"Before we start this movie let us look at those places how do they look the witnesses of the past in their winter ambient because there is a true beginning of the story:" "...on the shores of Turkey, near the Dardanels where the Trojan plain is situated and where 3000 years ago, a famous war was waged." "The city of which Homer sung, is above there as a pile of rubble." "We visited these ruins in the beginning and bring these small photos nine cities are build on top of eachother." "First, which is in lowest layer is a village from the neolith, and on the side there is a mighty fortress from the Mycenean age." "Its walls are strongly built and that is a Homer city." "A magnificent and a happy city, which the Acheans some 1200 years BC." "And for what?" "Because of one woman, so tales the story." "But the real reasons are probably entirely different." "The reasons for this epic story are entirely lost." "Troy will never rise again." "The wind blows dust over their ruins." "Time has also erased all memory of it so it was even doubted that it ever existed." "That lasted till an archeologist, thrilled by Homer a German called Heinrich Shlieman, found Troy a century ago." "Some of the things found clearly show a holy road to the citadel the Skianian gate around which Homer placed a fabula of the Iliad and a farewell speech of Hector and Andromache." "So the visitor is full of emotions when he visits this place of events near the river Skamader." "And when returning to Europe he may visit the museum in Athens and gaze at the death masks of the Achean warlords he instantly believes that these are the true invaders of Troy which survived the war and returned painfully to home." "Odyssey is a story of one that returned." "The Odyssey (from the poem of Homer)" "Athena:" "If it's by your will, O Zeus, that Odysseus returns to his home I would go to Ithaca to encourage his son..." "So says Athena, the blue- eyed goddess, daughter of Zeus and descend from the Olympus to Ithaca to the house of Odysseus, and make a human appearance which the gods usually do when they show themselves to mortals." "She took the appearance of Mentis, the lord of Taphians." "On the floor, one women waved infinite cloth." "That's Penelope, wife of Odysseus." "From that chamber, which is the wedding room she rarely comes out, always thinking on a day of her distant wedding, and thinking about her future, and her son." " Welcome stranger." " Hello." " Please come this is my home." "So, you are Telemachus, son of Odysseus?" "Mother calls me that." "But that's the name I never heared from Odysseus' lips." "Euriclea, a guest has arrived." "Come here and eat." "Euriclea as a young girl she came to the court and nourished Odysseus." "Telemachus calls her nanny." "Penelope, the stranger has come, and Telemachus has welcomed him." "Maybe he has some news about Odysseus!" "Be aware queen, don't get fooled." "The world is full of people who travel with false names and invent false adventures to charm the host." "This will be like the previous ones, who bring you the news you wish to hear." "I am Mentis, the lord of Taphians, and my ship is anchored below the mountain, opposite of Samos." " So you know Ithaca?" " Sure." "I know it very well." "I spent years here in company of your father." "I've heared that your old man has returned." "No, that's false news." "He is still absent." "Who are those?" "I can see that they are keeping their weapons outside of this court, but that they are taking others stuff." "They give you no respect." "I don't respect them either." " Are they your guests?" " Guests?" "We used to have them when this home was honored, and my father were in it." "But as you can see, things have changed and now I feel disgraced." "Look, they are all pretenders of a throne." "They come every day here." "They are princes and the elite from Ithaca and the other islands Samos, Zakintos, Doulichion." "They come to ask for my mothers hand." " And your mother is obliged to choose?" " She doesn't want that but has no strenght to go alone." " I see." " Does this last long?" " Too much they devour my property." "That's all what they do." "Today they'll take a calf, lambs and porks and slaughter them in the house." "They make a barbeque." "They devour all, they devour all to humiliate the home of Odysseus." "Thieves." "But thieves at least run far away when they steal from fear that someone discovers them and kill them." "But these no!" " Your father would wish to see this!" " My father?" "!" "If Odysseus would suddenly appear among them with a helmet, a sword and a bow, this sorry party with suitors would abruptly end!" "No stranger, we wouldn't see that happen in this house." "I lost all hope." "The destiny of Odysseus is in the hands of the gods but you, you must be strong." "Go, and search for some news about him!" "If your father is dead, go and fetch a boat some of those on the shore, and bring your mother an answer." "But know that he is alive - " "Telemachus, I am not a fortuneteller, but know that this is the truth." "Now, I must go." "My company is waiting." " Please stay!" " Do what I told you to do." " Where should I go?" " Prepare a ship to Pylos to Nestor, a friend of your father." "Saying this, Athens disappeared, but in Telemachus heart she inspired a strenght and a wish for his father to always think of him." "Look, Troy fell, and the walls collapsed and the Achean warriors washed their armory in the waters of father Ocean..." "Femius, bard, in the home of Odysseus sung events of a distant past." "He was a teacher to himself and he became famous, but he didn't sing here willfully but the suitors forced him when they take over the court." "Why have you stopped Femius?" "Because the queen has arrived?" "You sing the same song every time Femius." "Why?" "Because WE like it." "But if you want, we can change the subject, like love for example  ?" "Mother, it's not Femius fault that he sings about tragic returns of Acheans from demolished Troy, and that's what amuses the plunderers of this home." "Why have you arrived anyway?" "Where was that stranger?" "What did he want?" "Did he bring some news?" "News you are awaiting?" "The stranger has gone." "Why do you not say to your mother who it was?" "Because my mother is delighted to bring fortunetellers and prophets to the court and then they leave her deceived and discouraged." " Shall I encourage her?" " Telemachus, you are not a child anymore." "I've already been laughed at because of that." "If I would go..." "Is that what you want?" "To return to my father?" "Is that what you are thinking?" "Your wishes and what about mine?" "For how long should I suffer disgrace from these invaders?" "Go to your room and get away from their eyes." "You have done too much for me till now, but for no one I rule this home!" "Hear me, suitors of my mother!" "I summon an assembly of the elders for tomorrow!" "You should all come!" "What is on Telemachus mind?" "What assembly?" "... ...so suddenly he summons assembly?" " Who advise him for that?" " You are worrying too much?" "Should we be afraid of a trick of a young boy?" "He wants to summon assembly, and he doesn't even know of a purpose for that so let us go to that assembly." " I don't like surprises Antinoüs." " Me neither." "But we can't be beside other people." "And we shall go armed anyway." "So that our words will have weight." "Femius, Femius continue..." "Gold without measure, slaves, horses, and a host of sheeps as a booty on strong ships they load." "And some go unaware of the anger of the mighty gods, for immensely spilled blood." "First sailed Ajax to the Girian rock where a raging sea plunged him into the abyss." "Then Menelaus with his ships fell in an immens storm." "After which Agamemnon departed and he happily arrived." "His home welcomes him with grandeur, as a great warrior, ...hailed, crowned with glory." "But all that suddenly expires when in a bathroom the sword of Egistus struck him and in blood drawn Agamemnon, first among the kings." "And when the night falls, the suitors go to sleep out of the palace." "So Telemachus closed the doors." "I came to this palace as a young girl." "And I respect you as I've respected your father and I know your family very well." "Thought a slave, I am still in this house like a bride, even Laertes never looked at me like that because the other servants envy me." " What are you trying to tell me nanny?" " Today I've seen your father in you, my son!" "Assembly wasn't usual for that part of the year." "So Telemachus surprised many Ithacans." "First spoke the much respected Egyptius, oldest one." "Knowing that the strangers are also among the public he spoke directly to Telemachus." "Was this the reason for the assembly?" "Maybe he has some news about our army which is absent or disappeared." "What ever the reason we should listen to him." "Telemachus wishes to say us something, seriously which we shouldn't ignore." "Give him the divine scepter." "He is an adult man!" "The mentor assisted Telemachus because he is an old friend of Odysseus, who left him to watch over his home till his return." "I speak to those who still remember, to those who know or have you already forgotten?" "No, you are wrong." "This was a happy land till a voice of war had come to us against Troy." "And we obey that." "Odysseus took our best men and loaded them on ships." "No, we didn't forget." "Odysseus should give us account for all of that!" "Wait gentleman." "You can't enter with weapons." "You are desecrating the rights of the people to free speech and this kingdom." "Of what king do you speak?" "I'm telling for years that this island needs one." "Sit." "Sit." "You are hoping that my father is dead, so that you can take his place and all what you do is that you don't even respect the faithfulness of my mother and you want to marry her by force." "Every day you come here invade my house, devour my property and drink my wine." "I'm not as strong as my father, but even if I was I couldn't get rid of them alone." "So please Ithacans!" "Defend the honor of my home as he honored you!" "Or if Odysseus does something against you so you want to revenge on me?" "Rather then you take my property if you'll expell this wolf pack!" " Telemachus has right!" "We are not angry at him but at his mother!" "For three years she was making promises." "She oftenly gives them, and even more oftenly chanhages them but she never clearly says NO." "So we wait and wait." "And then come the lords from the other lands princes from the nearby islands, and she still decides so there is a guilty one!" " At the end she got an idea to start weaving." "She said:" "Wait for me to weave a funerary cloth for Laertes the father of Odysseus, because he said that will be the last thing to attach him to this house." "I don't want that Achean woman reproach me if I return to my father that I was a bad wife." "So she says, and we respect her wish but from then more than a year had past." "And she never finished the cloth!" "To those cunningness is in blood!" "So we said to Telemachus to send her to Icarius her father, that she may marry again asap and for whom she chooses!" "Why don't you take her to Icarius?" "To Icarius?" "That's what you want?" "Icarius wouldn't hesitate." "He would marry her somewhere else." " Telemachus knows that very well." " Ithaca needs a king!" "I won't force my mother to anything." "So we shall stay in this house till she makes up her mind." "It can't go any longer like this." "If my father is- " "Your father is dead." "How much time had past that others returned from the coast of Troy, and no voice from your father." "And even if he is alive, he is somewhere far away so today after ten years we declare him dead." "Dead for the queen, dead for Ithaca, and dead for all of us!" "You open our old wounds Eurimachus, and it's true what you are saying but and our sons are dead." "They went with Odysseus, and mine with them, and you are not believing us." "You have destroyed all my hope." "Thus I summon all the gods to avenge me." "I'll pray to them that you all perish for your misdeeds." "That's an omen." "All I've heared, all I've seen when I look in bulls guts, all came true." "On the day when Odysseus departed, I've seen returns and slaughter." "On the 20th year there will be joy and there will be darkness." "Enought with the superstition get out you scum, get out." "You'll see the future go and tell it to your children   Eurimachus!" " Lazy thug!" " Eurimachus!" "You and your pretenders on the hand of my mother, " " I won't ask you again." "But I want one thing:" "Give me a ship and company so that I can go and search for my father." "If he's alive I'll wait for one year." "But if he isn't, I'll come back to Ithaca and send my mother to Icarius." "Hear me too Ithacans." "I want to judge these nobles." "They are suitors, and they use their rights but with very rude metods." "So I'll speak for those of you who are silent." "They are few, and you are mulitude." "We are multitude and not few!" "We have enough force to repel any attack, whoever would dare even your father personally." "And be assured that even Penelope Wouldn't be happy if he would come and decide to go on us because we would kill him like a dog." "Citizens dismiss this useless assembly!" "Get out." "Out." "All go to work." "Get out." "Athena taking the form of Mentor said:" "...there is plenty of old and new ships on Ithaca." "Go and find some better of them." " Telemachus, what a speech." " Come and drink with us." "We'll give you a ship and company, so that you can go and search for your father." " I'll go but not on your ship." " Telemachus, you really want to drop dead?" "Maybe you throw us to the dogs when you come back." "Oh no." "Maybe he'll go to Epirus to buy a venom to poison us." "Spare us from the effort and divide your property if you don't come back." " But not to this court." "We shall divide to those whom your mother chooses." "You that came yesterday and tell me to travel to the end of the sea to search for your father and to come back alive to Ithaca, please help me." "Help me to return alive." " What are you doing here?" " Expecting a ship." " Ship?" "Why?" " Do you think I'm still a child?" "I'm going to Nestor in Pylos." "He was also in Troy." "If someone has news of Odysseus, that must be him." "Odysseus is dead." "What can you found there?" "If you go, those here will do anything to kill you." "Stay here and watch for your home." "Don't go." "It'll be greater misery if you don't come back!" "I oblige you not to tell anyone!" " Not even your mother?" "Not even her nanny, till she asks for me." "Don't let her fade from sorrow." "The blue- eyed goddess has fetched a ship for Telemachus." "The sun has sunk to the sea and darkness covered the roads, when Athena in the form of Mentor, guided Telemachus preparing a ship with strong sailors." "The wind filled the sail and foam sprinkled under the keel." "Sailors, tighten the ropes, the exhausted took a jar with wine to salute the gods." "Thus the ship rode on the waves." "And on Ithaca, Penelope like every night before unwove cloth which she wove during the day." "Hurry, hurry." "Telemachus isn't here." "He didn't return yet." "Melante, beautiful