Penelope's Test

Penelope wasn't so sure of who I was at first, after I won against the suitors. She thought that I was a god or something, because only a god could morph and win against that many people with only a few people to work with. She said that I could stay, but the maid was to move the bed out to the hall. I automatically protested. You see, smack dab in the middle of where I wanted to build my bedroom when I built the house, there was a huge tree. So, I decided to use the tree as part of the bed! Isn't that smart? I whittled down the wood so that it would make a bedpost. So, my wife and I are the only ones who would know that the bed was partly made out of a tree, and that's why she said that. As soon as I protested, she knew it was me. She welcomed me with open arms, and we went back to normal and the way life was before I left. Life is amazing! Praise to the gods!

My Beautiful Penelope and the Battle

This is what I've been told. After I left my home the first time, Penelope decided that she thinks that I, the beggar, know something about my (Odysseus) wherabouts. So, she asked Eumaios to come and find me and bring me to her. When I got there, I talked to Penelope a while, but didn't elude to anything about my life. I stopped her before she could get anything out about me. It wasn't time yet. Then came the battle I've been waiting for. First, we had a bow and arrow contest to see who would win Penelope's heart. Since I'm the only one who really knows how to use my bow right, I won. The suitors were outraged. Then, I signaled to Telemachus to go and get the weapons he had put in storage. I revealed myself to the suitors then. They were so confused, but they had no time to be. When he came back, he and I, plus a few other men he had recruited, killed every suitor. They didn't expect a thing. It felt especially good to kill Antinous. He had it coming. Penelope was shocked. I don't think she realizes that it's me yet, but I will make sure she does soon enough. I'm so happy to be home.

Antinous

My first encounter when I got home was with Antinous, the leader of the suitors. He is a very arrogant, annoying man. He basically told me that they had every right to steal my money and my wife and my kingdom. He even threw a chair at me! I vowed right then and there to kill him. He doesn't deserve to live after what he said to me. I can't wait to start this battle.

Argus

As I was going home, I walked past my wonderful dog Argus, lying in a pile of garbage and dirt in the courtyard. It made me so sad to see the condition he was in. As soon as he saw me, though, he automatically perked up, as much as he could. He recognized me through my disguise and though he hadn't seen me in twenty years. That's true loyalty. He finally knew that I was okay, so he felt that it was now okay to die. He did. I'm glad that I got to see him before he passed. He was one of the best dogs I have ever had. He will be missed.

Telemachus

I've seen him! I'm so happy! He came to see Eumaios, and at first, he didn't recognize me. But that was okay, I guess, seeing as I haven't seen him in twenty years. He probably wouldn't have recognized me very well even if I had looked like myself. Then, Athena decided that it was time for me to reveal myself to Telemachus. He was shocked at first, but then he welcomed me with open arms. He told me about all the suitors that are trying to go after my wife and my money and kingdom. That enraged me so much. I'm not even dead! So, I came up with another of my ingenious plans. I told Telemachus to go and hide all the weapons so that the suitors would have nothing to fight with when I got there. I told him to use the story that they would get all rusty and broken and worn out in the open as they were, and if they didn't buy that, to tell them that he didn't want them to get drunk and hurt themselves with them. They are sure to buy one of the stories, I hope, at least. I'm going to go down there and see what's going on myself, and get ready to take my home and kingdom back. I hope it goes well. I can't wait to see my beautiful Penelope again.

Back In Ithaca

I can't believe it! I'm finally back in Ithaca, all thanks to the help of the Phaecians. Athena and the other gods set it up so that I am disguised as a beggar so that nobody knows who I am just yet. I'm staying with my friend Eumaios the swineherd until it's time to reveal myself. He doesn't even know that it's me. It was arranged that I could stay with him until I get "back on my feet". This is an ingenious plan. I can't wait until I get to reveal myself to my wife and son. If you want to see a map of my journey from Troy back to Ithaca, the link is .........http://summit.k12.co.us/schools/shs/computer/lfrykholm/journey.gif

