Blinding Humility

Excerpt from Odyssey of Homer (Book 9, 166-186)

166 We looked across at the land of the Cyclopes, and they were

near by, and we saw their smoke and heard sheep and goats bleating.

But when the sun went down and the sacred darkness came over,

then we lay down to sleep along the break of the seashore;

170 but when the young Dawn showed again with her rosy fingers,

then I held an assembly and spoke forth before all:

“The rest of you who are my eager companions wait here,

while I, with my own ship and companions that are in it,

go and find out about these people, and learn what they are,

175 whether they are savage and violent, and without justice,

or hospitable to strangers and with minds that are godly.”

‘So speaking I went aboard the ship and told my companions

also to go aboard, and to cast off the stern cables,

and quickly they went aboard the ship and sat to the oarlocks,

180 and sitting well in order dashed the oars in the gray sea,

But when we had arrived at the place, which was nearby, there

at the edge of the land we saw the cave, close to he water,

high, and overgrown with laurel, and in it were stabled

great flocks, sheep and goats alike, and there was a fenced yard

185 built around it with a high wall of grubbed-out boulders

and tall pines and oaks with lofty foliage.

Given the remote location of my domain, I live in solitude and confinement, ruling over the island that is mine to keep, for I am the only right ruler for it. As the days pass, I control my kingdom just as it should be, all who reside within it answer to me with fear instilled in their hearts. Not even my godly father has a right to control for I myself control. My sheep are my only companions, my flock that I lead everyday. I tend to them, just as a mother would to her children, fulfilling their every whim for I know that when they grow up, they shall serve me well. Who would think that one such as I would have the heart and soul to care for a living entity created by the almighty? That my heart, one that of tenderness and compassion, has a space for love. Clearly the generic misconception of my image has been destroyed by the ungodly beings called man. Living with my flock, all I long for is a worthy companion, who would match my intelligence and strength, for who would dare challenge Polyphemus, the Son of Poseidon?

As I stood on a cliff, staring out into the endless blue ocean that stretched out far into the horizon, I noticed how lonely I was. The green grass, lush vegetation, bleating sheep and sound of the waves was all I had. It seemed as though I was craving for companionship, something that few people would expect. I, after 50 years, had decided to talk to my father and asked him to send an individual worthy enough to challenge me. After a minute, the currents had changed their paths, now flowing towards my island. I had quickly gathered my sheep and hid them in the safety of my cave. After I had finished feeding the lamb and children, I lit a fire. There to my surprise were 13 of the most disgraceful creations of the gods. I tried to talk my way through, slowly luring them into a trap for these men looked like tasty morsels. After all, I had not had this much company since I laid eyes on that Golden Fleece. As I was conversing with them, one individual stood out from the rest for his responses to me were one of confidence and strength, Nobody was his name. One by one I took up his companions and savored limb for limb right infront of him. Their pitiless cries echoed throughout the confines of the island as I hacked through skin and bone, piercing my way through the hearts and minds of their companions. Even the bravest of heroes would falter in the face of fear, but Nobody stood his ground. He posed no threat to me for his body was that of an old man who had not eaten for days. He barely even looked as though he could lift a rock, so I took pity on him and his companions and decided to take a slumber.