cheeks whom Penelope look like as if a daughter, and she still never respected Penelope." "Instead she got close to Antinoüs." "So there is a solution of the mystery." "Cloth which during the day increases and shrinks overnight." " Are you stuck to deal with the weaving thus you have a finished cloth for Laertes." "Penelope: ...and thus I finished weaving and don't know any more how to avoid a wedding." "I don't know how to find a new trick." "You are one who gave a boat to Telemachus?" " Willingly or not?" " I have no reason to refuse." " Who asked you for a ship?" " Don't remember." "Take this small excitement." "Am I not free to give my ship to any whom I like?" "Till Noemon sat and spoke that what he saw god on the ship they laughed." "But immense fury came over their souls, Antinoüs more then others." "I gave willingly my ship, and many other boys wish to go with him." "And if they found Odysseus, You'll pay everything you wasted." "Pour, pour Telemachus wine." "That's better than to worry of his scout." "Gimme, drink." "For me he is nothing but spoiled braith, and if its by me I would show him what he deserves." " No, we shouldn't do like that." "Someone help him we should kill him in the assembly, and not let him go!" "You have mocked him in the assembly!" "Well, how could Telemachus be dangerous?" " Don't underestimate him because he's young." " He went to the main land but we all know that no one would come to fight with us." "A ship." "We will lurk for him in return between Samos and Ithaca and I don't believe he'll see his home again." "Messenger Medont, what news do you bring?" "Has some news arrived?" "Do they complain on accomodation?" " No queen, I've come to secretly express my loyalty to you." " Loyalty." "You don't have a damn clue what it is." "You are like the others." "Like others you forgot Odysseus' kindness." "I come to say that your son has gone." "Telemachus left with the ship by night, but I don't know where to." "Damn it." "Why has no one told me?" "Sloths." "Punish me." "I only know." "He swore me not to tell you so that you won't suffer." "Gone?" "Why?" "With what reason?" "By boat?" "He is young, so young to navigate a ship." "Queen, a great danger is upon him." "the lords know that and they prepare a trap for him in the narrow of Samos and Ithaca." "He has gone." "First his father and now him." "Why didn't he tell me anything?" "Why had he gone?" "Why?" " Don't despair queen." " He has done that what every son would do." "He has gone to search for his father." "You'll see he'll come back." "He'll come back soon." "Why didn't he tell me anything?" "He has left me alone." "It's better that he would never been born." "Now they want to kill him." "Father Zeus, Athena,I beg you!" "Save my son." "Save her a son, Save her a son." " Save my son." "The sun has rissen, leaving a beautiful sea to copper glimmering sky, to shine upon the immortal gods and all human offspring on Earth." "And they arrive in Pylos, the home of Nestor one of the Achean kings who demolished Troy." "On a blue seashore Nestor and his sons make offerings to the earthshaking god lord of the blue sea." "Nestor begins with the ritual cleaning." "With prayers he makes the offerings." "His sons drags bull." "Trazimedes brings a sharpened axe." "You awake painful memories on our sufferings under Troy." "There we left our best:" "Achilles, Patroclus, Ajax ...and my son Antilochus, valiant warrior." "It was a long war." "Nine years we fought with Trojans and their numerous allies." "We exhausted all our powers and abilities." "In the end, Zeus decided to finish this endevour." "For all those years, no one surpassed your father Odysseus in wisdom, courage and cunningness." "You don't know that, but I know." "His wisdom was completely infinite, but what I admire most is the cunningness of his heart." "Know that always when there was a quarrel we both together work to preserve the Achean unity and almost always we would succeed." "And when the city was destroyed, and the treasures dispersed and the females divided, the god divided us." "Zeus prepared for us a sad returning because in victory we weren't just." "So we suffer." "Some with Menelaus wished an immediate return." "Others with Agamemnon wished to end sacrificing to Athena to appease an angry goddess." "Like she would change her mind because of one ram or bull!" "So Agamemnons fleet stayed anchored on shore." "Half of the rulers board with Menelaus and left." "Odysseus and I were among them" "Somewhere after Lesbos, where we shortly stopped, without any losses a terrible storm fall on us." "Such storm I've never seen." "Maybe because horror befall on all some hide themselves, som get drowned." "We completely lost course." "Diomedes and I make repairments and run to a shore." "Your father however turn ships back and tries to reach Agamemnons fleet." "From there I don't know anything about him." "This is my son you didn't meet." "This is the son of Odysseus, Telemachus" "Your search and that what inspires her are just but I cannot help you much." "But there is a man who can tell you news about father." "Menelaus of Sparta." "He was the last to return and he travelled much among man foreign and distant." "He and Helen will tell you something about Odysseus and my son will follow you." "You can go tomorrow." "Wait." "In a room above, lies a hungry Penelope thinking of her innocent son and did he evade death or fall in the hands of the suitors." "How many thoughts a scarred lion thinks when people surround him and put him a death trap - so she was thinking." "But sweet dreams overcome her." "Laying down she finally relaxes her body." "and blue- eyed goddess Athena, does a new trick." "She made her appearance of Iftyma the sister of Penelope, daughter of the noble Icarius." "Penelope, don't cry." "The gods don't want that." "Iftima, it's you?" "It's me, your sister." "For how long didn't we see eachother when you lived far away." "Why are you on Ithaca." "Why?" "I've come to help you." "Then you've heared that I lost my husband, and my son left me too." " Yes, I know but don't suffer yourself Penelope, but instead believe." "I'm afraid." "They want to kill Telemachus and they lurk for him before he comes back to Ithaca." "How should I not worry?" "!" "He's so young and inexperienced!" "Who knows what dangers waits for him, those worries can't leave me!" "Don't be afraid Penelope, Athena has mercy on you, ...and will bring you back Telemachus alive." "Athena?" "You can hear Athena?" "Tell me:" "Odysseus, where is he?" "Narrrator:" "Great waves throw Odysseus all over." "And like boreus in autumn scattering leaves over meadow, and they roll and stick to each other so winds carry Odysseus raft over sea." "First Boreus catch him from front, then Noto from aside and then Zefirus would overcome." "So tireless waves would come back over and over again to discord timbers and untie cords." "Odysseus hurried over and over again, to put them back in place, thinking at distant about a lovely and courageous wife and a son he has never seen." "All day he fought with wind and sea." "In a moment the sail would hang like an useless rag nailed on the mast." "And in a moment the wind would blow sail to the breaking point and the mast moan like it would break." "Then Odysseus would fold him or put it to dry." "But in the end, the wind had casted him into the sea, just like two boys cast a ball but without a third one to catch it." "Thus Odysseus protect the sails from waves all times in a mortal combat that waves don't wash him away and wonder how much more he must endure and how much time the struggle will last" "Zeus:" "See how men blames the gods." "They say that misfortunes are from us, but instead they are from their madness and they get a part in which destiny appoints them." "Athena:" "Our father, Zeus, son of Chronos my heart breaks for Odysseus who suffers temptations and toils so far away from his kin." "Don't you sorry him?" "Wasn't he dear to you when he made sacrifices near the Greek ships on the Troyan plain?" "Zeus:" "Athena, my daughter, how would I forget Odysseus who is so above others by his wisdom and cunningness?" "But it's the earthshaker Poseidon who is angry because Odysseus had blinded his son." "And he doesn't want to kill him, no, but to make him roam as far away from his fatherland." "But Poseidon can't go on against all of us who wish that Odysseus return." "Athena, the daughter of the god, stopped all the winds to blow." "She only let Boreus to calm the waves afore Odysseus, so he can grasp the land and kiss the earth." "So near the creek, he say:" "Lord, who ever you are, I am saved from the sea." "I give myself to your arms and I am in debt to you." "Have mercy on me." "Like someone who hides himself near the ash, so he is all covered with it but he holds a small flame because he has no other to lit him a spark so Odysseus was covered with leaves." "Then Athena pour a dream over his eyes, and she went to the city of the Feacians to prepare for his arrival." "Like breath she gets into the room, where one girl with a name Nausica sleeps." "Hovering over her head she get into her dream taking form of her beloved friend." "Nausica, you forgot your mothers instructions?" "The laundry is still here unwashed." "Your wedding day is approaching when everything should be ready and polished in a house." "You know very well how many young boys want you here in Feacia." "And your girlfrends are awaiting you." "C'mon we are going to the river to wash laundry, and if there be many of us we'll finish that earlier." "Let's burden the mules with laundry, it's easier for you and for us." "We are going to catch a day till you wake up." "Terrible, covered with salt Odysseus shows himself to girls who fled terrified." "Only Nausica stays." "Athena encourages her." "Odysseus didn't know should he fall on his knees in front of her or beg her from afar so she doesn't get scared." "Lady, are you a goddess or a woman?" "You are so atractive that you look like to me like some divinity." "Maybe you are from the immortal daughters of Zeus?" "And where did you see that the daughters of Zeus wash dirty laundry?" "You didn't flee." "You are not afraid of me?" " To be afraid?" "No, why should I?" " Tell me please what is this country?" "Last night sea has throws me here on this beach." "I don't have a clue how much time I have endured." "Come, I beg you." "I'm not hiding any treachery in my heart." "I'm not a criminal." "Please, have mercy on me." "Take it." "Wash yourself and get dressed." "My sisters will help you." "After he washes and dresses, Odysseus goes a little further away from them." "And Nausica thinks:" "...Wasn't some of the gods coming among them." "First he looks teribble, and now he is like one of them." "Ah, if he would wish to stay among us!" "Three times happier your mother and father three times happier your brothers and friend." "But more happier of them is those that took you to his home." " Do you wish to eat?" " Yes." "I'm Nausica." "And you?" "Here lives the Feacians, peaceful people." "Don't be afraid." " I'll take you to my father." " Who is your father?" " Alcinous, king of this people." "Don't you trust me?" " No, we'll go." "I told you not to follow me so close." " But how should I find the city?" " You'll find it yourself." "I don't want that someone says:" "'That stranger takes Nausica to her home." "Why does she need this stranger?" "'" "They think I want to merry him, or that I'm gone to river just to find it there." "Who knows how Feacia nobles will react!" "It may hurt their pride." "They can accuse you." "The girl will think that I gladly meet with strangers before public wedding?" "And remember, when you come to court first you'll beg my mother!" "Athena, my protector, hear me at least now like you hear me when I was drowning." "Where are you?" "Why you didn't show to me among the waves?" "What are you afraid of?" "Help me that the people of this land accept me." "Athena,taking form of a little girl heared him, but didn't show up not to anger her fathers brother Poseidon." "But still she whispers:" "Go in silence." "I'll guide you." "Don't turn arround till you come at Alcinous court." "And don't ask anyone on anything." "That's the court you asked for." "There you'll find Feacians waiting for you because they already made notice of you." "Feacians don't like strangers and those coming from afar." "They ask you much." "They'll look astonished and suspicious." "But don't get discouraged." "Be brave." "Bold man overcome every temptation, wherever he is." "Queen, my respect." "I'm not coming as an enemy and beg your hospitality Let you, your court and your people enjoy every bless from the gods." "The queen, in name of Zeus, patron of hospitality please help me." "You do good to please the queen." "Her name is Areta." "She is the daughter of her husband Alcinous brother." "They are both offsprings of Poseidon, lord of the watery abyss and of Peribea, descendant of Gigantes." "They are of diwine origins, so beg them carefuly and wisely." "But know... that it's Areta who maintains the peace among folk." "Because they care much about their bride." "For so long he had an empty stomach, so now with gluttony he ate and drank angry on his stomach for always wanting more to set away heavy thoughts and worry." "And it was abominate for him to eat like that, in front of all, but he knows that his hosts wants that:" "to watch him, study who he is, what kind of man and how much he can eat." "You are nicely welcomed as a guest, like sacred laws commands..." "Now, we want to know who you are, where you come from, and how you got there." "I'm a sailor and my homeland is far away and many calamities have fallen on me." " OK, but what's your name?" "Name of the shipwrecked?" "Of those without kin or property?" "What name would you like to hear?" "He doesn't look like punk." " You said you are alone?" " Yes queen." " When have you stranded on our shores?" " Yesterday I've arrived on a beach near the creek." " And the ship and the companions?" " I've had a ship and companions but long ago." " You have sailed alone on open sea?" " Yes queen." " How?" " On raft." "For 18 days I've traveled." "I've exhausted all food and water." "I had lost any hope till I saw your land." " From where do you come?" " Before 8 years, winds and sea currents throw me away to west in inhabited areas." "A storm wrecked my ship straight on the rocks of the island Ogygya." "All my companions died, and I was saved by a nimph." "Her name is Calipso." "She concealed my wounds but she also wanted to keep me for herself even when I begged her every day to let me go home." "And then, last month she let me leave." "So I built a raft and sailed." " You said that you stranded yesterday and come to this court alone but where did you get clothing?" "That belonged to one of my sons." "Who gave you that?" "How did you get clothing?" " Your daughter." "She was the first person that I encountered on the banks of a river where I woke up." "She first took pity on me." "My daughter is still young and easily makes mistakes." "She wants to bring you here and she announced your arrival." "Don't castigate her." "I asked her not to