The Odyssey

Homer’s Odyssey is a nostos, or an epic of return, and asks can one come home again, especially after years of bloody war? In fact, an odyssey is now meant generally as a long journey home, much like Odysseus’ after the fall of Troy. The Odyssey attempts to remake order after the chaos of war. Odysseus, a young man when Agamemnon and Menelaos recruited him for the campaign against Ilium, is now a middle-aged survivor and veteran of that war who must be smarter than the champion Achilles and the leader Agamemnon in order to return home and set his lands in order. War almost seems easy in the light of Odysseus’ journey — at least in war, he knew his enemies. Enemies during peacetime wear many masks; Odysseus must do the same if he is to survive.

The Odyssey, by Chagall

Summary

The Odyssey’s action is spread over twenty-four books, generally half before Odysseus returns home, and half after. For a synopsis of each book, see The Odyssey Summary.

List of Characters

Human Beings

The Women of the Odyssey

The Supernatural Beings of the Odyssey

The Odyssey in History

Internal Links

Commentaries

Suggested Reading