As the morning rose up from her bed and shined upon us, I left Nobody and his companions alone in my cave for I knew that it was impossible for even the strongest of men to lift that boulder except me for no one could match my strength. When I returned from the picturesque scenery of my beautiful island, Nobody had offered me a gift which should rightly be done for my very presence must be considered a gift by all. I had drank to the point of blindness and little did I know that I literally would be blind. A sharp pain, as though one was being skinned, shot through my eye after I had dozed off and soon realized that I had been shamed by the most unworthy of the almighty’s creation. I grieved in pain and slowly tried to recompose my weak image. Shouting, I blurted out every known word that possibly existed in the Greek language, damning Nobody to hell and cursing him with the gods. I vowed to kill Nobody, tearing his limbs off while keeping his vitals intact, so that he could feel the very pain I felt. I would slowly rip off his intestines making it slide on the ground while my sheep feast on this delicious meal. I dig my hand into his body, displacing every organ and then pluck his eyes out with the very stick used on mine. I would even de-bone him starting with the arms and work my way up to his chest where I would stomp on until it turned to dust. I would cause pain that would make him cry for his own mother, and that is the cue for me to know that I had pushed him down to the lowest form any living thing could be. Oh! How I would love to do that but unfortunately my vision had been impaired. The morning after, I could not find Nobody, but only recall his voice as he taunted me from far off in the sandy beaches of my beautiful island. I tried my best to destroy his ship, but without my eyes, it would be like passing a thread through the eye of a needle. I could not hear his last words for anger filled up my mind, oblivious to even the loudest of sounds. I sit here now, sadly remembering that day, when Nobody came and made me the Nobody.

Source: Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Written by: Alvaro Arcilla

A Maiden’s Perspective

“These are daughters born of the springs and from the coppices
and the sacred rivers which flow down to the sea. Of these
one laid the coverlets, splendid and stained in purple, over
the backs of the chairs, and spread on the seats the cloths to sit on.
The second drew up the silver tables and placed them in front of
the chairs, and laid out the golden serving baskets upon them.
The third mixed wine, kindly sweet and fragrant, in the silver
mixing bowl, and set out the golden goblets. The fourth one
brought in water, then set about building up an abundant
fire, underneath the great caldron, and the water heated.
But when the water had come to a boil in the shining bronze, then
she sat me down in the bathtub and washed me from the great caldron,
mixing hot and cold just as I wanted, and pouring it
over shoulders and head, to take the heart-wasting weariness
from my limbs. When she had bathed me and anointed me with olive oil,
she put a splendid mantle and a tunic upon me,
and made me sit down in a chair that was wrought elaborately
and splendid with silver nails, and under my feet was a footstool.
A maidservant brought water for us and poured it from a splendid
and golden pitcher, holding it above a silver basin,
for us to wash, and she pulled a polished table before us.”
– Odysseus from The Odyssey of Homer

A life of service and hedonism was one such lifestyle bestowed upon me by the gods since the onset of my existence. Under the watchful eye of our fair Circe, no pain nor suffering was let in our lives as humble servants to the radiant goddess. Our age knows no limit from the blessings of her ingenious magical potions. Her wisdom and knowledge passed down to us beauty and charisma rivaled only by the gods and a few blessed mortals. Such is the magnanimity of Circe, our mother and protector. Yet each time the divine Dawn reawakened our minds would feel neglected of physical pleasure more and more, despite the leisure and prosperity our hearts were filled with. No men to satisfy our desires took lodging in our island of Aiaia for the reputation of Circe’s fine name outside the shores of this island was contrastive to that of ours. As time went on our delicate and curious minds were slowly taken over by our body’s animalistic desires. Our flesh, of its own accord, resorted to finding pleasure amongst each other’s skin, and the satisfaction overwhelmed our sense of morale. Such was what separated us from the house of Circe as her will and wisdom was a mountain peak higher than that of ours; a complete contrast to the belief of the outsiders.

The fates would eventually break the serenity and sanctity of our island. There came a daw when Fotini, a fellow maiden of mine, and I ventured towards the shore of our island to wash the clothing of our household. As the clothes were soaked wet and scraped of all filth, we decided to bathe together in the cerulean waters of the sea as our clothes dried off. As we enjoyed the soothing pleasure of our time together our sights came upon a silhouette our eyes so rarely make contact with in the far distance. It was a vessel brought forth by the winds towards our rather uncharted island. Both fear and astonishment emerged from deep within our bosoms as if a a great pressure was exerted onto our chests. Our minds took no time to wonder, and we began sprinting to the direction of Circe’s majestic mansion without care of the clothing we had left behind including the very ones we had stripped off previous to our bathing.