do so in respect for her and fear that you may reproach her." " Now it's ok." "No Feacian is angry, but you both have risked too much." "Hospitality is very important to us because we know envy and evil." "This land isn't our homeland from time immemorial." "We used to live on one island near Cyclops who constantly disturbed us." "My father then decided to move the people to some island away from the common routes." "On this island." "And what kind of island is this?" "You would never know about that stranger." "Our island is called Sheria ...and the shores and the river on which you came, no one can describe to someone else." "Solitude is our price for peace." "It's big price, but it's worth it." "Now you know why we mistrust strangers." "Father, that was all in my dream." " No, say nothing." "Your father does have a point." " What dream?" " A sudden puf of air comes to my room and I see one friend of mine, daughter of your helmsman Dimantes." "She said:" "Nausica,why are you so careless?" "Laundry waits unwashed." "Lets together wash yours and your brothers laundry." "So I went to the river and found this stranger." " Did you dream about him also?" " No." "I don't know who you are, but a dream has announced you." "Innocent dreams are somethimes a warning which are send by someone and not for nothing." "Thus, stranger you are welcomed among us." "But Alcinous saw that the stranger didn't go to rest and that something troubled him." "He decided to tell him what was foretold about the destiny of Feacians." "It was important that the stranger whoever he was, be informed." "Why are you not resting?" "Aren't you tired?" "Go to sleep." " The sky over the Feacians is very clear." " True." "Stars are brightier here." "Sailors cannot go astray gazing at this sky." " How much time I've watched in these stars to find a course!" "For years I've searched in vain to show me the route to known land." " Your homeland?" " Yes." "But even these brightest stars couldn't tell me." "But they tell me that I'm not far away." "I see that clearly by inclination of Big Dipper." "You have too much luck, because it's hard to get to us." "From there every path is reachable, and our ships steered by clever minds, sail on sea roads without deviation." " I saw on your ships the stretched hand on prow." " Yes, warning..." "They don't bow to those with evil intentions." "And this one here, why do you assembly him?" "Because it's not destined to sail." "Long ago my father foretold that our ship will one day return to the homeland man abominate to Poseidon and that god will be angry because of that." "So this is sacrificial offering." "We wish that he calms the fury of the sea." "Now, it's the storm season anyway." "It's dangerous to sail at sea." "Why do you not delay?" " Till the spring at least!" " I wish to stay, but..." " For how long?" "How long you would keep me here?" "A year?" "A year is too short." "You were on the island Ogygya for 7 years." "Yes, 7 years, endlessly long or endlessly short." "How distant is that island?" " And where is it?" " In the western sea, but I think it's very far away because the stars are on different places then here." "I've traveled 18 days, with favorable winds in one moment and contrary sea current in another moment, so I cannot tell precisely how distant it is." " Is it beautiful?" " Perfect, even god would rejoice looking at those meadows full of lillies and those forests." "No news ever comes." "Even the wind was calm." " Who is that Calypso?" "Goddess?" "Sorcery?" " Immortal." " How does she look?" "I can tell you the colour of her eyes and her hair is long and handsome like yours." "Calypso is a nymph and daughter of Atlas, so they say." " She kept you imprisoned?" " She kept me imprisoned." "Without companions, without a ship to go..." "Were you so nostalgic?" " That imprisonment, was it hard for you?" " By day, yes." "But by night memories would fade away and I would fall asleep in Calypso's cave." "But when I woke up, the return would torment me like before." "One morning she found me sitting on a seashore and looking at the horizon and told me:" "You torment yourself." "Your homeland is in the direction of the Great Bear." "Last night the crows croak too long." "You have been sleeping." "But suddenly, a seagull flew towards me." "He flew straight into the cave." "It seemed that he searched just for me like someone sending a sign." "Do you now what that means?" "The wind blew him, he was tired of flying." "He searched for a nest." "You could catch him." "You could put him in a cage." " No, he's gone." "So you too can go." " What are you talking about?" "About what you are thinking for so long." "About the return." " Return?" "How?" " Look at the sea." "It looks different." "The sea is not invincible." "I want you to believe in that." "Now, build a raft, set sail and take enough food and water." " Raft?" "No, you are not serious.I don't believe you!" " The magic is over." " Swear!" " Why?" "Swear that you want to change your mind and that you want to release me!" "No, it's not I who want you to leave, It's the gods who are stronger than me but envious and malicious!" "I've saved you!" "You were on mercy of the sea, your ship was demolished and now the gods want to take you away." "I alone have nourished you and cared for you." "The seagull was a god and he brings a message from Zeus." "So you can build your raft." " So, your arrival here was destiny appointed?" " The gods show me a way which I search for." " Maybe you wish to stay?" " Yes." "Stay with me." "I'll make you immortal, unchangeble you'll be forever the same." " Never to die?" "No." "Like god!" "Without disease, without pain." "IMMORTAL!" " Only to stay by my side." " No, no." "You never forget your love?" "All these years you think about her?" "Don't be mad at me because of that." "My dear and you cannot be compared you are immortal and she'll grow old and die." "But anyway, I wish to go home, see her again and my son with her." "Then, let this be your route:" "between Levant and the Big Dipper where the Pleiadees rise out of the sea." "Stranger, that means that you could be immortal?" "Maybe it means that man forgets himself and people forget him." "As you can see, I failed." "Bravo, Eurimachus." "Greetings stranger." "We shall now try competing with swords!" "Try with us." "Why are you inviting me?" "To mock me?" "Glorious games are for the youth." "There are people who maintain strenght even after youth." " We'll be honored that you take part in our games." " I'm not able Alcinous." "Fatique from traveling weakened me, and long absence break my pride of combat and victory." "Leave him alone." "This man is incapable to compete with us." "He looks anyway to me as some simple merchant who thinks only about his load and profit." "You are talking too much and with malice." "Obviously, the gods don't share their gifts equally:" "To you they give handsome appearences but they deny you wisdom!" "My thoughts are far away from there and I don't have youthful freshness but I accept your challenge anyway because you have insulted me, rookie!" "I accepted the challenge and won, but for years I knew only about war, and war has dwelled in me." "So little was needed to awake it in me." "In me you have seen only a sailor, but you couldn't see the warrior in me." " We don't want you to apologize for yourself." "That boy insulted thee, but tell us who you are?" "Maybe your name is famous, judging by what we see." "Don't ask me for a name, instead if you think that as a man of war I deserved respect of the Feacians ...please give me a ship, so that I can finally return to my homeland." "What you are thinking Nausica?" "You've grown up so listen:" "Till you are young, it's natural to fall in love in someone who has suffered." "Those touch any one of us." "We give them more attention, because we feel urge to help them more." "But we shouldn't give more than we can or more than what is just, even if our heart forces us to do so." "His destiny isn't to stay with us." "To us it's different and I believe that he wants to return to his home and family." "A refugee like you." "His name is Demodocus." "He lived in Troy, the beautiful city which the Acheans demolished after the siege." "He lost his sight in fire." "Nausica, you tell the stranger one untruth." "Troy didn't fall in just war but by deceit." "My guests know that well but all others should hear, because that event will stay in memory forever." "We were in the 10th year of war." "Like always, in front of us, near the river Scamander the swarms of ships like summer flies gathered around a jar with milk." "First ships of the Foceans,than the Myceneans (meekaenaens- not miceeneeans) than the Atens, then on the edge of the shore Korintians." "We never succeeded to count them all till one morning, not believing our eyes, we saw the abandoned military camp, the ships all gone, and we hoped that Troy was saved." "Unfortunate us, not to see deceit!" "One wooden horse stood there, higher than our gates." "We thought they left that to appease the gods for safe return." "How naive and pious we were." "Gods above, thank you!" "Thank you for inspiring those barbarians to retreat, to put them back to reason and mercy into soul." "So I promise you that this gift will be honored as it deserves even it was made by our enemies." "Reason and mercy of the Acheans?" "They are no more, and that's all that matters!" "What use of that which is reason?" "We shouldn't pay heed to this." "We should erase any trace of them, I tell you Priam and to all of you!" " I understand about them." "The Acheans landed on the shores and attacked us over a long and unjust siege because of Helena which is hijacked, and which we would never have kidnapped from Menelaus and she is now with us against her will." "We have a host of dead, but the Acheans paid severely their madness and this horse is a gift to the gods, a gift of repentance." " It seems that you decide to forget all these victims we endured during all these years?" "How can you respect a gift from your enemies!" " True Laoocon, but this is a gift to the gods the holy thing, so shall we insult the gods?" "That's a gift to their gods, not ours!" "But we are the same human kin, and our gods are the same!" "Listen to me Priam, don't leave anything of the Acheans undemolished!" "Dismantle it to pieces!" "Leave it there!" " Let him rot here!" " No." "We should take it inside the city." "We are not to be afraid now we had won!" "True, that's important, Priam is right, we won!" "There was a tent of those bloodfirsty Agamemnon." "And here those of Odysseus." "Odysseus, Agamemnon, Menelaus!" "You could do nothing to Troy!" "And now even the sea can spoil your return!" "The siege is over." "We won!" "They'll not come back." "We won!" "Burn it!" "Only then they wont return!" "Burn it!" "Stop with the blasphemy and bring the horse in!" "They'll bring us to the town." "So everyone agreed with Priam that we must bring it inside the walls." "We placed him as a war trophy near the Athena temple." "Woe to us, we celebrated that evening thinking that the long siege has come to an end." "And that was exactly what Odysseus wanted when he build the horse." "He and his companion spawn out of it." "They run to a gate to open it to their troops who with their ships returned to the beaches armed to the teeth." "And city slept." "And I slept too." "Then I saw that from every part of the town  arose big flames and fires." "Screams of living people mixed with the cracking sound of fire." "And above the flames I saw on the highest tower, 2 Achean warriors holding a small child to his feet." "It was Astinax son of Hector." "They raise him and throw him into the abyss from the high tower." "And so in a sad lake of blood Priamus offspring vanished." "And that was the last thing that I saw." "Who are you stranger when you mourn the fate of Troy?" "I'm the one who destroyed them." "I'm the one who deceived them." " You are Odysseus?" " Yes." "Meanwhile, on Ithaca, surrounded by sea, suitors besieging the home of Odysseus, ruled as in their houses." "You come here." "Leave it." "You set a fire..." " Look who's coming." " Who?" "I'm Antimedontes, coming from Argus and I've heard that the queen of Ithaca decided not to wait any more for her husband." "So I've come to compete for her wedding." "I've brought enough treasure, so I can compete with anyone." "If being rich is the only thing you have, then leave from Ithaca." "Penelope is virtuose, and can't be bribed..." "The news that Telemachus had gone never to return spread out." "So Penelope was facing alone the numerous enemies." "Whoever had anything from wealth or power sooner or later will show up to ask for that throne which no man or family protected." "The gods wished so, that Telemachus doesn't have brothers like he didn't have a father right now." "I want to speak with the queen!" " The Queen doesn't come here any more." " Why?" "Because her son went away." "Pe- ne- lo- pe,Pe- ne- lo- pe..." "But Penelope couldn't leave the fate of Achean women, that when their fathers and brothers gave them for first marriage as virgins, that that first died." "Pe- ne- lo- pe..." "Penelope stays beside her maidens of whom some betray her and some resist the attempts of suitors." " This one is cheap." " Mine is like that one, take her!" "I don't like this." "I'm faithfull to Penelope!" "Telemachus and Pisistrat, son of Nestor has arrived under the walls of Sparta where Menelaus rules." " Did you ever imagine this big city?" " I never saw the real city." "Now you'll see Helen!" "Helena comes down from high walls." "Greatest princess contest for her hand." "Menelaus get her." "Helen, daughter of Leda and Tindareus, offspring of Zeus, fatal woman" "Anything new in Pylos?" "The memory of your father Nestor is always dear to my heart." " I bring you a guest." "He comes from Ithaca son of Odysseus." " I'll tell you my name." "I know you are Telemachus I want to prove to you that I remember your dad and all those who because of me left their fatherland: warlords of Acheans who go to walls of Troy far away and a lot of them killed." "It's my guilt that you didn't know your father yet." " Why are you speaking like that?" "Is he dead?" " I don't know Very little I know of today." "I can tell you only about the past Telemachus.I can tell you where I saw your father the last time." "My father consulted Telemachus asking Menelaus about his father..." "Recently he came back, and he traveled a lot they say." "Yes, maybe he knows, come with me." "Menelaus made his death mask crumbled with heavy thoughts." "He also travels very much at sea till he finds the way home." "8 years sucked out all his youth, because of the risky return." "Thus absence of Odysseus eclipsed all fate of other rulers of Achean cities." "So, in my house comes the son of my dear friend." "Welcome boy." "Let me see you again." "Son of Odysseus!" "Menelaus, he needs you." "Nestor consulted him that he search for news about his father from you." "Old Nestor gives you good advice." "Ah, how I would like to welcome your father here." "I would give him home here bring him from Ithaca so that we always be together as neighbors and to waste like