Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/153

 THE GREEK HEROES 139 183. The old Nostos (' homeward journey '), like the Iliad and this speaks strongly for the identity of their authors described only the last year of the wanderings, i.e. the catastrophe proper, while the previous events were set forth by a narrative put into the mouth of Odysseus. During his wanderings on the return from Troy, Odysseus (Lat. Ulixes, Eng. Ulysses), the ruler of the little island of Ithaca, has lost his companions and ships. Though consumed with longing for his home, he lives for seven years on the island Ogygia with the nymph Calypso ('the concealer'), who tries to create in him a permanent attachment for herself. But with long- ing equal to his own his faithful wife Penelope awaits his return in Ithaca, although wooed by numerous haughty suitors. Finally, induced by Athena's request, Zeus com- mands the nymph to release Odysseus. On a raft he approaches the island of the Fhaeaces. But here Posei- don dashes his craft to pieces, and only by the help of the goddess Ino-Leucothea is he able to swim to the shore. 184. Nausicaa, the daughter of king Alcinotis, gives him clothing and directs him to her father's palace. At the king's table he himself tells of his previous adventures. He had lost many of his comrades in battle with the brave Cicones. The others had tasted the sweet fruit of the Lotus in the land of the Lotophagl (' Lotus-eaters '), and he had been compelled to drag them to the ships by main force, since eating it had made them forget their native land and their friends. Then the voyagers had come into the cave of the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus, who de- voured several of them, but finally in a drunken sleep was blinded by Odysseus. Since Polyphemus was a son of Poseidon, that god was now angry at Odysseus and his