Helios, Calypso, and the Phaecians

After weaving through the islands of Scylla and Charybdis, I went to see Helios. My men were starving by this point, but I told them not to kill any of Helios' cattle out of respect. As soon as I turned my back, though, they went and did it anyway! I can't believe them! Out of revenge, Zeus smashed a lightning bolt into my ship and killed all my men! So, I had to go on by myself. Then, I landed on Calypso's island of Ogygia. Calypso is a sea nymph who immediately fell in love with me. I had to stay there for seven years as she carried on her "love affair" with me. To me, it was more like a torture fest. Oh well, at least she eventually let me go. Man, I miss my wife Penelope. To see the love Calypso had for me just made me miss Penelope more. After I finally left Ogygia, I landed at the land of the Phaecians. Finally, I found a people that welcomed me hospitably! I couldn't believe it! They had a festival dinner in my honor and allowed me to tell them about all my adventures. After the dinner, guess what they told me! They sympathized with all I had gone through, and they were going to help me get back to Ithaca! I can't believe it! I'm finally going home! All the prayer and hard work has paid off! Praise to the almighty gods!

The Underworld (Tiresias), The Sirens, and Scylla and Charybdis

Well, I've been to the Underworld and saw Tiresias. I've also encountered Achilles, Agamemmnon, and Ajax along the way. It didn't go that bad, but I was still no where near reaching Ithaca. Then, I went and saw the Sirens. They have an amazing, mesmerizing song that I just couldn't stop listening to. My men and I tried to put wax in our ears so that we didn't have to hear their song, but it didn't work for me. I had to listen! So, I climbed up on the mast of the ship and bound myself there so I could listen to it in peace. When I finally got out of there, I tried to get past the islands of Scylla and Charybdis, two huge monsters. I decided to sail closer to Scylla so that I could avoid the whirlpool that is sent out by Charybdis. It worked, and I made it out alive. Now, it's time to go see Helios. I hope it goes well. I can't take much more misfortune.

King Aolios's Island, The Laestryonians, and Circe

Well, I'm still alive, but I'm lucky to be. I've had more attempts on my life in the past year or two then more people have in their whole life, I think. After we left the Cyclops' island, we went to see King Aolios. He gave me a bag of winds so that I could have help sailing back to Ithaca faster, but I think he had a hidden motive. As soon as we opened it, it sent us straight back there! It got me so mad. Then we landed at the land of the Laestryonians. That didn't go so well. They attacked us and ate all of my ships except for the one I was on! It blows my mind the luck I've been given from the gods. Then we went to see Circe. Wow, was that an adventure. She turned all my men into pigs! Thank god I was protected or I would've been a pig too! After a whole year trapped on her island, since I had no men, she finally changed my men back and told me to go and see the prophet Tiresias in the Underworld. I can't wait to see what happens now.

The Cyclops

When we got to the Cyclops' house, he wasn't there. So, I had the brilliant plan to steal from him and then leave! Yeah, didn't work. I decided that it'd be cool to see him, so we stayed, and he caught us. He put a big rock in front of the exit so that we couldn't get out. We tried to get him drunk and stab him in the eye so that he couldn't see us leaving. He got so angry with us. When he asked me what my name was, I had another bright idea. I told him that my name was Nohbdy, so that when the other cyclopses tried to come and help him, they would think that "nobody" was there, so the Cyclops didn't need help! What a great idea, right? I was home free for now. All I had to do was figure out how to leave without the now blind cyclops figuring out. I decided that we should tie ourselves to the bottom of the Cyclops' sheep and when he let them out in the morning, we'd be home free, since he couldn't see us! We managed to escape. But then, I started feeling a little guilty. I decided that it would be better if I told the Cyclops who I really was, so as we were leaving, I announced my real name and my lineage to the Cyclops. He got so angry, and asked his father, the god Poseidon, to curse my men and I. He did. We had a very rough time getting out of there, and a lot of my men died. So yeah, it wasn't that good of a week. I pray to the gods that wherever we get sent next is better.

Cicones and the Lotus Eaters

Well, it's been a crazy couple of months. I've been on encounters with the city of Cicones and gotten blown off course by an angry Athena. Oops....sorry Athena...don't get mad at me! Then, I went to the land of the Lotus Eaters, and they were amazing! I don't remember much of it though, I think they did something to lower our inhibitions and clear our minds of our memories. I don't know how they did it, but all I know is now we're going in search of the cyclops. I hope it goes well.

Ending of the Trojan War

I can't believe the war is finally over! It took so long and so many people died. Now I get to go home to my wife and son after a long ten years fighting this war. I hope that everything is the same when I get back and that it doesn't take too long to get there. I miss them so much. I pray to you gods of this great universe that I get home safely.