that the last years of our lives." "But fate decided differently." "Now it's useless to speak what would be." "Telemachus home is under siege by people who rob him and fraight." "I've heared what happens on Ithaca, but you boy why do you let that happen?" "Are the people against you?" "Or your mother?" "I attempted to raise the people." "Our island needs a king not a boy." "Everyone who can raise his hand on thr throne of Ithaca." "Only my mother prevents them." "No one can help us!" "Only if Odysseus returned..." "Ah that damn war!" "How many damages he makes!" "Hororible evil it brought to us!" "Look weapon of Agamemnon, my brother, treacherously murdered at his doorstep after his return from Troy." "He didn't die in battle with an enemy worthy of him." "Nor sea devours him." "He was killed by treason, and now I alone rule this city." "That's the price I paid with the house of Atreus, because of war." "What are you hiding sir?" "Why don't you tell me, what do you know about my father?" "The queen, you tell me please." "As soon as I've arrived, I saw you knew the bitter truth but you don't have too much mercy." "Tell me please, is my father dead?" "We know something about your father, but we don't know if you can endure." "Be brave and listen to me carefully." "Your father lives, but he is like dead." "Proteus tells me that." "He has seen Odysseus surrounded by sea, without shipmates to return." "And Helen got an idea." "In the wine she pours a cure which softens anger and pain that gives oblivion" "Those skills the daughter of Zeus knew, and that medicant gives her Polidamna." "Drink wine and listen." "I'll tell you what happened before and you'll understand that anyway." "I want to tell you all the adventures of Odysseus but only those that I know." "So Helen starts:" "It was the last year of the war." "I waited in Troy that arms decide victory and to whom I'll belong." "I was in the temple of Apollo, and Cassandra making offerings." "Oh Apollo!" "You who are only among gods who stay favored to this wretched town, reveal me a secret!" "They persecute me and I run." "Give me a break." " I won't harm you, just help me!" " Who are you?" "From where?" "How did you come in?" "I'm a frigian soldier, ally of the Trojans with whom I fight Acheans for years to defend a city." "Last night against my will, I was drawn into battle and barely escaped." "They won't dare to search for me in a temple." "But you are all wounded!" "Your face all smeared with blood." "You scare me." "Or I just see blood everywhere?" "That's blood girl..." "war spares no one so not as miserable like myself." "If you could give me something...?" "Poor soldier,I can give you anything!" "Except one advice." "Run!" "Run if you can from this condemded city full of corpses." "Why do you speak like that?" "Is prophecy speaking out of you?" "You don't know me?" "Never heared of Cassandra daughter of Priam?" "The god Apollo speaks through me but no one will listen." "I'll listen." "But how can I believe?" "You say the city will fall but I see his high walls unconquered and defiant." "9 years the city stands the attacks of the Achean hordes with so many heroes who conquered cities like this one." "Only one will be enough to ruin it." "Maybe you know that the town is out of food?" "Or water?" "Or some illnes is among the defenders?" "Oh listen Cassandra, at least her, listen Cassandra inspired by Apollo." "Wait stranger." "I wanna to see you also!" "Your face is tainted with blood, truly, but your wounds are strange." "They look as self- afflicted." "Why?" "That they don't recognize you?" "But you can't deceive me like you did with Cassandra." "You are not Frigian, friend of Troy, You are enemy!" "You sneak into the city and mix with the wounded to commit some sabotage." "You look like the face from the past." "You who come out of the darkness with a bloody face you are Odysseus I recognize you instantly and shudder when I saw." "I follow thee to see shall you dare to come here in the temple near the house of Priam." "What for?" "Why?" "I knew I'll find you there." "Why are you hiding here near the altar, when the city will fall and your husband will seek for you to redeem his honor?" "That will never happen!" "Under the condition that the Trojans don't revenge on you for all the years of misery you brought on them!" " You are a spy!" "I've heared you!" "You deceive naive Cassandra with news she didn't know about the war and the soldiers." " I'll give you to them to kill you!" " No, you won't do that because in your heart you are still Greek, even if 10 years we suffer all because of your guilt!" " Enough." "I don't want to listen any more!" "I won't betray you, but I don't want to see you in the temple." "Leave me to my destiny." "Leave me to my destiny whatever it is!" "Tremble?" "Are you afraid?" "You the daughter of Zeus?" "Helen, if you would return to Menelaus, all this would gone." "No Odysseus." "If you only know how much I cry because of the guilt aloted by Afrodite." "Afrodita or your lust?" "The gods arrange our lives, so my lust doesn't count." "So what holds you here?" "Only one person does trust me in this town and only he is worthy of my pity." "Father of this house" " Priam." "Because of my guilt he lost his best sons:" "...Hector is dead, Paris is dead, the most bravest Trojans dead and others, many others, well didn't you hear Cassandra?" "... ...Many will perish." "Blood, always blood, and never reproach from Priam." "When I come here with Paris he accept me as his own daughter." "And I remain to him like a daughter and thus I'll remain to the end." "If you speak about the end of this city you won't wait too long." "I didn't want this war, I'm forced into it, and now I want only to finish it no matter what." "All I saw in the city, perfectly fits into my plan." "What plan Odysseus?" "You are very famous because of your cunningness." "Is that what you would like that people remember you for?" "The acts of people brought me to such choice." "And if I must carry that burden, I'll carry it bravely." "Who knows how many times he remembered his words maybe even now, wherever he is." "Odysseus is in the throne room of Alcinoo court." "His hosts leave him alone and he didn't know why." "But when the time arrives he discloses his true name he was afraid that Feacians will hesitate to give him a ship to return to his homeland." "Because the name of the man tells his destiny which he can't comprehend?" "He wasn't assured he was to return secured by those who can do everything." "Thus thinks Odysseus asking himself if is it prudent to disclose his past also." "Forgive us we leave you alone." "We assembled to discuss your unexpected arrival." "We never thought we'll have glorious man among us." "Don't appologise Alcinous, I respect you too much." "Now you can better understand my eagerness to return to my homeland." "Your help restores me to life." "Why so much haste Odysseus?" "Don't you wish to rest for a while?" "Tell us something about you." "In 10 years you have had many adventures." "10 years is too much." "Tell us about the adventures of a king who left Troy with an army but comes alone on raft." "About a man who was considered dead and who wishes to be considered dead, since he hid his name from us." "We bring down the walls of Troy." "I sailed with Menelaus and Nestor but a sudden storm broke up the fleet." "With my ships I arrived in the land of Lestrygons." "My companions started to plunder the land." "The Kikonians defended themselves and killed a lot of my man." "We left 72 unburied 6 from every ship." "Sailing against Big Dipper around cape Malia a strong current throw us on the shores of the savage Lestrygonians." "The company wants to anchor in the harbor, but I wanted to scout the place first and find the sentry point." "It was justified to move but the rest of them, carelessly, landed and heared the sound of war." "The other cries immediately appeared." "There wasn't time to loose, and I retreat, but in the harbour we saw the giant Lestrigonians throwing huge rocks on our ships destroying them." "People tried to escape by swimming but they were hunted down by the tridents like fish." " And how did you escape?" " They couldn't reach me because I stayed out of the harbour." " Only your ship remained?" "In the end, yes." "We were the last company." "After the demise of the others, I became even more dear to them because they grew up with me, we were friends from childhood." "Today they are only names." "Euriloch, my cousin." "On deck he was the helmsman, and in combat my right hand." "He was sensible and wise." "Filetor, on Ithaca we hunted together." "Once a wild boar wound me in the thight and I still have a scar." "Filetor grasps him with both hands, overturns him and stabbed him to death." "Heraclio, I knew his family and sons." "Politus, the most strongest of all." "Elpenor wasn't strong and not qute wise but he was wvry dear,more than others, just because he was week." "And thus from the army which left Ithaca, so few remain." "I realise how irrelevant things are when I saw how the dark forces work against our return." " What dark forces?" "Which road would return us in the shortest way to Ithaca that we never found?" "We get lost forever on vast sea, without way." "When we barely glimps our land storm would cast us away to roam again till the next storm enrages the sea and I'll remember that till the end of my life." "It was like some invisible giant hand, throwing the ship to the bottom of the abyss." "You are the great king Odysseus, but still you are only a man." "And according to what you are saying it seems you are a man who tries to succeed alone with reason." "Lets ask the gods for us and you Odysseus maybe we find our answers and you find your answers." " Sacrifices give answer." " What answer?" "Unfavorable." "My people is scared." "It couldn't interpret so you'll." " Not me." "I know that Athena was always near me during fight in Troy thus with her beside me, I always knew what to do." "But when I was at sea I would hear voices of the gods." "Maybe thus is my heart restless and I want to know more." "Why are you hiding about your voyage?" " Why are you asking about it?" " You have survived many things, and you have much suffered.We realize that as soon you have arrived and we show you our compassion." "But if it is god who is your enemy, as the omens say, tell us every secret." "I told you everything, everything I could understand from my encounters with people and things." " Did you have encounter which doesn't belong to the realm of men?" " Yes." " When?" " One day we entered into a river seeking drinking water" " Please Odysseus I would like you to tell us about that first this evening." " Yes." "We sail in a great river with sharp clifs." "We searched to anchor, to take some water." "By the stars I calculated that this was the shore of Lybia but the most distant shore from us, on the very edge of Oceanus where the Sun sunks into the abyss." "If this was correct then we were drawn away from home, not closer." "My men didn't know that, but I was restless and worried like I have a premonition, and also because we found things which looked like someone left them." "I send 3 men in recconaissance mission in the morning just when we arrived." "I hoped they will find something by which I can navigate." "After many hours, those men didn't return and we all become nervous." "I was afraid of a new danger, as their disappearance prolonged." "I didn't know what to do." "3 more who won't see Ithaca again!" "They must have fallen into a trap in this savage land." "Odysseus, we should take a distance from the shores before the night falls." "If you are afraid, I'll go search for your shipmates." "I didn't wish to impose my will, I couldn't manage like in Troy where I had warriors beside me, not people that are scared for their lives." "Only by own example I could reestablish myself as a leader." " And did they follow?" " Three friends we have lost and if we would abandoned them to their fate, that would mean that we are united only in fear." "Fear for our wn survival, fear which isn't friendly but only our enemy." "Without a goal, without order, there is no hope." "But accepting this temptation, they followed me." "As we progress away from the river, The Sun becoms hotter." "The ground was scorched." "We felt dry scent in the air the scent of some flower." "And so we arrived into a village inhabited by men who feed themselves with that flower bitten in mills." "I have already prepared myself to see my men killed or in danger, but instead they sit there among blackskin people behaving strangely and dressed as natives." "Why didn't you return to the ship?" "Because of this?" "Odysseus, what are you afraid of?" "They offered us their hospitality even they don't know the laws of Zeus." "Nature teaches them that, The lotus flower grows and they make sweet powder from it." "Taste, taste it!" "It makes you forget everything like we never need to go from Ithaca." "Who waits for us there anyway?" "Who remembers us?" "Your father Egyptius, remember him." "Remember your bride that you have left one month before marriage." "She may raise you a son one day." "My father is old or dead, my brides sleep with another," "And my son, even if I had brothers, they wouldn't recognize me!" " What kind of father am I?" " People only find new troubles so why then taking risk again?" " Even at home suffering awaits us." "Eat this lotus." "We'll stay in peace forever." "Truly, some divinity brought us into this land." "As I live,I won't let someone forget his home." "Don't listen to him..." "Take them to a ship!" "I order you to take them!" " Tie them!" "Don't listen to them. hey are out of their mind!" "We found people like us." "As I understand, all what happened is that there is a flower which removes memory or wish for it and the past." "Still, seeing those friends, I dreamt about returning and because of the stretching of the ship I have the feeling that winds, currents and forces beyond us already have drawn us away from known sea routes." "We sailed for 18 days and then came in a great archipelago whose islands are near eachother." " Why don't you sleep Euriloch?" " Why are you not sleeping?" "What troubles you Odysseus?" " Nothing,go to sleep like others." "Tomorow we go to hunt on island." "Why you need me if you are hidding your thoughts?" "Why you don't tell me what troubles you?" "Sky...sky have no stars since we left Lotuseaters." "Sky is clear, but no constellation visible." "Very strange." "And a sailor cannot navigate if he hasn't guiding stars." "Odysseus we are lost." "Good sailor is never lost, and danger exist only in our minds." "Go to sleep." "One thing more isn't clear:" "on these islands we didn't find any human traces, even people often go to sea." "Is it possible that they never get there?" "Do they avoid these lands or something hid them?" " But we did manage to get here." " Yes, but why?" "Many unexplainable things happened since we left Troy in flames:" "quarrel among the heroes disperse of the fleet, unnatural winds and storms which cast us away from any known seas." "I don't know Euriloch where we are heading." "I say that to you in