Odysseus's Journey

List of Odysseus’s Travels

Ismaros
The people are called Kykones
Odysseus met Maron and the Kykones
He stayed there for one day
He lost 72 men; 0 ships
Total lost 72 men; 0 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus decided to raid Ismaros, where Maron gave him many gallons of wine. When Odysseus told his men to pull out, they mutinied and refused. This gave the Kykones time to recuperate their losses and they in return, attacked Odysseus' men. After substantial time of fighting, the men finally pulled back and left, then attempted to travel to Malea (three days). But the winds blew him off course and instead he landed in the land of the Lotos Eaters after ten days of storm.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided to raid the Ismaros and pull out quickly, which in itself was not a bad idea, but overall, harmed his progress in returning to Ithaka. Although his decision was a wise one, he should have thought about the greedy nature of human kind, and factored that information into his decision.

Lotus Eaters
The people are called Lotos Eaters
Odysseus met no inhabitants
He stayed there for one day
Total lost 72 men; 0 ships

Summary of Events:
After spending a large amount of time on sea, Odysseus came desperately to the land of the Lotos Eaters. He sent three men out to get the information of the inhabitants of the odd island. When they came back, it was apparent that they had eaten the lotos flowers and that they had no will to return to Ithaka. Immediately, Odysseus tied the affected men up and told his crew to get right back on the ship for fear of losing hope for home.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided to immediately reboard the men after he found out what the lotoses did to his them. If he hadn't made the decision to leave immediately, the rest of his men, once they left, would have stayed on the island forever until death arrived at their feet. This could have led to either mass mutiny and or loss of his men in the hundreds. Overall, this decision greatly helped the process of returning to Ithaka.

Hypereia
The people are called Kyklopes
Odysseus met Polyphemos
He stayed there for four days
He lost 6 men; 0 ships
Total lost 78 men; 0 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus and his men landed on the island of Hyperia where the Kyklopes dwelled. For two days they feasted and on the third day, Odyssues decided enter a cave where he saw Polyphemos discover if he was friend or foe. Odysseus took 12 men with him and they feasted on food until Polyphemos returned. Polyphemos ate two of Odysseus' men. Then Odysseus decided not to kill Polyphemos in his sleep but to drug him with Maron's wine and merely blind him, but before this plan of action could occur, Polyphemos ate another four men. After the plan was complete, Odysseus told Polyphemos that his name was Nohbody, so that when the other Kyklopes came wondering why Polyphemos was screaming, he would say, "Nobody hurt me." The remaining 6 men then hid underneath Polyphemos' giant sheep and escaped, then took the sheep for their own. As they were sailing out Odysseus taunted Polyphemos and almost got his ship destroyed, he then did this again and still managed to escape.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus made many bad decisions in the part of the tale. First, he decided to 'get to know' the obviously gigantic men, then upon leaving he decided to taunt Polyphemos--then after that he still hadn't learned his lesson and taunted him yet again, causing Polyphemos to put the men in jeopardy by throwing hilltops at the ships.
However, depite this, he made two very good decisions that saved his life and life the life of his crew, afterall, where would a crew be without the captain? Odysseus decided that he would not kill Polyphemos, but merely blind him because only Polyphemos could open the stone blocking the cave from the outer world. He also came up with the idea to hide under the sheep as an escape route. Without this idea, the crew would be minus a dozen crew mates and their witty leader Odysseus, and probably doomed.

Aiolia
The people are called there are only 13 people (Aiolos Hipptades and his 6 lusty sons and 6 daughters)
Odysseus met Aiolis Hippotades
He stayed there for one day
Total lost 78 men; 0 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus and the men travel to Aiolos where they meet Aiolos Hippotades, the warden of winds. Aiolos gave Odysseus a bag of all the winds, except for the West Wind which would guide him to Ithaka. Odysseus didn't tell his men the contents ofthe bag and for nine days guarded it and they had perfect sail until Odysseus let his guard off and his men opened the bag, unleashing a storm that blew them all the way back to Aiolia. When Odysseus again asked Aiolos for help, Aiolos turned the men away because they were cursed by the gods.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided not to tell his men the contents of the bag for what reasons I know not, and by this he spurred their curiosity so that they opened the bag and unleashed the winds. He should have told the men the truth, but he feared mutiny so he ended up getting incredibly close to Ithaka, but blown back to Aiolia.

Laistrygonia (stronghold of Lamos)
The people are called Laistrygonians
Odysseus met Artakia, Antiphates, Laistrygonians
He stayed there for one day
He lost 1 man; 11 ships
Total lost 79 men; 11 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus and his men upon the island of Laistrygonia where he and a few other men in his exploration group came upon a girl (Artakia) who promised them fresh water, but instead lead them to her lord (Antiphates) who ate one of his men. All the men then tried to flee but only one could escape because of the fact that all 12 ships were lodged inside a canyon. The rest were crushed by boulders the Lasitrygonians threw.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Once again, Odysseus makes the same mistake for the third time, although his intentions were correct, the gods just weren't on his side. So his first mistake was that he even tried to get to know the people. His second was for parking all 12 of his ships in a narrow canyon with no escape route.