As we barged through the doorsteps of fair Circe’s mansion our lips, with swiftness, blurted out the news upon our island shores. Her presence remained untroubled and radiant despite the striking event upon our shores. Her advice we heeded that we let it out from our minds and remain within the safety of our dwellings. Two days and nights lapsed after our sighting on the beach until our curiosity could wait no more. The rest of my fellow maidens and I snuck out into the woods the moment Dawn first revealed her lovely face. Withdrawing the clothes we had left behind was the main goal our minds forged to cleanse our conscience, but the eagerness of our curious minds was what drove us on our venture.

As we journeyed through the dense and luscious forest, our heads turned at the sound of footsteps belonging to a creature who’s presence we have not laid eyes on during our lifetime. This man had a stature and physique that could possibly swipe away all traces of innocence in a female’s heart. As our necks reflexively turned to the path of this exquisite man, we noticed through his sincere expressions that this was a man truly unfavored by the gods. We left the concealment of the bush which we lay hidden with and noticed a stag feeding from the grass beneath its feet. Araminta, another one of my fellow maidens, fed the stag some water from the ocean in hopes that its thirst would compel it to drink from the river the god-like man was bound to pass by.

The following day, after Dawn had raised from her rest with her rosy-fingers, fair Circe’s tranquil voice had served as our wake up call as the serenity compelled our bodies to raise from a state of rest. As we had gone about our chores, our ears noticed an atypical sound from the house of Circe. Swines began swarming to empty pens just outside the mansion of Circe, which was something not unusual to us. Once again Circe had turned men into pigs. Our minds had always deemed this action of hers an attempt to protect the tranquility of this peaceful island. It was until later on that we first witnessed our fair Circe’s power be tested by a man. Her shriek alarmed our senses so we ran to her room slightly opening the door witnessing a sight only the gods were so blessed to openly see. Our fair Circe had laid in bed with that god-like man we had come to see earlier. We resolved to continue on with our chores as our Circe enjoyed her pleasure time with that fine structured man and wait for their climax to come to an end before associating ourselves with our guest. Later on she calls for our services to give leisure to the man we now know as Odysseus. I was tasked to giving the fine man a bath worthy of such mortals. I felt truly blessed as my eyes were given the chance to lay upon such a sight. As I gave him his bath with my bare hands, he conversed with me regarding the journey he has traveled prior to his involvement in the Trojan War. Here I saw a man clever and wise in all his movement, but also a man with deep resentment over the gods and their will.

Sources: http://www.images.google.com

Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Written by: Jon Ridge Ong

A Great Journey, Foreseen in My Blindness

“Glorious Odysseus, what you are after is sweet homecoming,

but the god will make it hard for you. I think you will not

escape the Shaker of the Earth, who holds a grudge against you

in his heart, and because you blinded his dear son, hates you.

But even so and still you might come back, after much suffering,

if you can contain your own desire, and contain your companions’,

at the island Thrinakia, escaping the sea’s blue water,

and there discover pasturing the cattle and fat sheep

of Helios, who sees all things, and listens to all things.

Then, if you keep your mind on homecoming, and leave those unharmed,

you might all make your way to Ithaka, after much suffering;

but if you do harm them, then I testify to the destruction

of your ship and your companions, but if you yourself get clear,

you will come home in bad case, with the loss of all your companions,

in someone else’s ship, and find troubles in your household,

insolent men, who are eating away your livelihood

and courting your godlike wife and offering gifts to win her.

You may punish the violences of these men, when you come home.

