, Around the World with Oprah Winfrey and I am your host, Oprah Winfrey! We a very special guest with us today. As you guys all know, one of the hottest tourist spots today is the Siren’s Island, where you will be able to witness first hand the song of the Sirens! Be tempted and amazed at the serenity of their tone, the beauty of their melody, and the perfection of their pitch! So for our guest today, the scientists at Oprah Winfrey Corp. have found a way to resurrect a crew member from the one and only Odysseus’s crew to talk about his Siren experience.

Hello? HELLO! HELLO EVERYBODY! I’M HECTOR THE GREEK WARRIOR! IT’S NICE TO MEET YOU ALL? WHAT? I DON’T HAVE TO SHOUT? WHAT IS THIS “MICROPHONE” YOU SPEAK OF? OH, I SEE. I AM MOST DEEPLY SORRY. I’m not yet used to your American customs.

Okay, so can everyone hear me? Great. I would just like to give a shout out to the cook of our ship, my man Stanley! Oh wait he’s dead.

So anyway, as you guys all know, we were like the first ones in history to pass through the Island of the Sirens without dying. It wasn’t really that hard though. We just had to plug our ears with wax. The hard part was taking out the wax out of our ears. But you guys should’ve seen Odysseus though. He was screaming and begging us to release him. I loved that part. He even peed in his pants. At one point, he was laughing hysterically while wailing and shrieking out curses. This was definitely the highlight of my journey. You don’t get to see Odysseus like that everyday.

Enough about Odysseus. I’m here to tell you why you should go to the Island for your vacation. First of all, you should go there for the views. Oh Zeus. Those were some of the most breathtaking views in the world. When you go out to the sea, you’ll just stare at it in awe and wonder.  The dark blue ocean stretches out in all directions infinitely. It’s so amazing and so blue! It’s like a baby’s bottom, if that baby was an Avatar. Yeah, I watched the movie yesterday. I love technology!

On top of the really nice view, there’s even a better view once you see the island. Let me just say that it’s a paradise. Not when the sharp rocks on the beach are tearing your ship apart, but when you look at it from afar. It brought me to tears! Words cannot describe it. And then the sunset. Oh man. You’re gonna have an awegasm.

But that’s not even the main event. When you do get to the sirens after you’ve been tied up by our very professional crew members to the mast, you get to hear the beautiful voices of the sirens. You won’t be able to help yourself but to trash and flail around trying to get nearer to them as you hear their hymn. It’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience! I haven’t tried it yet since you know... I’ve been dead but from what Odysseus has told us, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. The Sirens also were very beautiful. I would have fallen heels over head over them (or is it head over heels? I’m not familiar with your expressions.) if it weren’t for their ugly bird bodies. Also, don’t worry; it’s 100% safe. We have a very well-trained crew of deaf sailors, and for emergency purposes, we even have a deaf and blind helicopter pilot on standby if things go awry.

So yeah, that was my Siren experience, or shall I say, my SIREXPERIENCE! Badabim badaboom I’ll be here all night folks.

Pictures from:

http://www.illusionsgallery.com/Ulysses-sirens-Draper-L.jpg

http://thefuturebuzz.com/pics/creative%20commons/21.jpg

The Elpenory

“...But first there came the soul of my companion, Elpenor, for he had not yet been buried under earth of the wide ways, since we had left his body behind in Circe’s palace, unburied and unwept, with this other errand before us. I broke into tears at the sight of him, and my heart pitied him...”

Odysseus, The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book XI, 51 to 55

I am the great Elpenor from the land of Ithaka, and having been the eldest in my family, I was called to serve my homeland and fight in the Trojan War, alongside the great Odysseus. The war was a battle well fought, and during it, I was astonished by my learning that Odysseus was not one of the, but THE greatest warrior I’ve ever seen in my short life. I idolized that man; he was the reason why we won the war. He was also the reason why I did not die while fighting. Yes, that man saved my life. He, having blocked that sharp arrow that was heading right toward my beautiful young face, blessed me with the gift of a longer life. Well, a few weeks longer, at least.

The realm of Hades

Yes, the great battle had ended, but another more challenging feat laid before us - getting back home.

Ever since I left Ithaka, I already had the feeling that I would never see my loved ones again, except, it was a thought in my mind that I would die a heroic death. Little did I know, the Fates had set for me a more shameful ending for my life.

