Interpretations of Key Events

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"The same wind that wafted me from Iliam brought me to Ismarus, the city of the Cicones.  I sacked this place and destroyed its menfolk. The women and the vast plunder that we took from the town we divided..."

Book IX: 39-44

"To start with my men begged me to let them take away some of the cheeses, then come back [to the cyclops' cave], drive the kids and lambs quickly out of the pens down to the good ship, and so set sail across the salt water.  But though it would have been far better so, I was not to be persuaded.  I wished to see the owner of the cave and had hopes of some friendly gifts from my host."

Book IX: 224-229

" 'We Cyclopses care nothing for Zeus with his aegis, nor for the rest of the blessed gods, since we are much stronger than they.' "

Book IX: 275-277

"...he [the cyclops] jumped up, and reaching out towards my men, seized a couple and dashed their heads against the floor..."

Book IX: 287-289

" 'Cyclops, if anyone ever asks you how you came by your blindness, tell him your eye was put out by Odysseus, sacker of cities, the son of Laertes, who lives in Ithica' "

Book IX: 502-505

" '...you have to make another journey to the Halls of Hades and dread Persephone, to consult the soul of Teiresias, the blind Theban prophet.  His faculties are unimpaired, for dead though he is, Persephone has granted him, and him alone, continuing wisdom.' "

Book X: 490-495

" '...he [the dead prophet Teiresias] will prophesy your route, the stages of your journey and how you will reach home across the teeming seas.' "

Book X: 539-541