THE ADVENTURES OF ODUSSEUS : At Hades, at the Island of Sirens and at Scylla and Charybdis
After departing from the island of Circe, Odysseus and his crew embarked on a journey that led them to the very edge of the ocean. It was there that they discovered the entrance to the underworld, ruled by the fearsome Hades and home to countless lost souls. Despite the danger, Odysseus was determined to seek out the oracle Tiresias and learn when he would finally return to his beloved Ithaca. Upon entering the underworld, he made a solemn offering of two sheep and a variety of gifts, including honey, wine, milk, and flour, to the deceased. As he made his way through the shadowy realm, Odysseus encountered legendary figures such as Achilles and Agamemnon, who had fought in the Trojan War.
Upon the arrival of Oracle Tiresias, Odysseus seized the opportunity to inquire about his return to his beloved hometown. However, the Oracle revealed that the Deus Poseidon was enraged with him for blinding his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. Tiresias advised Odysseus to exercise caution and avoid provoking the oxen of Helios when they reached his land, as this is the key to his eventual return to Ithaca.
As Odysseus departed from the underworld, he and his fellow sailors arrived at the island of the Sirens. These creatures were described as monsters with a feminine appearance and bird-like bodies. The Sirens sang with enchanting voices, luring sailors to eat them. Fortunately, Circe had advised Odysseus to place candles in his crew’s ears to prevent them from hearing the Sirens’ song. He also instructed them to tie him to the mast of the ship to resist the temptation of the Sirens’ call. Despite his pleas to be released, his crew bound him even tighter. Eventually, they managed to escape the island, and the Sirens’ song faded into the distance.
After narrowly escaping the enchanting call of the Sirens, Odysseus and his crew found themselves facing a treacherous passage in the sea. This passage was infamous for being the home of two immortal monsters from Greek mythology: Scylla and Charybdis. On one side of the passage, Charybdis was known to create a whirlpool that could swallow entire ships, while on the other side, Scylla lurked with her six menacing heads. Unfortunately, as they sailed through, Scylla managed to snatch two of Odysseus’ crew members, leaving the rest of the sailors devastated and heartbroken. Despite the loss, Odysseus and his remaining crew members were able to navigate the passage and continue their journey. The memory of their fallen comrades weighed heavily on their hearts, but they knew that they had to press on.
In this passage, we witness Odysseus’ cunning and determination to overcome the dangers of the sea. His human weakness is also on display and this passage serves as a reminder that even the greatest heroes have their moments of vulnerability.