1. The Odyssey People and Places

2.   Ithaca: the island kingdom of Odysseus; off the west coast of mainland Greece.

3. Characters in Ithaca: 1. 1. Penelope: Odysseus’ faithful wife 2. 2. Telemachus: Odysseus’ son 3. 3. Antinous: one of Penelope’s main suitors; an arrogan and mean young noble from Ithaca 4. 4. Eurymachus: suitor of Penelope 5. 5. Eurycleia: Odysseus’ old nurse; recognizes him by the scar on this thigh when he is disguised as a beggar

4. Characters that Cause Trouble: The Ladies 1. 1. Charybdis: monster that sucks in water three times a day to make a deadly cyclone/whirlpool. 2. 2. Calypso: beautiful nymph goddess who keeps Odysseus on her island for 7 years. 3. 3. Circe: enchantress and goddess who turns Odysseus’ men into swine/pigs 4. 4. Scylla: monster with 6 serpent heads each with a triple row of fangs 5. 5. Sirens: sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious music/singing lures sailors to steer their ship towards dangerous rocks/ a watery grave

5. Characters That Cause Trouble: The Gentlemen   Polyphemus: Cyclops who is blinded by Odysseus. Son of the sea god Poseidon, and from a race of brutish, one-eyed giants who live solitary lives as shepherds   Poseidon: the sea god. An adversary who puts storms in the way of Odysseus’ journey home.

6. Other Trouble Makers   Cicones: people living on the southwestern coast of Thrace who battled Odysseus and his men on their journey.   Lotus Eaters: people who feel Odysseus and his men lotus plants to make them forget Ithaca.

7. The Gods   Zeus: The most powerful god. His home is Mount Olympus.   Apollo: god of poetry, music, prophecy, medicine, and archery   Athena: favorite daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom as well as arts and justice & war and peace. She favored the Greeks during the Trojan War.   Cronus: Titan (giant god) who ruled the earth until his son Zeus overthrew him.

8. Gods continued…   Poseidon (again!): god of the sea; brother of Zeus, enemy of Odysseus.   Helios: sun god.   Hephaestus: god of fire and metal working.   Hermes: messenger god.