Ulysses of Ithaca

The company sat in silent expectation, gazing intently at the stranger, who began as follows: “The land of the Phæacians is indeed a delightful land, and I know no greater pleas...

At sunrise the travellers saw Pylos before them, a little town on the western coast of Peloponnesus, or the present peninsula of Morea. It was the home of the venerable Nestor,...

All eyes were fastened upon the speaker and all listened with delight to the wonderful adventures of Ulysses. “We should pay even greater honor to the hero who has suffered so m...

Ulysses turned restlessly upon his couch, when suddenly his divine friend Athene stood beside him, asking gently: “Why is thine heart so heavy? Surely thou canst trust the godde...

World-renowned Troy had fallen. After a siege of ten long years the united forces of the Greeks had sacked and burned the city. The princes, having thus satisfied their thirst f...

At daybreak King Alcinous and his guest arose. They went to the market place and seated themselves upon two hewn stones, such as were ranged about for the princes when they were...

Before dawn, after a few hours of sleep, Ulysses arose and awakened his wife, Telemachus, and the herdsmen. “Come quickly, friends,” said he, “that we may reach my father’s plan...

At daybreak Telemachus arose, put on his sandals, and took up his lance. “Now fare thee well, father,” he said to Eumæus. “I am going to the city, for my mother will not cease w...

Athene was busy preparing Ulysses’ return. Hermes, messenger of the gods, bound on the golden sandals which enabled him to soar like a bird through the air, took up his magic se...

The sun had set and darkness had fallen when the hero set out for the city of the Phæacians. As soon as he came near the first houses, his friend Athene met him disguised as a y...

A beggar called Irus entered the hall. He was tall and thin, in spite of being well fed, and was a favorite with the suitors; for he was useful to them in many ways. He was grea...

Ulysses remained behind, and as soon as the suitors had gone, he made a sign to Telemachus to assist him in carrying all the weapons to the upper rooms. And behold, as they carr...

Scheria was inhabited by a peaceful people, who cared more for commerce and navigation than for agriculture and the chase. They had built a town near the harbor, and had dockyar...

Now at length Ulysses allowed the old nurse to carry the news to his sleeping spouse. Breathless she entered the chamber where the queen slumbered. “Penelope!” she cried. “Awake...

In the meanwhile Athene had not ceased planning for her favorites. That same night she went to Menelaus’ palace in Sparta to admonish Telemachus to return home and to warn him o...

Ulysses quickly arose. Girding up his rags he threw the arrows to the ground before him and sprang to the doorway, drawing the bow. “Now I will choose a different mark,” he crie...

When Telemachus reached the enclosure of the chief herder, the sun was already high in the heavens. The shepherds had scattered with their flocks and herds in fields and forest,...