I shall cut down to the evening of my death, for I do not wish to bore the readers and myself. I was there, the stars gazing upon my beauty and youth. Though I was young, I was of the right age to be filled with the spirits of wine causing thoughts of eternal bliss to fill my head. Oh, how beautiful and bright were the constellations that breezy night on the roof of Circe’s grand palace.

My temporary happiness was interrupted by the loud noise made by a source that until now, I am still unaware of. I rose up and attempted to go down to the earth. Oh, those darn spirits and the Fates have cast a spell upon me, causing me to forget about going down using the long ladder, the same way as I had gone up. I walked towards the edge of the roof, and tried to jump, aiming at the dark bushes that looked pretty well like a good spot for my buttocks to land on. Long after three counts, I found myself lying flat on the muddy ground, unaware of anything but my broken neck.

The next thing I knew, my soul exited my body and went straight down to this dreaded place. The house of Hades was exactly what the tales had told. It was dark and no body and soul was at sight. None except that of the gods and the Fates.

Odysseus and Friends in the underworld

After a few nights that seemed like an eternity, a gathering was taking place outside the house. I had never attempted to go out because of the absence of any light outside. But now, I see souls of every shape and size outside, gathering around a pool of what seemed to look like blood. And standing by it, there he was, the great Odysseus.

It was evident that he was not of the dead like us, for his skin was radiant and his body was not at all weak. As he stood there, being all heroic and all, I rushed to meet him and give my last few words to him.

He greeted me with shock and tears. He seemed like he had lost his own brother. The way his eyes flickered every time a tear dropped down his cheeks wanted me to burst out into tears as well. Oh if only the gift of emotion still remained in me.

At that point I realized how Hades had given the dead souls with the gift of knowledge of the future. Having a very deep feeling within me, I announced to Odysseus that he would surely arrive at his homeland, Ithaka, and see all his loved ones and neighbors.

I then asked him one simple thing - to give my body a proper burial. Having realized how shameful my death was, it was a a genuine necessity for my body to at least be respected as all dead bodies are supposed to be. That would at least lessen some of the shame.

After having promised to do what I had requested of him, he went and met the other souls out there, even more than the number I’ve met so far! What a popular man.

I decided to follow Odysseus around, but stayed a good 10 cubits away from Odysseus, for I did not want him to notice me.

He a had a good long talk with the great prophet Teiresias the Theban who holds the golden staff. I sensed a sense of seriousness on both of their faces, so I dared not look.

And after that, he went to what seemed like his dear old mother. His mother had a fine figure, and didn’t look as if she was his mother. Having Odysseus’s handsome looks, I’d say she’s his sister.

They talked for a much longer time after she had drunk the blood from the pit. I was struck at my invisible heart when I saw Odysseus attempting to hug his mother, but his body and her soul simply could not touch. He tried this three times, only to end up with an even sadder heart.

He met many more women after that, women of whose identities I am not aware of.

After all the women, then came the men. He began talking to men of great history. History that would’ve gone forever if it were not for death that brings all things to an end. He conversed with several heroic and iconic personalities such as the great Achilleus. There were simply too many for my non-existing brain to remember.

Time had passed, and the time had come for Odysseus to embark and continue on his long journey.  He would be one of the last men I’d see enter and leave Hades’ realm alive. What a great soul.

Pictures from:

http://semodyssey3.wikispaces.com/file/view/hades2.jpg/58519798/hades2.jpg

http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/underworld.jpg

Written by: Jerome Lim on the point of view of Elpenor

The Island of Circe

"So I spoke, and the inward heart in them was broken, as they remembered Antiphates the Laistrygonian and the violence of the great-hearted cannibal Cyclops, and they wept loud and shrill, letting the big tears fall, but there came no advantage to them for all their sorrowing."

The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book X

Lost was I, and torn. I’m here stuck in an unknown island far from home. I have long awaited my homecoming, but now, that idea seems far-fetched. Oh what miserable life I have, stuck with the ill-fortuned Odysseus, doomed and never to return home. Elpenor is my name, and this was how my adventure with Odysseus ended.

I was scared, turmoil raged in my mind. My friends, all of them, were killed, left behind for the Laistrygones to feed on. Oh why have I ventured out with Odysseus, he who have brought the crew nothing but despair? Curse you Son of Laertes whom the god Poseidon hates, for it is your own foolishness that had us stranded on this island.