confidence but I beg you not to tell the others." "You must unite us Odysseus." "So few have remain of us." "Think about us Odysseus, about our ship, and bring us home!" "This land seems very fruitful!" "It's excellent for farming." "It's good for sowing and also it is inhabitated with wild goats." " Look!" " Where?" " There, that's smoke." " The reassembly squad and we should return backward." " Why?" "Without to find out who lives here?" "You return alone." "I am scared." "And beside that who can live on this island?" "Some lonely savage." "Please Odysseus, lets go." "Why didn't you loose the arrow?" "What are you thinking?" " About that man." " Why worrying about him?" "Maybe he knows something we don't, but..." "you think that he is a savage maybe, but even a savage deserves that we visit him." "He is also a man." "We want to walk beside him without to find something about him and without exchange of gifts." "Whats this?" "This isn't a human footprint!" " Some giant." " Or god." " Or monster Odysseus, I beg you to sail away as soon as possible or we'll regret." "Yes, but maybe we'll be guests to some god." "I procceed with the 12 most bravest men." "I thought that we are strong enough to resist any challenge." "The rest I left to protect the ship and make him ready." "We followed the footprints." "I brought some vessels and full sacks of wine." "And that wasn't ordinary wine, but a gift from Maron the priest of Apollo." "It was very strong." "Every cup must be watered down with 20 cups of water." "Footprints ended before the cave which looks modest from the outside almost like a hollow in rock, but inside it was huge and our steps echoed how we progressed inside." "Hi!" "And you claim that there lived a monster?" "Look at the ropes." "They are twisted wisely." "Look at the knots." "Taste some cheese." " It's good!" " Make as only shepherds know." "Euriloch, look!" "Our hosts bed." "There is a room for all our crew." "And just look at pillow, incredible!" "Lets measure!" "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8." "8 steps?" "Impossible that's for a man!" "Yes." "The axe is so big it can be uses as an anchor." "Think about the strenght of who can hold this." "Sweet, shiny, fresh..." "Scently!" "Take the cheese and everything we can take - " "And fled away?" " Yes." "We aren't thieves." "And its too late anyway." "Hear?" "Our host has returned." "Carefully!" "Strangers, what are you doing here?" "We come to see you better." "How many of you?" "For so long I didn't see humans on this island." "We are men who want to find other people on this island and we saw signs of your power." "You who are so strong and mighty are certainly close to the hearts of the gods." "Accept our friendship we offer you in the name of Zeus hospitality." "In name of Zeus who protects The weak and guests and who leads those astrayed and defends their rights." "Stranger, you must be original and a miserable idiot or you have really come from afar so you know nothing when you speak to me about gods." "I am Polifemus, offspring of Cyclops" "We are stronger than all the gods." "I don't have any intention to spare you nor you nor your comrades to avoid the wrath of Zeus and thus don't ask for that favor." "Then, tell me, where is your ship?" "Is it close?" "Near the shore?" "Our shores are dangerous because of the wind." "I know a safe harbor in this part of the island." "In that moment he couldn't deceit me:" "...Polifemus is one nasty beast." "He wanted to plunder everything from the boat." "His terrifying eye followed me as if he already locked the prey." "He knew we couldn't escape because of the rock closing the entrance and the upper part where the lights enter, was inaccessable." "So I decide to answer by deceit on deceit." "My boat is smashed by your father Poseidon on the clifs of this island." "We barely escaped death." "No, noooooo." "Who knows who will be next?" " No one for now." "Be careful he'll sleep now." "Don't make yourself a hero." "You risk your life for nothing." " I can't just stand and watch." " Where is your famous cunningness Odysseus?" "Even if you pierce his heart by a sword we are lost." "We can't move the rock which barriers the cave entrance and doesn't let us go out." "You are right, but what I saw eclipsed my mind." "More than a terror and horror, I was thwarted by impossibility to fight." "My shipmates prayed." "I thought about ways to escape the monster." "I knew there must be a way, but how?" "The longest night in our lives came." "The weakest among us succeeded to fall asleep." "But to me it was gruesome." "I couldn't accept such end in a dark cave." "And in the morning the monster goes out with his flock and block the cave entrance." "Thru a crack, dthe aylight seems as a joke." "But we have one day of life more, and I was desperately planning." "What horror to avoid war just to die here where courage is useless, and where you can't fight." "This is all your fault." "We shouldn't have listen to you!" " Don't grumble!" "You have a short memory." " Let him talk." "For years we are roaming the seas." "And are we closer to home?" "It's Odysseus guilt." "Odysseus, I don't want to end up being eaten!" "Why didn't you leave us with the Lotuseaters?" "Why?" "Quiet." "I'll save you, but you must listen to me." " Does someone refuse?" " I won't follow your orders!" "Encourage yourself." "Even if we are few, we'll deliver ourselves." "I got an idea." "Prepare timber." "I want it clean as the mast of a ship." "After we skinned, we put the pinnacle in the fire." "Then we hide it." "Now,nothing remained for us but to loose a day till Polifemus returns." "We knew he'll eat someone else." "We will ask the fate who'll take a risk to get close to the monster." "Stop!" "Put my luck beside yours!" "Fate has smiled at me choosing those for I would choose because endevour needs boldness and great steadiness:" "...Heraclio, Filetor, Elpenor, Euriloch and me." "Aaaaaahhhhh." "Polifemus forced us to see his monsterous meal." "Moment came to offer him wine to make him drunk wine for whom only premonition forced me to carry it." "Wine which was given by the priest of Apollo." "Man can drink it only if watered down twenty times." "Cyclop, now you have eaten human flesh, drink this!" "That's wine I brought confident in your hospitality." "How can I believe you?" "What if it is deceit?" "You try it first!" "It's good." "Give me more." "I want more of that wine." "You earned a gift which a guest deserves." "Therefore, don't say I don't know the law of hospitality which is honored by the gods." " Whats your name?" "Tell me." " You wanna know my name?" "My name is famous." "I'll tell you in exchange for the gift you promised me." "Listen carefully!" "Speak!" "My name is Nobody." "My father, my mother and my friends call me Nobody." " Nobody?" "I'll eat you last after I devour all of your friends." "That's my gift to you." "And I want Odysseus to avenge our friends." "Help me brother Cyclops, help me." "They wanna kill me." "It will be useless now when other Cyclops arrive." " Our end is nearing." " It's of no use blinding him." "At least we avenge our friends." "Help me brother Cyclops,help me!" "Whats up, Polifemus?" "What troubles you so you scream so much?" "Why are you awakening us?" "Does somene stolen your flocks?" " No." " Somebody wants to kill you?" "Nobody wants to kill me, Nobody." "Therefore,if nobody wants to kill you, it means that affliction... from Zeus comes to you." "We can't help you." "Call your father Poseidon." "The trick with the name deceived them." "All night he chased us, and roll out of pain." "In the morning the sheeps stand bleating and after some time, the giant feels pity on them." "He found the rock and moves it to let them out." "I supposed that he'll do everything to prevent our leaving." "So I ordered my shipmates to tie themselves beneath bellies of a pair of sheeps." "I can't take you any more to The most fresh grass." "You are now without a shepherd." "But those miserable Greeks will not escape me!" "Tight!" "Tight hard!" "Traitors, they answer me with blindness!" "So my friend escaped." " And how did you escape?" " How did you tie yourself?" "I was attached to a belly of his most dearest ram." "My dearest ram." "Why you are leaving the cave last?" "And you always lead my tender sheeps." "Why are you last today?" "Are you sad because they have blinded me?" "One man blinded me after he tamed me with wine!" "His name is Nobody!" "But I tell you, he still didn't escape death." "If you could only know what I'm feeling, If you could only speak you would tell me where he is hiding!" "Ah!" "Go, go now." "And thus he personally pushed me out of the cave." "Outside I told them:" "Run to the boat!" "Gather the shipmates!" "I was afraid that the other Cyclops could see us." "C'mon, C'mon, un, C'mon, C'mon, all to the ship, run!" "Odysseus!" "What else keeps me among those rocks?" "Why did I hesitate to go to my friends on the shore?" "It would be more prudent to escape in silence." "Hear me!" "As you can see, Nobody isn't a small man!" "The man whom you want to eat all his friends!" "Evil you have done, crashed on your back because you wasn't ashamed to devour your guests!" "I told you nicely that Zeus is merciless to criminals like you." "Cyclop, if anyone among mortals ask you what enemy blinded you tell him it was Odysseus who with cunningness overwhelmed you so mighty!" "Odysseus, destroyer of cities, son of Laertes and king of Ithaca!" "Odysseus, I've known you will blind me!" "It was prophesied to me, but I've imagine you as big a hero like me!" "Thus you deceived me." "Return to me Odysseus!" "Now I know who you are, I give you a good journey." "I'll beg my father Poseidon to follow you!" "Ah father Poseidon!" "You won't get a better eye even from your father Poseidon rise up from the bottom of the Ocean to help you!" "If I only can, I would rip out your heart!" "Hear me Poseidon, overlord of the abyss if it's true that I'm your son, don't let Odysseus return home!" "Thus Polifemus speaks to his father, blue- haired god." "And that's why you see me alone, begging you on my knees." "I depend on you, and only you can help me." "Why are you talking like that Odysseus?" "The forces you awaken, are immensely more powerful than we are and they can fall on us." "But according to you, on what side is justice?" "Is on a side of blasphemous Cyclop who devours his guests?" "You know that we and Cyclops have the same father and don't forget the prophecy also:" "Poseidon will get angry at the Feacians because of the stranger we'll escort at sea." "The prophecy foretold a punishment:" "the ship will be destroyed." "And our city will cover the mountain." "Prophecies are always partly true, only partly and shouldn't prevent us from being honest." "I know Alcinous and I want more from the Feacians and its true that I'm brought here by the wrath of the god who persecuted me." "I would go alone, on raft, so no one get hurt." "Noble Feacians, let our guest speak so we can understand how and why on his return he came to our land!" "Continue, Odysseus." "You move the queens heart, and that's not without reason." "We continued our sailing, after we mourned the dead." "We sailed near the coast, and the wind became calm till we get to the stone wall." "There wasn't any road." "On the top I saw the royal castle so I decided to talk to my crew to calm them down telling the truth and lies." "Stop!" "I saw this island before." "I recognize its shape and colors of the rocks but the castle there above, I don't remember I have ever seen." "We got to go uphill." "Destiny and the needs of the sailors require that." "Why do you look at me like that?" "Maybe you are afraid because of the memory of the disaster on the Cyclops island?" "Take it easy." "This time I will go alone, without anyone." "Come stranger." "Who are you?" "What do you need?" "Noble king, I'm Odysseus, king of Ithaca." " Ah, you are the famous destroyer of Troy?" " Yes noble king." "So you are one who devised the wooden horse?" "Your glory is widespread." "I'm Eolus." "Zeus gave me the power over the winds." "Here beside me are my wife, my children and all my pride." "3 males, and 3 females." "I managed that they marry among themselves so they don't leave their home." "I prepare them for the eternal banquet, an endless party in which you'll partake as long as I wish that." "Odysseus, there are rumours that you live incredible events." "Why don't you tell us so we can keep ourselves awake?" "Eat." "My hospitality will be long and sweet." "All right." "For one month he kept me beside him in his court forcing me to tell once again about the tragic events of the Acheans which were amusing to him, till he can't hold me any more, then I ask him to let me go." "He didn't immediately say NO." "I don't wish to hold you here against your will even my children don't want you to leave." "I thank thee." "You who personally stop your children from leaving, must understand my wish to go home." "Not that I only understand you Odysseus, but I will help you." "You know about my power over the winds." "I will order my servants to skin a calf!" "The skin is bound as a double sheeted sack!" "I closed in all the winds which blow over the sea." "I left you only one, Zephyrus." "It will fill your sail to your homeland." "And when you get there, then throw the sack into the sea." "Still, since I give you this, you must tell me the truth." "If you lie to me, I'll turn against you." "Tell me, does some god prevents you from returning so he don't give winds to you mortals." "No, noble lord,no god persecute me." "I always piously offered sacrifices." " Swear it Odysseus." "Swear that you never insult Poseidon, my lord and I'll seal the winds so you can return to your fatherland." "I swear that I have never insulted Poseidon nor with thoughts nor with deeds." "We finally sailed for days on a calm sea." "I didn't even need to search for a route." "I only followed the wind." "As the wind changed direction, so I steered the ship." " Give me the rudder Odysseus, go to rest." " I'll call you when I need you." "For days you didn't close your eyes." "What are you afraid of?" "I swear that I won't sleep till I see Ithaca." "And despite the god of the sea, we are almost there." "Go and watch." "From Polifemus he took it." "It must be full of gold." "Ithaca!" "Ithaca!" "That's Ithaca, our fatherland!" "The battle was won, I could sleep at last." "You, on oar!" "You, fasten the sail instead of staring!" "Are you not impatient to get there?" "What shall we say to our families?" "Why did our return take so many years?" "Isn't it better to say nothing?" "Are you not you afraid to say what you think?" "Just look, glorious warriors of Troy, who departed in 12 ships!" "Then return with only one and empty handed!" "I wanna know do we have any gold, and I wanna know that now!" "Isn't it enough that you return to home alive?" "No, since I suffered hunger, thirst and danger, it isn't enough!" "It's a shame for a warrior to return home without booty!" "Their sons will never see them again as true man!" "Booty is lost on the other ships, did you forgot that?" "And the sack, what's inside?" "Why did Odysseus never tell us