But after you have killed these suitors in your own palace,

either by treachery, or openly with the sharp bronze,

then you must take up your well shaped oar and go on a journey”

-Tiresias to Odysseus

The underworld, a place of death, torment, and despair; even in my blindness, I am able to see the pain all other souls are experiencing there. Very seldom it is, that people from the realm of the living venture in this treacherous lair of agony. Only the damned, those who have perished from the world above, can enter here, as we are all bound to spend eternity in endless pain. The flames of Tartaros, ever burning, only bring misery to all our hearts, and fuel all the hopelessness. It has been an eternity since we have felt the bliss of the mortal world, with all its comforts and joys, but helpless we are, being deceased, to live in this cavern of misery and suffering, a dwelling where all we know of is eternal torment.

However, in the world above, the world of the mortals who have yet to meet their miserable, panful end, the few who make it in and out, heroes they are, as the venture through this bottomless abyss is daunting. Only the truly galant, truly strong, can make it back.

Mortals who venture here, a myriad of purposes they have. Some seek to visit those who have perished, their lost relatives, while other mortals, like Odysseus, son of Laertes and king of Ithaka, venture here for reasons peculiar. Some seek to have their destinies foretold, while others, like Hercules, the great demigod hero, personally approach the lord of the dead, Hades, for other favors.

Odysseus, son of Laertes, king of Ithaka, and sacker of Troy, he has come to seek my foresight, my prophetic gift. Even amongst the realm of the dead, I have continued to see the future, full of bliss and pain. In my honesty, I had told him everything; the road ahead and the trials that await. As hard as it is, I confided with him, the pitiful state of his family, now continually waiting for his glorious return from Troy, but confronted with the evils and the greed of suitors, after the royal throne, and leadership of the island. I cautioned him about some things, which may be the source of further suffering on his journey. However, in this, I fueled him with hope. Truly, he needs to return to Ithaka; the populace are all longing for his return.

Odysseus the wise was not perfect as he had made some mistakes with far reaching consequences. His arrogance in revealing his true name to Polyphemos the Cyclops, son of Poseidon, and challenging the might of the Earth Shaker was among the most unfathomable, considering a man of his personality. He has brought upon himself, and his companions, the wrath of one of Olympus’s mightiest, he who controls the sees. As the vision of this filled my head, skepticism arose. I did not let myself believe that a man, godlike in cunning, would commit among the most illogical of blunders, one that would ultimately hinder his homecoming. I, Tiresias the Seer, having served in Thebes, had no desire of reminiscing of the painful past, the mistake of Laius, king of Thebes, spouse of Queen Jocasta, in bearing a child, which had consequences far reaching into the Theban kingdom; I could not stand to see the evils brought about by the fulfillment of such prophecy. Having to witness another highly wise man, falling victim to his own pride, and making irrational moves, for me was a great pain in the chest, as that had happened to Oedipus Rex, the man most remembered for committing to his mother in holy matrimony. I urgently had to ensure that Odysseus will not invoke more evils from slaughtering Helios’s prized cattle. I had to ensure the great warrior, sacker of Troy, would not fall victim to yet more wrath from the gods. With respect, however, I must acknowledge that he indeed listens well, and in his process of reason, he knows to question where neccessary, to respond in a manner most appropriate, every time he engages in dialogues. In his wisdom, the wise man always presents himself in a matter so gracious, in words ever so colorful and eloquent.

No one, not even the gods can control fate. Despite my warnings and those of the godess Circe, persistent as the wind, we could not stop the atrocity from taking place. My foresight as it is, is only a way to foray into what has yet to be. The capacity to prevent it, that is not in my power, nor is it really in the the gods’ influece, even Zeus, the king of the Gods, in his omnipotence can only succumb to fate. I can only foresee what has yet to burden him, and the success he has yet to achieve. However, at the present moment, I can only hope, Calypso the great nymph, can bring him safety in her island.  