Aiaia
Odysseus met Kirke, Hermes
He stayed there for one year
He lost 1 men; 0 ships
Total lost 80 men; 11 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus decided not to explore the new island, but Eurylokhos (second captain) wanted to, so they sent 20 men to explore. When this group neared the house of Kirke, Eurylokhos took the hint of tame mountain lions as a sign of witchery and told his men not to go in, they refused and were turned into pigs. Hermes came to Odysseus and told him to eat a flower that would make him invincible to Kirke's magic and then to be her lover for a year. After Odysseus did this he told Kirke that it was time for him to return home and she told him to see Teiresias in Erebos for information on how to get back to Ithaka. On the day of leaving, the drunk Elpenor fell of the roof and broke his neck.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided to listen to Hermes advice and carry out the plan which lead them to Erebos where they got a lot of useful information which would help them in their journey to Ithaka

Erebos
Odysseus met Teiresias, Akhilleus, Antiklea, Elpenor, Aias, Agamemnon, etc.
He stayed there for one day
He lost 0 men; 0 ships
Total lost 80 men; 11 ships

Summary of Events:
As per Krike's instructions, Odysseus arrived at Erebos and made many sacrifices to draw the dead people near and he fought them all off, even his mother, until he met Teiresias. Teiresias told him not to stop by Thryinacia and how to get past the Skylla, Kharybdis and the Seirenes. Later he conversed with many dead people including Akhilleus, Antiklea, Elpenor, Aias and Agamemnon as well as many lovers of gods. Later he left after Persephone let the scary people come.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
The only decision Odysseus made was to follow the advice of Kirke, which got him out alive and made him a hero. It also helped to get past the Skylla, Kharybdis and Seirenes. However nothing he could do would make a difference with the outcome because of Poseidon's great hate for him.

Skylla and Kharybdis
Odysseus came in contact with the Skylla and Seirenes
He stayed there for one day
He lost 6 men; 0 ships
Total lost 86 men; 11 ships
Summary of Events:
Odysseus followed Teiresias' directions went past the Seirenes without harm over to the Skylla, knowing that 6 men would die, but did not tell his crew. They made it past to Thrinakia.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided not to tell the men that six of them would die because this would instill fear which instills mutiny which is one of the worst words a captain can utter.

Thrinakia, Kharybdis
Odysseus came in contact with the nymphs
He stayed there for a month and a week
He lost all men; 1 ships
Total lost all men; 12 ships
Summary of Events:
When the men passed Thrinakia, Odysseus told them not to stop, but once again the men mutinied and they stopped. For a long time, they resisted temptation to eat Lord Helios' sacred cattle, but because Poseidon beached them, eventually when supplies ran out, they had to eat the cattle. However, when the cattle kept on moving once they were cut into pieces, the men kept on eating and angered Lord Helios. For fear of losing the sun, Zeus granted Poseidon permission to punish the men. He unleashed a water tornado that killed all but Odysseus (because he didn't eat the meat) who was sent back to the Kharybdis were he survived by hanging onto a branch above the maelstrom until it let up.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus should have been more forceful and followed Teiresias' directions more carefully. If he had done that then the gods would have no reason to be angry.

Ogygia
Odysseus came in contact with the Kalypso and Ino
He stayed there for 7 years
Total lost all men; 12 ships
Summary of Events:
Kalypso saved him and forced herself to be Odysseus' lover for seven years. Hermes came to tell Kalypso to release him and she gave him food and wood to make a raft. On the way to Skheria he met Ino as he was about to drown and she gave him a cloak that would make him stay alive for the next few days while he was on sea.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus decided to listen to Ino's instructions instead of doubt her. He doubted her at first, but then listened, of course he had no other choice. By doing this he made it to Skheria.

Skheria
People are called Phaiakians
Odysseus came in contact with the Nausikaa, Athena, Alkinoos, Arete
He stayed there for four days
Total lost all men; 12 ships
Summary of Events:
Decided to ask Nausikaa in a humble way that would not scare her, if she would help him. Nausikaa said yes and gave him intstructions on how to get on her parents good side and gave him a bath and clothes. Athena then lead Odysseus to the palace of Alkinoos and Arete and Odysseus followed Nausikaa's instructions to win favor among the two. He then told them their story and competed in a few competitions (discus, etc) and won. Alkinoos then gave Odysseus lots of gifts and escorted him to Ithaka. On the return trip, his ship turned to stone.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odyssues decided not to scare Nausikaa but to use charm with his words. If he had scared Nausikaa, she would have run and he never would have figured out how to get on Alkinoos and Arete's good side, thus, he would not have gotten home as easily.

Ithaka
People are called Phaiakians
Odysseus came in contact with the Athena
He stayed there for four days
Total lost all men; 12 ships
Summary of Events:
Awoke to a shrouded mist made by Athena. Athena appeared to him in shepherd form, in which Odysseus was suspicious and lied to. Then she changed to a beautiful woman and convince him to hide the treasure in a cave and find out how to kill the suitors. She turned him into an old man so he wouldn't be recognized.
Decisions Odysseus Made:
Odysseus trusts Athena which gives him an advantage in the murder of the suitors.