what's inside?" "I wanna know now!" " NO!" "The stormy wind blew us to the middle of the Ocean." "All winds blew simultaneously so it was useless even to try steering the boat, how they raged." "But that lord of the winds, that..." "Eolus, did you really meet him?" "Polibius,what are you trying to say?" "It's a strange story Odysseus, it is hard to comprehend." "It's a special blessing from above, that's for sure, but the opposing forces also." "Nevertheless, it seems that you by yourself govern your roads:" "...you alone wished to see Polifemus, alone to go to the Eolos castle alone to sleep only on sight of Ithaca like you never really wish to return." "I'm no longer the stranger among you." "No one is a stranger among the Feacians." "Our people prosper, and the city has its future." "We are not boasting over anyone." "Whoever comes, if gods the wish for him to stay, we treat him as an equal, as one who wants to live in peace." "I tell you as my own brother Odysseus: stay, be like us." "I'm a stranger who always wish to settle:" "Among Eolus for one month among Kirka for one year..." " Kirka?" "Who's Kirka?" "Kirka is a woman magician with a sweet voice, the sister of Aetes born from Sun and Persea, daughter of the Ocean." "But when we reached that island we failed to understand its secret." "And hoped to return with my company." "After being so many days at sea, we scorched on the sun and a salty wind and a green wall which encompassed the shore promised a lot a shade, a hunt for fresh meat and cold water." "But looking at the forest made me wonder:" "what's hiding behind the trees?" "The next morning I made a decision:" "...I split us up into 2 squads:" "one which is lead by me the other by Eurilochus." "One will explore the island the other will guard the ship." "Who'll decide which squad to go where?" "Lotting, that's best." "I won' impose you my will." "We suffered too much because of my visit to Eolus." "I can't be firm to go personally, and I hope that luck will choose me." "Eurilochus, let the gods decide." "Lets pray to them." "Black stays, white leaves." "Nevertheless I am sorry for not going with you." "Eurilochus squad departed." "It was the first time he goes alone." "We waited." "The twilight came and than the night falls." "At dawn my friends hadn't returned so I prepared to follow their tracks." "Odysseus!" "That's Eurilochus, and alone and he couldn't take a breath so exited he was." "His heart almost break." " Where are our friends?" " Horror, Odysseus!" " Go on!" "What happened?" "Speak!" " I don't know!" "I don't know forest become wierd" " How do you mean wierd?" " It was terrible!" "Horrible!" " Take it easy!" "Where are our comrades?" "Every day seems longer, and fate more hostile." "Indeed, fate has played again and your people suffered." "I tried to save them but didn't know how!" " That wasn't an accusation Odysseus." " I suppose." "The leafs became more rare, and the trees looked less like in autumn  and we heared animal voices, without seeing them." "Suddenly, among the trees we found a ruined wall which seemed like remnant of some ancient and strange building." "We entered it, but the sounds multiplied even more and in all directions like they are echoing eachother." "The others sat tired on the ground, and I left and I heared some terrible grunts." "When I returned I saw my friends packed up one to another like animals." "Yes, it was them, but transformed into pigs!" "Terrified I stared at them, and I heared some music and than a woman appears and comes near the pigs touched them and laughed." " And you?" " I run." "I jumped over the wall and found my way back to here." " Show me that way." " Stop!" "Where are you going?" " Where were you and your squad." " Run from here, I beg you run!" " If you are afraid, I'll go alone!" "And stop trembling, stop it!" "I felt an overwhelming desire to go." " And you weren't scared?" " No, the challenge to discover the unknown was stronger." "As hard it was to me I wished to try again." "My life had no other choice than put it at risk again." "The nature on the island was attractive, and my steps were guided by the song of that woman." "My impatient grew, so I forced myself to be cautious." "Where are you going alone, to on unknown place?" "You know that your friends were transformed into dirty animals by one woman and you are hasting to liberate them." "Are you sure same fate will not fall upon you?" "I think no one but me can save them." "Who are you?" "I find you on the road and you know my name?" "I won't like to tell you my name in this forest, because here lives Kirka and her house is in any tree, all around, in any branch." "She would transform you as any other man that comes to her but she can't." "Then she'll remember that what I already told her, that the traveler with the name Odysseus will arrive and bring her all the goddess didn't know:" "...thoughts, pain and lust for man because that's her destiny." "Turn around!" "Do you see that flower?" "Pick it up, C'mon pick it up" "You can't?" "Look, its easy." "Eat and the spell will be broken." "Now I'll tell you what to do:" "When Kirka falls on her knees, powerless to harm you then draw your sword, with the intention killing her." "You'll scare her and she will offer you her bed." "You won't refuse her because you want to save your friends but be careful Odysseus, you may change into a man who isn't a man, and the plants can't save you from that." "Where are you going?" "Who are you?" "Hermes thus vanished among the trees the messenger from the gods who presented himself as a boy with a golden stick." " So did he tell you his name?" " I knew that it was him." "My heart beats stronger when thinking about Kirka and her magic with which she'll try to seduce me." "What are you looking for?" " Home." " Yours?" "Who knows, maybe its here in the forest." "Look around." "How many searched for her and found it." " What are you doing here?" " Waiting..." "Waiting for someone, forever." "Then tell me his name." "You'll wait less." "Maybe I know him, because I travel from afar and know many men." "I can speak with him if you tell me his name." " You are clever stranger." "But why do you care anyway?" "Lit that fire, please." "Go through there." "The road leads to a house there." "Jump!" " To jump to the other side?" " Isn't that what are you looking for?" "Penelope!" "Come, sit there." "You'll be very happy if you drink this." "About what are you thinking then?" "About that plant with the bitter fruits that should protect me if Hermes didn't lie." "Now you'll painlessly transform into animal." "But I start to feel pain." "It becomes unbearable." "I felt as if fire was burning in my chest, as two forces that collide in me." "C'mon, go to the pigsty!" "Then, at Kirkas face I saw defeat." "First curiosity, than fear." "What Hermes told me, came to fullfilment." "Now, it was Kirka's turn to suffer." "She screamed, twisted ,it was terrible, but as Hermes tell I get the urge to kill her." "I barely restrained because I saw the woman again." "I was saved." "She realised I had greater power than her." "You are Odysseus." "It was foretold to me." "Odysseus will come from Troy." "His mind won't be deceived." "Why don't you kill me?" "Because of my comrades." "I want them back." "Return them to human shape." " Why?" " Because they are people." " I don't understand." " If I tell you that I'm responsible for them will you understand?" " Not yet Odysseus." "I don't know what unites people but I know what you want, and I'll listen to you." "I entered Kirka's magical world." "I didn't understand it, but I went to release my friends not knowing that I'll loose them." "I only felt how unreal everything is." "These are your friends." "That's how they look, but they are unaware of us." "This is their true nature, and they don't need you." "Look good at them." "You can change them back to a human appearance but think twice before you decide." "I want them as men!" "They look as they have awoken from a long dream or got born again, scarred and unawared." "Did they look as before?" "Yes, but with strange glows in their eyes." "Something unknown set between us." "Because of Kirka?" "Because of the power you were given?" "Its human to be afraid of the unknown." "Didn't you convince them?" "Maybe it was wrong not to immediately speak with them friendly." "I barely could speak." "Just as them, I was astonished and restless." "Something unknown set between us for the first time." "I tried to get close to them." "But they run." "Odysseus!" "She was very attractive." "And you abandoned your friends and wished to return because of that woman?" "No, I can't tell I have abandoned them." "They meanwhile fled through the forest and returned to the boat." "I found them on the shore and wished to return them with me, but Eurilochus intervened and convinced them to stop me." "They almost imprisoned me." "Maybe you wished to throw us again in the pigsty?" "You are already becoming a servant of that woman." "Remember the Cyclops perhaps?" "There also your madness had driven us!" "Than he draw his sword, and even if Euriloch was my cousin I threatened that I'll cut his head off." "But they were scared already and delusioned that hardly anything would happen." "They didn't see me a whole year till I was with Kirka." " A whole year?" "Are you sure?" " Sure." "No." "Time flow isn't perceivable in Kirka's habitat, but outside on the shores where my shipmates lived, the days, the months and the seasons pass." "Your friend toiled for that what I would give them for free." "Look at their lives." "Simple savages." "They toil together and still have a poor harvest." "And for me, in this forest, wine is as abundant as my heart wish to be without need for picking, pressing, rain or sun." "See how everything is prepared?" "This cabin for example." "Even the garden." "It's not because of ingratitude that my men don't want to live here." "They are common people, accomodated to that and in fear for us." "No,it isn't their fear which separated them from us but some of your thoughts." "Isn't it?" "Do I have thoughts you don't know?" "C'mon." "Odysseus!" "Odysseus!" "Speak, what do you want?" "What do you want to tell me?" "Speak Eurilochus." "You forgot Ithaca Odysseus." "You promised to return us all home, and you forgot your promise." " Watch your mouth!" " You are not king of Ithaca anymore." "You are not a king, You are not even a man of Ithaca." " Odysseus!" "Odysseus!" " Where are you?" "It was a nasty dream which leaves pain in my heart but I understood that the day of return had come." "Urge for the fatherland ressurected in me." "That means to gather my comrades again." "Now I should gathered strength..." " ...to leave Kirka?" " To tell them the truth." " That you are close to her?" "I couldn't do anything without her." "That was her magic." "And even to leave I needed her help." "I'm going to my queen." "I know I can't love myself and you don't love me either." "That's my destiny." "Only those astrayed and those desperate for return the gods send to me." "No one loves me." "No one loves the unknown." "They only want to forget everything to be drawn into their peace, bound like animals around me, waiting for a peaceful death." "That's why I don't expect anything from men." "I never used force to have them stay with me." "Go if you want!" "I didn't press you then, I won't do it now." "When I told you to jump over the fire, you jumped." "I didn't force you." "So why are you asking me now to let you go when you know I can't bind you?" "Why are you asking me?" "Remember what I said, when you wanted to return your friends into men?" "You risked your life." "I know, but we can't escape fate:" "our homeland the land of our fathers,that's also what the gods put in our hearts." "But you know I can't protect you there?" "And you Odysseus, away from this place you won't have powers?" "Powers that return your friends to people." "I told her again I wanted to go, and she didn't respond surprised nor grieved, but why she insisted to warn me about the destiny of my shipmates?" "She tried to protect me from inssufferable hardships." "That I understood." "Odysseus, when you arrived on this island did you know whom you'll find?" " No." "And when you searched for my home, and found me in the forest did you only look for your friends?" "You alone got here." "Why?" "Did you think you could save their lives?" "Or did you wish that only men look at the secrets of heaven?" "You crossed the line Odysseus." "Its too late to return." "All what's left is to cross the step of the abyss." " What abyss?" " Hades." "The path you choose to return home, leads over the other side of the ocean, where dead dwells." "Only there you'll find what you searched for so desperately." "And now behold, you enter the realm of dead." "It's a great honor for a mortal to visit that realm." "Odysseus, tell us in detail about your extraordinary experience." "Your privilage is also ours." "We'll be very grateful." "Your homeland isn't so distant any more." "In Erebus everything is infinetely distant, because memories fade away." "It was a spirit assembly:" "the maidens of sad faces and elders and warriors fallen in battle." "I followed Kirkas advice:" "You'll sacrifice a black lamb and its blood will flow for the blind prophet Tiresias." "And pursuing the other spirits, speak:" "the gods of Hades:" "...the gods of Hades..." " the gods of Hades..." " And you, the dead..." " And you, the dead who dwell in this hopeless place who dwell in this hopeless place if I ever return to Ithaca, I swear to sacrifice a fat calf as offering." "And to Tiresias black wool ram." "Give us blood." "Get back." "Don't come near." "Don't test my pity." "I must speak only with Tiresias." " Give me to drink...that blood." " Mother, Mother, what are you doing here?" "Oh son of Laertes, many turning and cunning why have you, misfortuned, left the sunlight?" "Why did you come into this house without joy?" "To ask you Tiresias, and to know my destiny." "Put away your sword and give me to drink blood if you want to know the truth." "You want to know the day of your return return which the god will make bitter." "You want to escape the wrath of Poseidon because you've blinded his son, and mocked him severely." "How much I'll suffer because of that?" "Tell me one thing:" "...shall I ever return to my homeland?" "Return to Ithaca?" " you'll return, yes but you'll endure many more misfortunes." "You'll come late and with difficulties, and you'll loose all your friends." "On a ship which isn't yours." "And in your home you'll find people who bully your wife Penelope." " You'll avenge them." " Only on that day I shall see Ithaca?" "Not even than you'll stop, but on the first occasion you'll abandon your island, and sail till you come among men who don't know about sailing, and don't salt their food." "They'll look at you in awe." "Than, stick oar into the ground and make a sacrifice to Poseidon." "Than you'll return home and find your rest." "Death will come gently on you when oldness overcomes you." "People around you will live happily." "That's your destiny." "I told you the truth." " No!" " Go Odysseus, leave this dark place this ultimate