I was the youngest of them all, the weakest, and I consider myself as one not intellectually gifted. I had been very lucky to survive this far, but I should’ve stayed at home. As I had opened my eyes and wiped off my tears, I saw Odysseus, trudging towards the crew with a large stag on his shoulder. 

“We will not visit the house of Hades tonight, my men. Let us forget our sorrow and dine with meat and wine!” He said.

That night, we dined until darkness came over us, and in the morning, when Dawn with her rosy fingers came, we packed our things and got ready for our adventure that day. 

“I had seen a house in the forest glen, and I am unsure of who or what inhabits that house, so now, I shall divide you all into two groups with Eurylochos and I as your leaders.” His voice had authority in it, it was almost hard not to obey him. I’d give him credit for his leadership, but his rash thinking still made it hard for me to forgive him for what he had led the crew into.

I had been grouped with Eurylochos. Unfortunate was I, stubborn and unpredictable as Odysseus was, I trusted him more than the great Eurylochos for he surpasses him in both strength and intelligence. 

We departed the remainder of the crew who were still mourning for the death of their friends. How blinded they are, why don’t they just kill Odysseus to get this over with? If he was the cause of our misfortune, then eliminating him would resolve all our problems! I decided to keep this opinion to myself, these men fear him too much to strike him even when he is sleeping.

We ventured towards the house he referred to. I couldn’t keep my feelings inside.

“I’ve always respected Odysseus,” I started, choosing my words carefully for the fear of being struck by one who is loyal to him. “But aren’t we going a bit too far? We’re supposed to be home by now! Oh how I miss my family, my parents, my siblings, I had given everything up to gain fame and fortune for this trip, but it seems as if he gets all the credit! We experience the same pain and hardships as he does, but why is he the one being honored? What is he without us?”

“I agree with Elpenor. We have witnessed our companions dying, every one of them. Odysseus has brought us nothing but misery, all those decision of his that led us farther and farther away from our homeland. I think it is time to act as we really should,” Eurylochos concluded.

“Patience now, my friends, I’m sure we will get our fair share of fortune and fame once we get back to our homes. But for now, let us bare the pain of his actions,” Polites, who had influence over Odysseus’ men said. Not another word was spoken until we reached the house because all feared Polites who was the dearest friend of Odysseus.

We arrived at the house that the Godlike Odysseus was talking about. It was one of the most beautiful sites I had seen, how intricate was the architecture and the designs of the house! It was as if a goddess made it.

As we entered, the great Eurylochos decided to stay out.

“I do not trust whoever owns this house, and for fear of that, I shall stay outside,” he said.

“Suit yourself, you don’t know what you’ll be missing out,” replied Polites.

I myself wanted to stay out, but my curiosity led me inside. We saw countless wild beast and they seemed tamed, but we didn’t want to take chances, we took an alternate route to the front door. Polites, who had seen fair maiden inside, decided to call her out. She saw us, and let us in. 

She introduced herself, telling us her name was Circe. She gave us food to eat, and wine to drink, but as we took those in, nausea overtook our senses. I suddenly felt dizzy and I fell to the ground. The last thing I remembered was the fair maiden standing over me, waving a stick and chanting words foreign to my ear.

I woke up to the sound of a snort. I couldn’t remember who I was, and everything I saw all around me were pigs. I smelt food near the door of the pigsty, and neared it to take a bite of what was given. As I ate, I tried to recall who I was, but I couldn’t. When I had my fill, I decided to rest, but something was bugging me deep inside my mind. There was something-- or someone trying to take over my head.

I played an intense game of tug-of-war, but when I was already winning, images of my past life as a human came back to me. I was Elpenor, and Odysseus was my leader. Oh that wretched man, I’d rather die than spend a longer time with him! I slowly let the other consciousness invade my mind, and the last thing I heard before fading into oblivion were the words: “Set my companions free.”

Image Sources:

http://www.trueghosttales.com/img/circe.jpg

http://www.hethert.org/Circe_-_Wright_Barker.jpg

http://www.wga.hu/art/p/parmigia/z_circe.jpg

Written by Bernell Go

Thoughts of Alex: The Bag of Wind and the Laistrygones

"...and the evil counsel of my companions prevailed, and they opened the bag and the winds all burst out. Suddenly the storm caught them away and swept them over the water weeping, away from their own country."