Sources:

Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Odyseus Blinding Polyphemos. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us/high_school/english/webenglishdj/images/Odysseus_Blinding_Polyphemu.jpg

Hades2. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://semodyssey3.wikispaces.com/file/view/hades2.jpg/58519798/hades2.jpg

(No title). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://www.wengraf.com/wengraf/images/ham-tel.jpg

Written by: Kendric Tee

Keeper of the Winds

“He gave me a bag made of the skin taken off a nine-year

ox, stuffed full inside with the courses of all the blowing

winds, for the son of Kronos had set him in charge over

the winds, to hold them still or start them up at his pleasure.”

A man enshrouded in the shadows entered the palace and carefully treaded on the cold, hard floor. Stepping into the light that shone from above, his clothes were tattered as if he was bitten and clawed by a fearsome beast, yet without a sound, I recognized him. He had returned. Across the man was a golden table that looked as if it was carved by the gods themselves. Six boys and six girls sat normally, puzzled as to why he was back. At the far end of the table, I sat with my beloved wife. “Why have you come back, hero? I bestowed upon you the power to return to your home, and yet, you are here standing in my abode. What is the meaning of this?” The man, who looked wearier than ever, described what had happened. According to him, greed and jealousy engulfed his men. They took the bag from him whilst sleep overcame the man like a thief at night, and opened it nonetheless. They were sent back here. That said, he begged me once more to aid him in his journey. All at once, my curiosity transformed into a blend of fear and anger. As swift as Zeus’s lightning bolt, I stood up, and screamed, “Poseidon’s beard! Leave this place! Hurry! I shall no longer help you, hero. The blessed gods have spoken. They do not favor you anymore.”

Luck has always been on my side. Ever since the Olympians won the Great War, fate has determined who and where I am today. Back then, my steadfast nature proved its usefulness as I was chosen by Hera to keep each of the four winds locked up in a floating island, which was then named Aiolia after my own name. My life since then has been very fruitful not because I had the power of the winds at my disposal, but because I had a family to take care of. Amphithea became my wife, and through her my twelve dear children were born. The gods blessed us with a marvelous home that exceeded others in terms of beauty and wonder. Luxury was my friend as I spent everyday in a large house containing all sorts of treasures. I am Aiolos, the God of the Winds, Reiner of Horses, and Son of Hippotas.

“Please, make yourselves at home. Just as the gods have blessed me with plenty, I allow you to stay in my island until you all have regained your strength,” I said gleefully. The man, who was the group’s leader, took this as a sign of hospitality, and nodded. With that, I called the servants to prepare a feast for the guests, and called my family to join us for dinner. Once the table and food were prepared, I shouted in a low but commanding voice, “Let the feast begin!”

After eating, as the others were motioned to their rooms, I called out for their leader. “Please, do tell me, who are you? What brings you here?,” I asked politely. The man revealed to me that he was Odysseus, hero of the Trojan War. He has sailed with his men to different islands, searching for a way to return to his home, Ithaca, where his lovely wife and child preside. His journey has taken him to Ailoia, my home. After which, he pleaded me to show him a way to go back and be with his family again, just as how I am with mine. I stopped to ponder over the words he had just spoken. “This man reminds me of myself. He, too, cares so much for his family, yet is separated from the very people he loves by some act of the gods,” I thought to myself. “So be it. I shall help you, but first, you must tell me about your journey and how you managed to arrive here.” Odysseus agreed, and spoke.

After a month of resting, Odysseus and his men were finally ready to set sail. Before leaving, however, I quickly took out a brown bag, and put in some of the winds that my island was famous for. “This bag is made to keep winds. Open it once your journey is almost over, and the winds that are contained within this bag will take you home, to where your family awaits your return. May the gods bless you and your trip!”

Sources: Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

http://xsmyth2012.wikispaces.com/Aeolus

Written by: Kyle Lim

Pistós, the Loyal Companion

“So he spoke, and the evil counsel of my companions prevailed,and they opened the bag and all the winds all burst out. Suddenly the storm caught them away and swept them over the water weeping, away from their old country. Then I waking pondered deeply in my own blameless spirit, whether to throw myself over the side and die in the open water, or wait it out in silence and still be one of the living; and I endured it and waited, and hiding my face I lay down in the ship, while all were carried on the evil blast of the stormwind back to the Aiolian island, with my friends grieving.” -The Odyssey by Homer Book 9 Lines 46 to 55.