place." "Forget us, the dead." "I've heared your truth, but let me see my mother now." "If she is here,let me hear her for the last time." "I can't allow you, nor forbid you:" "I'm no more, I'm gone." "Go son on daylight, You must save your dear." "I see your presence Agamemnon, glorious Atrides, tell me:" "...what fate befell on you?" "Are you drawn?" "Did some evil happen?" "Or you are killed by the enemy?" "My queen, Klitemnestra, set my death." "As bull I've fallen, smitten by the sword of her lover." "Ah, there wasn't such evil bitch ever but this one who conceived crime in heart." "Terrible crime she plotted planning death to a lawful husband." "What shameful and monstruous act she committed to ashame every future wifes, even decent ones." "Listen carefully to my advice:" "When you come to your homeland, you disembark in secrecy!" "Don't trust no one, not your best friend, not even your wife." "Good bye Agamemnon." "After me, no one should be loyal to his dear." "One speak, others do, if you don't want to die young." "When I went to war, I left Penelope as a young woman." "In your home you'll find people bullying your wife." "Achilles!" "No more Achilles." "He died on the plains of Troy." "Till you were alive, we worship you as a god now I see that you are the lord among the dead so don't be sad for Achilles being dead." "Don't comfort me." "I would rather be a slave in a poor man's house but alive on earth, than ruler among the dead." "Guard your precious life Odysseus." "That's your best treasure and property." "Go immediately with the sunlight my son, you must save... your dear." "Mother, my dear mother, I see you for the last time." "I didn't know how to save you." "Forgive me." "My offspring, how did you get here?" "It is terrible here to watch you alive." "When you die, is there anyone close to your eyes?" "Did you receive a proper funeral?" "I'm dead, and nothing else matters." "I've fulfilled my destiny." "But when you ask me to long for you, I take my own life." "And my father?" "Your father has grown old from waithing for you." "He doesnt come to town, but dwells among the servants." "As a savage,he sleeps near the fire in the winter and on a pile of leaves in summertime." "Where the night falls, there he is sighing for you." "My mother, let me hug you." "Let me touch you." "You can't my son, that's the law of the death." "My veins don't hold flesh any more, fire devours them mercilessly and the soul as a tender dream evaporates." "But you return with the sunlight!" "Hug me!" "Ah, mother!" "3 times you've tried ." "Your heart wished for a hug." "3 times as the shadow or a dream she slips through the arms." "The unstoppable pain is deeper and deeper." "Odysseus, Odysseus." "Elpenor!" "Yes, it's me, the most misfortuned among your friends." "But I left you alive on Kirka island!" "Son of Laertes, don't leave me unburried." "Give me a proper burial before you abandon Kirkas island." "Bury me with my armor." "Make a grave on the seashore and stick my oar into the ground." "Now you have one friend less Odysseus." " What happened to Elpenor?" " It just now happened." "He was up there singing and slipped." "Maybe he was drunk." "We heared moans." "We called for you but you weren't there." "He's dead." "Where were you Odysseus, all these months?" "The shadows buries shadows." "Elpenor, most innocent among us." "I don't believe anymore there is a salvation for anyone." "It's time for you to return Odysseus." "No!" "Not without my friends." "I'll fight for them to death." "But you can still save them, think about that." "Is it true what you are saying, because Tiresias told me:" "You'll return alone, without friends?" "You are already alone Odysseus, since you returned from the house of Hades." "You are a man with two deaths." "This is what Tiresias wished to tell you:" "don't expect that your crew obeys to you as before." "Elpenor!" "Elpenor!" "Elpenor!" "Prepare for your journey Odysseus." "I'll show you that even that brings me pain." "Saying this Kirka goes into her cabin." "From her lips she foretold me a prophecy." "I'll tell you all what will happen to you on your journey so that you and your shipmates know that there is a path of salvation." "First, you'll come to the Sirens, who atracts everyone who gets near to them. you'll see the rock, but you won't hear the sea and you'll understand that you came to a terrible place." "Don't get close, because there are only bones of those who heared the Sirens song." "Will you be able to resist the temptation?" "Where to will you direct your ship's prow?" "Then avoid the wandering rocks taking direction to Big Dipper." "Only one man, Jason, navigated them for avoiding doom because he was loved by the goddess." "You may not even try to see them!" "That will be your second temptation." "And third you'll have on the island There you'll see black pasturing cattle." "Don't kill them." "They are the Sun cattle." "But you'll be hungry and devoid of hope." "Than you'll sucumb, on the last temptation." "I have nothing to say to you any more Odysseus." "The moment of departure has arrived." "Euriloch, Filetor, Heraclio, come and listen." "As soon as we set sail, the temptations will wait for us." "If you want to listen to me, you'll all die and no one will be saved." " Why are you threathening us Odysseus?" " I don't threaten that's the prophecy of Tiresias." "That's what I take with me from Hades." "It isn't enough you've traveled all the seas... but you've also returned from the dead!" "Why are you mocking us?" "We still mourn Elpenor who just went to the underworld - " "No mortal ever returned from Hades." " Maybe you think you are a god?" " You must believe me!" "All right." "If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe Kirkas words!" " Kirka?" " Who's Kirka?" " Don't you remember anything?" " Remember what?" "Nothing?" "Not even how she transformed you into pigs,and I return you to humans?" "And what did she give us to eat?" "Acorn?" "We are all tired Odysseus, tired of your stories." "Like this journey that never ends." "You are alone Odysseus, because you know what they don't." "I'll evaporate from the memory of your friends and memory about this island." "But everything you know and they don't, that I can't erase." "The wind stops and some divinity calms the waves." "My shipmates row on the white sea foam." "Then, I cut small bits of wax and press them." "One shipmate after the other, I seal their ears." "I knew we were near the island of the Sirens." "If he blocks our ears, how shall we hear his commands?" "I don't know for sure Odysseus, are there any Sirens but if there are, I hope you'll hear their song and throw youself into the sea." "Your shipmates don't believe in you." "They think you are out of your mind." "My mind is sane and I'll prove that to you:" "What you want to hear, I'll hear and stay alive!" "That's my place." "Follow me, as we don't have much time." "Hear what I say unto you, goddess Kirka, and remember that even I won't tell or show you everything." "I'm not reevealing which of the two ways is correct." "You must decide that by your own wisdom." "Tie here, strong, with that rope, and very tight." "And remember: however much I beg you, or give you signs with my eyes to untie me, don't listen but on the contrary, tighten me even more." "We are close now." "You may hear them." "Odysseus, Odysseus, glory of all Ahaya stop your ship, hear our voice." "Come to us who gives glory to the people." "Drop your ties, release your body." "RELEASE YOURSELF!" "Come, and you'll know the things of the past and the future you'll know all the glory of man, and cities gone and more to come." "Leave your friends and that pointless voyage and all the years of sufferings!" "COME!" "Leave your friends and that pointless voyage..." "Don't be a coward!" "DONT BE A COWARD!" " Untie me!" " Be powerful!" " C'mon, untie me, untie me, help!" " Don't be a coward." "Come!" "I've come to my end." "My destiny is fulfilled here." "I've suffered, I've suffered too much!" "I wish to die, I'm sick" "I wish to die, my mind is fading." "The horrible sound gone as a breath and stop tearing apart my mind." "I come to myself fatique and wounded." "I believed I was a victim of a nightmare with plenty of bones of other victims which whiten on the rocks of the Sirens island." "And the shipmates saw sceletons, and pressed hard on the oars to escape the awfull sight." "The sky became again serene and clear and the song we heared comes from the birds, high in the sky." "I was happy again." "We are distancing by now." "Feel it?" "No, I do not feel." "Kirka was wrong." "I heared the Sirens and survived." "Even man can overcome the diwine forces." "Euriloch, we still can be saved." "We'll avoid the rocks, taking the longer path." "Only be patient." "We musn't give up, understood?" "We won't stop till we come to Ithaca, no matter the reason." "We'll be safe if we avoid the island of Sun." "Anounce to the comrades." "Go, tell them!" "But they didn't obey." "They didn't tell me a word not even Euriloch." "For them I was crazy." "We arrived at the island." "They disembarked and I couldn't stop them." "I just prayed this isn't the island of Sun." "It was our last stop." "If we just had avoided it!" "You'll come to the island of Trinakia." "There is a pasture of cattle whose horns are like crescent Moon, and which Sun Hyperion trusted to two nymphs, his daughters." "They are beget by Nera and send them to guard the herd of their father." "You want see the nymphs, but don't insult them but leave the black herd untouched and think about your return only." "But you and your shipmates will get hungry and fall into temptation." "This is your last temptation Odysseus." "Do not fail." " Lets go out of here." " Wait for the winds to blow." "Hear me." "If you still admit to my authority, you must swear to me." "What's in the ship, eat and drink." "I decided to disclose you a secret which haunts me:" "...Look at these cows." "That's the Sun cattle." "Don't touch them, don't even think to touch them." "I say to you that this is last test we must pass." "But if we fail, the prophecy of Tiresias from Hades will fulfill." "No one will see his home again." "It doesn't matter if you don't trust me." "Just swear it." "On your knees, all of you!" "Ah,misfortuned, you always think about combat and fight." "The whole month the absence of the wind prevented our sailing and my shipmates, as long as there was food on the boat, kept their oath." "They avoid the herd." "And then the hunger started to torment them." "They searched for food but in vain." "And the Sun cattle stood there, inert and tempting." "You'll get hungry and you'll loose all your hope." "You'll be tempted by insubordination, and you'll fail the last temptation." "You'll get hungry and you'll loose all your hope." "You'll be tempted by insubordination,and you'll fail the last temptation." "I begin to pray:" "Father Zeus and you the blessed immortal gods restore to me the trust of my friends." "I don't want to see them dying nor loose my mind and all what is dear to me." "Better, take my life." "Should we drop dead by hunger because of some oath to Odysseus?" "He everywhere sees magic since his aledged return from Hades!" "Look at these cows." "What can be diwine with them?" "Well, Odysseus says so, but should we trust him?" "All deaths are gruesome, but none as death by famine." "Wait a minute." "If Odysseus is sensible may be the cattle is divine?" "Even if they belong to Sun, maybe we should care?" "I don't." "I'll rather loose my life among the waves than on this island from starvation!" "Eurilochus is right." "Eat once and for ever!" "I want to tell you everything." "You'll must decide by yourself." "I come to late and thats better, because at least I didn't see." "I tell them nothing." "They feast all night." "In the morning we sailed at sea, and I looked at my friend with pity and I heared again the voice of Tiresias:" "You'll loose them all." "Sun said:" "I'll decent into the house of Hades and shine on the dead." "Sun was blotted out suddenly." "Odysseus, what's happening?" "In a moment, the darkness enveloped the concaves of the ship and the sea took the colour of the night." "Drop the sail!" "Filetor, quick!" "All was true!" "In vain Odysseus this is the vengeance from the god, we are finished!" "We are not finished as long as we alive!" "What are you doing?" "Row!" "Quick!" "Don't give up!" "Struck by the last wave, the ship inclined." "I felt the stench of sulphur." "We all fall into the sea." "I watched my friend driven by the waves." "Nine days I fought with the currents, on the 10th Calypso saved me and hold me for seven years." "Then she give me a raft and thus I come here." "This man hasn't delivered himself by his own strenght nor by his great cleverness, nor by the urge to return but by will which is uncomprehendable even to you Odysseus." "Not even he will understand why his destiny was to return alone." "Thus noble Feaciams, we'll give him a ship and help and accept the danger of Poseidon's wrath." "The ship will be prepared for you Odysseus by the morning." "Don't forget that I also saved your life." "Once in Delos, in the Apollo sanctuary I saw a young palm." "I was delighted by her appearance, just as I'm now with yours." "Are you sure that your wife still waits for you?" "How much time has passed?" "Maybe there is some other king on Ithaca?" "Maybe others got use to what was yours." "Be happy at your home, beside your family, and don't forget me." "the ship arrived at the coast of Ithaca where two sharp cliffs distract the waves send by the winds." "Here Odysseus landed in his homeland." "He can already see the tops of his palace." "But everything looks so different." "He was absent for too long." "Suddenly, like fear attacked him, he decide not to go into the town but to go on the fields." "Friend,you are the first one I found here." "Please, tell me where am I?" "Is this the island or the main land?" "From where do you come that you don't know?" "This is a small country but famous." "Rugged, lovely, rocky, but rich in olives and wine." "Unknown, yet her name reached to Troy." " Ithaca stranger." " Ithaca..." "Ah yes." "I've heared that name." "I came from Egypt, the land of the Pharaos, where I lead twenty big ships but they catch me...and..." "throw in a dungeon for seven years and my companions were killed by the soldiers." "Reprobrate." "Insolent." "Liar!" "Don't you change even at your home?" "In front of your cunning even a god should be aware." "I know you deceiver." "You are Odysseus, The greatest bluffer!" "You don't know me?" "It's me Athena." "I'm here as always to help you." "To recognize you?" "Who can, when you appearance is always different?" "I know you protect me in Troy during combat." "But you were more the observer than the protector!" "And you blame me for defending myself with lies, after so many years of danger?" "You are always the same, and that's why I like you." "Someone else would overcome his pain, and would jump into his wife's and his son's bosom but not you." "You know that no one know for you and that's why I want to help you." "I'll transform you into an old beggar, and no one will recognize you if