Lecture on Homer's Epics: The Iliad and The Odyssey

Introduction

• Homer: Blind poet from 2800 years ago.
• Works:
  • The Iliad: Tale of the Trojan War.
  • The Odyssey: Journey of Odysseus returning home.

Background on Odysseus

• Role: King of Ithaca.
• Family: Wife Penelope, son Telemachus.
• Trojan War: Fought for 10 years to retrieve Spartan Queen Helen.
• Trojan Horse: Devised by Odysseus, leading to Greek victory.

Journey Home

Initial Attempts

• Ismara: Attacked by Cicones; forced to retreat.
• Lotus-eaters: Encountered lotus fruit, rescued drugged crew.
• Cyclops Polyphemus: Blinded Cyclops, escaped using cunning plan.
• Curse of Poseidon: Due to revealing his name, Poseidon curses Odysseus.

Encounters and Challenges

• Aeolia: Received bag of winds from King Aeolus; crew's greed leads to setback.
• Laestrygonians: Giants destroy fleet, only one ship survives.
• Circe: Men turned into pigs; Odysseus rescues them with Hermes' help, stays for a year.
• Underworld: Prophet Tiresias warns about Helios' cattle.
• Sirens: Crew with ears plugged; Odysseus listens while tied to mast.
• Scylla and Charybdis: Chooses six men lost to Scylla over ship lost to Charybdis.
• Thrinacia: Crew eats Helios' cattle despite warning, leading to shipwreck by Zeus.

Captivity and Release

• Calypso: Held captive for 7 years; released after Zeus' intervention.
• Phaeacians: Helped by Nausicaa, King Alcinous, and Queen Arete; provided ship to Ithaca.

Return to Ithaca

• Athena's Warning: Palace infested with suitors; disguises Odysseus as a beggar.
• Reunion with Telemachus: Reveals identity, plans to reclaim home.
• Penelope's Competition: Shoots arrow through 12 axe heads, reveals true identity.
• Slaughter of Suitors: With Telemachus and loyal servants, kills suitors.
• Reunion with Penelope: Finally reunited after 20 years, Odysseus tells his story.

Conclusion

• Summary: Journey marked by trials, cunning plans, and divine interventions.
• Key Themes: Loyalty, perseverance, cleverness.