The Odyssey of Homer, by Lattimore ~ Book X

I am one of Odysseus's faithful followers, however my name is of no importance. I am one of those good men who travelled alongside the great hero but was not given much emphasis. But if you must know my name, it's Alex. 

I recall of an instance when my companions were just big bigots and their actions caused us dearly. I shall tell it to you as it had happened.

We seafarers had been wandering the ocean for the gods know how long when finally we came across the Aiolian Island where the great Aiolas, son of Hippotas resided. He godly and just as he was, received us and entertained us for a month. After this long time, we were well rested and ready to depart. The god sent us on our way with supplies, generous with his provisions.

For nine days we sailed, day and night without end. The thought of once again being in the land of our fathers burned in our hearts. Alas, on the tenth day, beloved Ithaka was within my sight. I could almost hear the crowds calling our names. How I longed to experience our long awaited warm welcome. But no, our long awaited homecoming was delayed once more.

There was bag of made of oxen skin given to the god-like Odysseus by Aiolas before we left. Among us men, only Odysseus knew of its contents. He didn't inform us what was in it but just commanded us not to open it until we reach Ithaka. He guarded the bag attentively until sleep fell upon him on the tenth day.

Thoughts of greed slithered into the mind of one of my companions and he in turn influenced the others.

“Odysseus receives gifts and treasure wherever he goes. What about us who go through the same hardships but receive nothing? I'm sure the bag must contain treasure and he wants to keep them all for himself. How about we take the compensation we deserve? Our lord won't notice the difference if we take a few pieces here and there,” he said.

Evil counsel prevailed. The others agreed with his reasoning, the decision was made. One of them gently lifted Odysseus's arm which held the bag. Another snatched away the bag. It was only I who opposed this act of treachery.

I tried to wake the god-like Odysseus up. “My lord, please wake up!!! They're going to open the---” Someone covered my mouth.

I tried to struggle so my companions, growing angry, tied me to the mast of the ship and stuffed particles of clothing down my throat. At that point, I was completely incapacitated. There was nothing more I could do. Despite this, I still continued to fight. My eyes widened and became bloodshot. I continued to struggle within my ropes but it came to no end. The ropes were expertly tied, then again, I could expect nothing less from my companions. I gave up on my attempts at freedom and just stood there, waiting in anticipation.

Finally, the silver string that held the bag close was pulled and out came gold and silver which those greedy men divided amongst themselves. At least this is what I wished had happened.

No, out of the bag came a massive wind storm that swept us away from Ithaka, the land I've longed for so much. Damn those bigots. Odysseus was awakened by the storm and for some reason, seemed to know what was happening.

“I thought I told you, 'Not until Ithaka!'” he screamed to the world. It felt like the winds intensified at this statement.

It was at this moment that the men felt the error in their ways. Many men grieved and wept that day.

Eventually we were blown back to the Aiolian island. This time however, we received no welcome.

Aiolan called us and recognized us as cursed by the gods and consequently, didn't help us. We were driven out of his house. It was cold... very cold. But I do to some extent agree with him. I am cursed by having such stupid companions.

Having no where left to go, we once again wandered the sea in search of hope.

Six days later, we arrived in another unknown land. Odysseus dispatched 3 of his men to search for people. I was one of these men. Soon, we came across a fair maiden drawing water from a well spring.

I politely inquired of her, “Who is the great king that rules over this land?”

She answered with a point of a finger to a high-roofed house. There we met the great king. Or the great giant king I should say. Fear strangled me and my movements were constricted. The king, who was as big as a mountain, grabbed me. I could barely breathe within his tight clutch. My eyesight began to dim. I saw in the distance, the two men who came with me, running away.

And the last thing I heard before I passed out was, “We Laistrygones are having a feast tonight!”

When I woke up, I was already here in the Underworld, among the dead. I'm a cursed man, with no hope of ever returning back to my home Ithaka. I'm one who died as someone elses dinner. All this because, of those fools. But then again, it was our leader, Odysseus who never told us what exactly was in the bag to begin with. All this could have been diverted, if only things went little differently.

Sources for images:

http://www.philipresheph.com/demodokos/odyssey/od14.htm

http://www.01515.06sc.thinkquest.nl/Moiren/engels/laistrygones.html

-Aldrich Mayoralgo