GreekComic

Homer's story of the Odyssey, in webcomic format. Same same, but different.

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No. 11

Easily might a god who willed it bring a man safe home, even from afar. But for myself, I had rather endure many grievous toils ere I reached home and saw the day of my returning, than after my return be slain at my hearth, as Agamemnon was slain by the guile of Aegisthus and of his own wife. But of a truth death that is common to all the gods themselves cannot ward from a man they love, when the fell fate of grievous death shall strike him down - Athena

Homer's Odyssey, Book Three lines 229-239

[Telemachus begins to lose hope in finding Odysseus or learning any more of his fate, and subtly mentions how unhelpful the gods have been ("No hope have I that this will come to pass, no, not though the gods should so will it"). Athena replies that if a god chose, they could help a man return home quite easily, but it would be far better for Odysseus to prove himself and work hard to return home than to beg for help. Athena don't take lip from nobody.]

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No. 10

We offered sacrifice to the gods, being eager to reach our homes, howbeit Zeus did not yet purpose our return, stubborn god, who roused evil strife again a second time. Then some turned back their curved ships and departed, even the lord Odysseus, the wise and crafty-minded, with his company, once more showing favour to Agamemnon, son of Atreus; but I with the full company of ships that followed me fled on, for I knew that the god was devising evil.

Homer's Odyssey, Book Three lines 159-166

[Having been welcomed by Nestor and the inhabitants of Pylos, Telemachus sums up his courage with Athena's help and asks Nestor about Odysseus. Nestor helpfully explains that after the fall of Troy, the brothers Agamemnon and Menelaus, had a bit of a domestic. Menelaus set sail for Greece immediately, scared of big old Zeus, while Agamemnon decided to stay at Troy a day longer. Nestor went with Menelaus, while Odysseus stayed with Agamemnon.]

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No. 9

Here the townsfolk on the shore of the sea were offering sacrifice of black bulls to the dark-haired Earth-shaker. Nine companies there were, and five hundred men sat in each, and in each they held nine bulls ready for sacrifice. Now when they had tasted the inner parts and were burning the thigh-pieces to the god, the others put straight in to the shore.

Homer's Odyssey, Book Three lines 5-10

[Telemachus and Athena approach the Pylos to find its inhabitants sacrificing bulls to Poseidon. Telemachus is already feeling quite nervous about the prospect of having to talk to someone big and important like Nestor. We can only assume that Athena feels just as nervous about Poseidon finding out she's helping his enemy.]

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No. 8

Telemachus, thou braggart, unrestrained in daring, let no more any evil deed or word be in thy heart. Nay, I bid thee, eat and drink even as before. All these things the Achaeans will surely provide for thee—the ship and chosen oarsmen—that with speed thou mayest go to sacred Pylos to seek for tidings of thy noble father - Antinous

Homer's Odyssey, Book Two lines 303-309

[Antinous reassures Telemachus that despite the fact their assembly has ended in a deadlock, there will surely be Achaean men willing to sail with him to search for news of Odysseus. Always a bright side, isn't there Antinous? In any case, Athena disguised herself as Telemachus and went out to town to get him a crew.]

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No. 7

They flew swift as the blasts of the wind side by side with wings outspread; but when they reached the middle of the many-voiced assembly, then they wheeled about, flapping their wings rapidly, and down on the heads of all they looked, and death was in their glare. Then they tore with their talons one another's cheeks and necks on either side, and darted away to the right across the houses and the city of the men.

Homer's Odyssey, Book Two lines 149-154

[As the men argue about Telemachus and his journey, two eagles appear overhead and fight. Halitherses, son of Mastor, who knew much of birds and fortune-telling, said it was a sign that Odysseus was to return. Penelope's suitors disagreed, believing they were just a couple of birds. These things aren't always clear.]

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No. 6

On the morrow call to an assembly the Achaean lords, and speak out thy word to all, and let the gods be thy witnesses. As for the wooers, bid them scatter, each to his own. -Athena

For us, we will go neither to our lands nor else whither, until she marries that one of the Achaeans whom she will. -Antinous

Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 272-274 and Book Two lines 127-128

[Telemachus heeds Athena's advice and calls an assembly of the suitors, telling them that if they were honest in their intentions to marry his mother, they would have gone to her father Icarius. But instead, they had spent years feasting at Telemachus' expense. He bids them leave, but Antinous, one of the suitors speaking on behalf of all, refuses to leave until Penelope chooses a husband. Very soap-opera.]

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No. 5

All the princes who hold sway over the islands - Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus - and all those who lord it over rocky Ithaca, all these woo my mother and lay waste my house. And she neither refuses the hateful marriage, nor is she able to make an end; but they with feasting consume my substance: ere long they will bring me, too, to ruin. - Telemachus

Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 245-251

[Telemachus explains to Mentes/Athena that in the seventeen years since his father departed, all eligible men from surrounding regions have flocked to Ithaca to woo Penelope and make her their own, and though she has not accepted another husband, she also hasn't spurned them. Interesting.]

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No. 4

I will go to Ithaca, that I may the more arouse [Odysseus'] son, and set courage in his heart to call to an assembly the long haired-Achaeans, and speak out his word to all the wooers, who are ever slaying his thronging sheep and his sleek kine of shambling gate. - Athena

Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 89-94

[Athena goes to Ithaca with Zeus' permission, disguises herself as Odysseus' friend Mentes, and tells Telemachus that she predicts his father to still be alive, and that he will soon return to Ithaca, and that he should travel to Pylos and Sparta to seek news of Odysseus. Come on, Telemachus, you're seventeen now. You have responsibilities.]

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No. 3

Let us send forth Hermes, the messenger, Argeiphontes, to the isle Ogygia, that with all speed he may declare to the fair-tressed nymph our fixed resolve, even the return of Odysseus of the steadfast heart, that he may come home.

Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 84-90

[Having decided to go against Poseidon's wishes and set free Odysseus, Athena and Zeus sent Hermes to Ogygia to inform Calypso of the news. Calypso reluctantly agrees, and helps Odysseus to build a raft upon which he can make his way home.]

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No. 2

How should I, then, forget godlike Odysseus, who is beyond all mortals in wisdom, and beyond all has paid sacrifice to the immortal gods, who hold broad heaven? Nay, it is Poseidon, the earth-enfolder, who is ever filled with stubborn wrath... Poseidon, the earth shaker, does not indeed slay Odysseus, but makes him a wanderer from his native land.

Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 66-75.

[Athena objected to Odysseus' exile, knowing he was a good god-fearing man who just wants to go home to Ithaca, where his wife Penelope and son Telemachus await his return. Zeus agreed to help Odysseus find his way home, but only when Poseidon was absent from Mt. Olympus. Poseidon doesn't like Odysseus, because Odysseus stabbed his son, Polyphemus the Cyclopes, in the eyeball.]

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No. 1

My heart is torn for wise Odysseus, hapless man, who far from his friends this long while has been suffering woes in a seagirt isle, where is the navel of the sea. 'Tis a wooded isle, and therein dwells a goddess [Calypso], daughter of Atlas... that keeps back that wretched, sorrowing man: and ever with soft and wheedling words she beguiles him that he might forget Ithaca. But Odysseus, in his longing to see were it but the smoke leaping up from his own land, yearns to die.

- Homer's Odyssey, Book One lines 47-60

[After the end of the ten-year-long Trojan War, Odysseus was making his way home to Ithaca when his ship was destroyed by his long-time enemy Poseidon. He found himself on the isle of Ogygia, where Calypso, daughter of Atlas, kept him captive because she had fallen in love with him. Bummer.]