Awhile ago, I indubitably believed that all stakes were high for my comrades and I to end up in Ithaka, our beloved country, as counsel and enlightenment have been bestowed upon us in the form of the bag of winds. Due to the unforeseen circumstances and intolerable conduct provoked by my fellow companions, as a result, we had no choice but to take the extensive and strenuous way back home as opposed to reaching our homeland briskly.

Before revealing this hapless incident to you, I shall first tell you my name. Even if my name is of no significance and not at any time mentioned by anyone, I will tell this so that all of you may be able to be acquainted with me by some means and that you can address me properly. I am Pistós, one of the many steadfast followers of the ever resourceful Odysseus.

After eluding death from the gruesome hands of the Cyclops, we set sail through the seven seas until we came by the Aiolian Island where the majestic abode of Aiolos is situated. As soon as we entered into their municipality, the son of beloved Hippotas, Aiolos, welcomed us with hospitality and openness. After a month’s worth of entertainment and inquiry about our whereabouts, the ingenious Odysseus asked Aiolos for conveyance and the directions for us to go back to our mainland.

Aiolos granted our wishes as he presented us an ox-skinned bag packed with all the courses of blowing winds. Later on, our master, Odysseus stashed it away in our void vessel. He was the only one in the whole ship who knows the contents of the pouch and he directed us not to dare latch off the string of the bag until we reach Ithaka. Again, we helmed through the vast ocean, night and day, for nine days, and in the tenth day, Odysseus was enervated, he could no longer stand the fatigue he was going through to patrol the bag himself.

While the clever Odysseus was in his clouds of dreams, the other mischievous companions assumed that the bag our master was protecting all along contains a considerable amount of precious gold and silver. All of a sudden, like bees buzzing around, I could hear them murmur to each other their thoughts with regards to Odysseus.

“As we all know, this man sleeping heavily is tremendously loved and pampered by everyone. Whenever we go to an uncharted area, he always receives gifts and bestowals from the locals. While in our case, we do not even garner anything despite ushering him in our way back home. Look, Odysseus has been favored once again, thus receiving a bag’s worth of gold and silver. Since this our lord is dozing due to fatigue, let us check how much coinage the bag holds.”

My haughty contemporaries unfastened the silver string tied around the bag, and all the air contained by the bag bursted out as swift as a balloon popping. Due to their foolish resolution of unhitching the bag, we ended up having another impediment in our road back to Ithaka. There was nothing I could do, if I interfered in their decision, they could have just spared my life.

A storm had awakened Odysseus from his brief siesta. After seeing the predicament his companions had caused, he did not know whether to live any longer or commit suicide.

The gale brought us back to the mainland, and once again, we went up to the house of Aiolos. But in this instance, we were no longer welcomed in his house. He stated that we were cursed by the gods, and as a result, we no longer received help from him.

Without any choice, we left his dwelling and sauntered again in the sea to find optimism in our ways.

At last, after a few days, our group arrived in another unexplored island. Before everyone could go down and explore the island, Odysseus sent three men to search for mortals who live in the island, and I was one of the three men sent by my lord.

After some time, we saw a girl retrieving water. We asked her where does the king of this land dwell. She pointed up the high-roofed house of her patriarch.

At the time we arrived in the palace, the king quickly appeared before us. After devising death upon us, we ran as rapidly as we could, but unfortunately the king grabbed me and had me for supper.

Sources:

Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Ev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Photo credits:

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/odysseus-homecoming.jpg

http://www.sfakia-crete.com/sfakia-crete/aeolus.jpg

http://www.tumuses.com/aeolus1.jpg

http://ri.rediffiland.com/homepimages/home7/770/bae8aa1f5d8155c61d7778f2fa7e53b7/homep/images/1246859074

http://0.tqn.com/d/ancienthistory/1/0/6/Z/2/Laestrygons.png

http://aliso.pntic.mec.es/agalle17/odisea/lestrigones.jpg

Written by: John Lu

Geist

“You must take up your well-shaped oar and go on a journey until you come where there are men living who know nothing of the sea, and who eat food that is not mixed with salt, who never have known ships whose cheeks are painted purple, who never have known well-shaped oars, which act for ships as wings do.”

A stark subterranean hell. An otherworldly fog swirls in the air, and instead of birdsong and the gentle caress of the waves on the seashore only gnashing of teeth, wailing, and the deafening silence of the restless dead can be heard.

Just another day in Hades. Once any ubiquitous human being such as myself runs out of luck or time by any means, the human’s soul ends up here. And speaking of dying, all but the inhuman deities are exempt from it.

I am Demetrius, and I have the honor of being the son of no one. While I was still a resident on earth, I lived the life of a pathetic dog, being disowned by my despicable father and my whore of a mother, because of my strange physical characteristics. My skin had a tinge of yellow and I had ugly narrow slits for eyes, and society looked upon me as if I was a neanderthal. Nevertheless, I seeked knowledge as I was alive, becoming a pupil of a philosopher and although I died by the sinister hand of the brutish, brainless and aberrant Achilles and his companions, who shaved me, scalped me, and afterwards beat my skull as I bled to death.

Life, rather, being on this plane of existence is rather unfortunate, but not as hellish as our pitiable neighbors in Tartarus. Over there, it is more furious than flames and more heartless than ice, gnashing of teeth and assorted wails, moans and shrills abound, but that is for another story. The unfortunate wayfarer, nightmare victim or beleaguered heavenly observer armed with his paperback book knows that he is in Hades based on what he perceives around him. To put it bluntly, it is as if everyone here is suffering from veisalgia, as they probably had a little too much to drink beforehand. Everyone including myself is a pile of stories and secrets on two legs, emitting the vibes of the dead and being quite melancholic.

However, it seems that we are not alone for today. Resourceful Odysseus and his wonderful companions have just so happened to stop by the river Acheron’s junction beside the flaming Phlegethon and the gloomy Kokytus. They have fear and trepidation plastered all over their grief-stricken faces, but they’re putting up a good show, manning up to pay us a visit in the first place. What is it that the sacker of cities and his companions seek? Did they only come here to disturb our eternal rest? Have the evils they done throughout their lifetimes not enough? For some reason, they appear to be digging up the soil—wait, is that milk and honey? That son of a nymph, pouring just that, I must really be dead, given that they’re stupidly wasting all of it. It was when the blood of the poor sheep went drip-drip on the earth did my fellow dead of all sorts go on a frenzied rage. Odysseus kept all of them at bay, however, by waving around his sword over the blood.

And then Teiresias came along and revealed himself to Odysseus, and I have a slight newfound respect for the latter for he was able to accept his circumstances and eventual destiny. Here is a man who is worthy of being pampered in all the households he visits. Enough of that, a more human side of his is revealed when resourceful Odysseus encounters his mother, his friends and other spirits.

I have seen him lament over his comrade, and even his soul being torn apart by sadness at separation from his dear mother. He even shared his pain with Agamemnon, who gave him heartfelt advice, and consoled Achilles. Not many people have a chance to see for themselves the land of the dead, and I am quite sure that Odysseus has spent his time here well. Apparently, he has not only learned much from battle and misfortune while alive, but also from what the departed have to say as well.

In spite of his cursed luck and his many shortcomings, that man still has a bright future ahead of him. Will he somehow triumph over all the hells on earth in his way? I will see, from the depths from the underworld.

Source: Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Written By: John Paolo So

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