you don't wish that." "and thus Athena went rucked his skin and made him look old and giving him an old smoked rag." "First go to Eumeus, the faithful swineherd who is dear to your son and Penelope." "He try to recall where Eumeus is the cabin where he from birth guarded his herd." "You are lucky stranger." "They could bite you." "Come, go inside." "Odysseus surprised watched the fence and how it was big and steadily built." "It didn't exist there earlier but Eumeus built it in the absence of his master so that he may better guard the flock and the herd entrusted to him." "He was a loyal servant and Odysseus was pleased to see that." "Come, take some bread and wine." "Than tell me who you are." "Let Zeus protect you, who guard your guests." "Let Zeus save you, Zeus hospitable!" "Odysseus rejoiced again." "Even his appearance was so poor that he would convince everyone of his misery Eumeus accepted him kindly and with respect." "Tonight we'll talk more, but now you must refresh." "I only have some cheese." "It was different with my master." "Then I could offer you more..." "but he with others went to Troy and didn't return." "Take it." "He was a great king." "Telemachus, son of Odysseus, left Sparta and found his boat on the shores of Pylos." "His voyage was useless." "No one has news about his father." "He only got the advice to return home asap." "My friend, I beg you, for your life's sake and your friends, take me with your boat, in the name of Zeus!" "I killed a man in self defence, so I can't dwell in the city anymore." "Friends and family of the dead, searched for me to kill me." " Who are you?" " Teoclimen is my name." "I'm a magician." "I know you are Telemachus and you have enemyes at home." "When you return, don't go between the strait of Same and Ithaca." "They lurk for you to throw you on the bay rocks if you don't go around." "Land on the oposite side of Ithaca, and go through the villages!" " Come, get on deck." " Thank you." "May Zeus bless you." "I'm feeding these porks, to preserve something for my master." "They say he's dead, but if he shows up I would tell him:" "...I knew always you'll return and proof is these porks that the enemy didn't devour." " Enemy?" "What enemy?" " From where do you fall?" "You don't know how we live here?" "Or are you with those bullies?" "But that can't be." "You are miserable like me and we can't trick even ourselves." "If you don't know, I'll tell you what's going on here on Ithaca so you know something and then I can go to work." "Thus the night falls." "And after that they eat some meat from the pig Eumeus prepared, then they go to sleep." "If your master returns, should he recognize Ithaca?" " I think he won't unfortunately." " Unfortunately?" "He is a king returning to his people." "The folk would rejoice!" "The folk would probably like it, but I told you what is happening at his court." "If Odysseus returns, according to me, its better to have him disguise himself as a beggar." "I see." "But at the court there is still a queen." "And his son." "No, Telemachus went to search for his father, and no one knows where." "And regarding the queen, I don't know about her." "I didn't see her for a long time." "So my master only lives im my memory and that gives me strenght." "My master likes me, and he would give me a wife to marry as reward for my work." "the rosy fingered dawn comes swiftly." "In his cabin, Eumeus was already on his fits." "He lit the fire and made breakfast." "Other shepherds came and joined." " Do you want some olives?" " No, thanks." "Today you pasture the flock." "I stay with the stranger." " Good, we are going." " Good work." " Thanks." "You know the prun tree, even you don't have the hands of a peasant." "You are right." "I'm not peasant." "I commanded an army and a fleet." "The moment arrived when I must go to Troy and leave my homeland which was like this land." "Twenty years ago." "Do you want me to understand something?" "That this is a land you have left?" "No." "Did you see a wineyard?" "I think the master left him there deliberately knowing that the winds from the sea don't blow there." "Correct." "It was Odysseus." "Continue to talk." "You don't know what joy your word gives me." " Did you finish pruning?" " What?" "No, not yet." "You are right, it's no time for talking." "Let's continue working." "You know there are many other ways to prun a tree..." "Like these!" "The same evening Telemachus returns to Ithaca and Teoclimen the magician told him to get patient with his return to the court." "You go to the harbour, and I'm going to Eumeus." "He awoke at night and saw Eumeus outside." "He heared steps and the barking of dogs who were exited like they saw someone familiar." "Telemachus, Telemachus, you've returned, you've returned my son." "Come." "We worry for you." "Did your mother see you?" "I've come here first, before I go to the court." "What happened during my absence?" "Did my mother choose a new husband?" "No, nothing happened." "Come!" " Who's that?" " I don't know." "He said he is seaman." " I trust him with your hospitality." " Me?" "In my own home I can't defend myself from insults." "Now I can't even protect myself." "Do you know who I am?" "It's better for me to disappear at sea now that I'm scared to go to my own home." "I'm afraid Eumeus, that's why I'm here and I think its better that my mother gave up and marry again." "Athena then comes to Odysseus visible only to him, standing in the middle of the cabin and told him:" "...Oh son of Laertes, now you see your son don't hide from him anymore." "Young prince, let me tell you something:" "...not about your mother, you wouldn't let me, but about you." "I've heard what is happening in your house." "Is it because of you?" "Don't they have their property or don't you have brothers to help you?" "Ah, if I'm strong like you and that son of Odysseus is by my side we would wait for his return together." "Or don't you believe you'll see him?" "Guest, it's true...it's not the folk that is against me, in fact:" "...Ithacians love me, but I don't have brothers, I'm the only son like he was the only son of Laertes." "And if my enemies manage to eliminate me our line will disappear." "Eumeus, who's this stranger who is allowed to speak with me like he is my father  1000 times it's better for me to die in my own home defending it than to suffer the tyrany of usurpers!" " For heaven's sake,who are you?" " Odysseus, your father." "Master, I didn't recognize you immediately and give you due honour." "You recognized me and you knew to honor me in silence." "My son, I know your heart is in amazement now." "I look so differently than you imagined me but I don't think it's easier for me to hug you." "I also have never seen you..." "and I imagined you for so long." "Let me look at you." "No, Eumeus, stay with us." "And thus Telemachus finally believed and hugged his father." "From the bottom of their hearts they both wished to cry." "As a cuckoo or a bend clawed hawk, whom peasants take away youngs before they can fly." "Lets prepare to return to the court and the return of Odysseus: only tell me, is it enough that Athena is with us or shall I search for more allies among us and the pretenders which will execute wrath with their swords." "You alone will return to Ithaca." "They'll ask you for those who had gone with you twenty years ago you'll must convince the assembly." " I know, but I won't convince them." "Assembly is always with those that are the strongest." "Who are those pretenders?" " Worst are Antionous and Eurimach." " But they are only kids!" " Yes, they were 20 years earlier." " You are right." "And the rest?" " Melantius,Amfinomus - " " Ctesipus. - and Amfimedont, son of Melanus." " I see." "How much in total?" " Only from Samos, a dosen." " Too much Odysseus, too much." " None of them knows about my return." " And my mother?" " No, not even her." "In the mean time, the ship that the pretenders send returned to Ithaca without interception at sea." "He goes the other route." "He was lucky to be informed." "Yes." "Get rid of him before he summons another assembly." " To the village." "To the village to kill him there." " It's not enough anymore just to plunder his wealth." "penelope heared that the pretenders are on their way to court. he lead them into the court room where she takes her place near the kings throne to listen to their words." " What did you do to my son?" " Your son?" " His ship is in the harbour." "Didn't he arrive?" " I ask you where he is?" "I don't know." "I'm not his tutor." " I know your intentions Antinoüs." " You are badly informed." "Your father once fell on his knees in this very room begging Odysseus." "For protection!" "Odysseus saved his life and you now conspired against his son!" "Coward, you are like your father!" "I don't have pretensions on the sanctity of your son's life!" "In fact, as long as I live, I guarantee for his life." "Telemachus!" "Telemachus has arrived!" "She jumped and hugged her beloved son." "She kissed him on the head and both his dark eyes:" "...you've come Telemachus, my sunshine." "Than the prophet Teoclimen enters whom Telemachus took from Pylos, to be washed and annoited." "You've come back and changed." "More resolved and quiet." "I'm very happy." "More than happy." "I wish I could afford you a better welcome." "When your father went to war, do you know what he told me?" "If I don't return, I will trust you with everything:" "home, servants, elders and my son." "As soon as the first beard appears, give him regency." "That means mother, that he didn't tell you:" "Marry again?" " You know this stranger?" " You tell me that his name is Teoclimen." "He's from Argos." "In Pylos he asked me for protection." "He killed a man." "Why you bring me a murderer into my house?" "He's foretelling the future." "He advised me to change the course." " Maybe I owe him a life." " Many strangers in this house speak about the future, but no one tells anything about your father." "You go on a very dangerous road." "Was there any news?" "In Pylos Nestor welcomed me warmly, but he didn't have any news." "In Sparta I met Helen and Menelaus." "To them I told what is happening on Ithaca, and they say that your fidelity shall be rewarded, but they also didn't know anything about my father." "Faithful lady of Odysseus, what can Menelaus tell your son?" "Why don't you ask me when I am a fortuneteller?" "I'm not looking at people, but into heavenly signs." "I would tell you that you must endure and trick the pretenders a little bit more!" "Your husband you know, wouldn't do any different and you know that." " What was he?" " Who?" " When you married him, what was he?" "Odysseus...what was he?" "He was the last man who came to take me as wife." "My father didn't like him." "He wasn't rich nor daring." "When my father said 'no', he looked to ground with his eyes he went outside not even turning around." "I followed him and when he looked at me he already packed his cart." "He didn't say anything." "And sat next to him and we went." "My father stood before the horse and said:" "I order you to get off but I took my veil and covered my face." "Odysseus whipped the horse..." "And we went." "...Odysseus and Eumeus in the mean time came to the city The swineherd gives his master a stab and a sack making him to look even more as a beggar." "And the people they met said:" "Really, that man is with those that look most like him." "Look at the swineherd leading the beggar." "I can see that you changed Penelope, you have become more handsome." " What excites that beauty?" " You are lying." "He only exults your beauty queen." "He was just being honest, as always as the rest of us when we admire." " My beauty doesn't exist anymore since my husband disappeared." "Why then, are we here?" "Not for me." "Even more handsome, the goddess makes her..." "Silence, comrades!" "...toller..." "Penelope wishes to say us something." "...whiter than ivory." "It was always custom, that when the nobleman wanted to marry that he bring with him wedding gifts, and not to plunder the woman." "Is this some childish trick?" "Another way to buy some time?" "No, we don't believe you:" "You'll comply soon." "If you want wedding gifts, you'll get them this evening but don't even think we shall abandon this house before you have made your choice." "Even more handsome and more attractive, the goddess made her..." "Friends, tomorrow we'll know who'll be king of Ithaca." "...more whiter than ivory..." "Let us continue enjoying the queen's hospitality." "...but she didn't let her see her husband." "He just crossed the doorstep and watched everything." "His should be tormented between joy and pain." "I'll stand here." "It's better they don't see us together." "The princes know my loyalty, so they enjoy humiliating me." "And they'll humiliate you even more because of me." "Argos!" "The name of that dog is Argos." "Odysseus himself raised him and go on hunting." "You recognize me...after so many years." "Odysseus erased his tears secretly, and Argos died after seeing his master after twenty years." "What do you want here beggar?" "Who are you?" "Do you wish for food without work?" "Then Odysseus entered as a beggar old and miserable with a wretched body dressed in rags." "Euriclea!" "Give him this bread and tell him not to be shy, but to ask." " Telemachus gives you this." " Let Zeus protect you..." "The pretenders murmur in the court room and Athena comes to encourage Odysseus and pushed him to pickup the remains of the pretenders to see who among them is just and who is not." "But they want to escape punishment anyway" " Gimme little Sir." " Who's this?" " Please, give me mercy." " Who are you beggar?" "They were all young to Odysseus." "He watched them drinking oblivious of their sin and asked himself who'll avoid his wrath." " A little bit for the old man." " Go away!" "Telemachus are we deficient with beggars?" "And are all of them strangers?" "And you even complain that we eat everything from you!" "I'm grateful to you Eurimachus to worry for me but don't, because I allow him to beg." "Go!" "Mercy I ask." "Thank you, let Zeus reward you." "You give me also, friend, you who have posture of a great gentleman..." "Who is more rich, let him give more." "That's the rule in my land of Crete island of Minos, you've heared?" "I was also powerful once and give." "I've had servats, estates, herds, houses, but Zeus crumbled me to this state." "Misfortune suddenly came:" "...I've have nine pretty ships, and went to Egypt for grain but my friends started to devastate the fields, ruin everything raping women, killing men, and I paid for all." "He paid for all..." "and we'll pay for him!" " You are Antinoüs?" "One of the princes who never gives nothing to anyone, not even a grain of salt nor a piece of bread which isn't yours anyway." "In Telemachus heart the sorrow arose because of the humiliation of his father, but still he didn't shed a tear." "He watched in silence, in his heart devising a plot." "It's one thing to be wounded in battle, a different thing to be beaten because you are hungry." "If there is a god for poor men, you'll pay." "Shut up and get out, or I'll throw you away." "Stranger come." "Last night I dreamed a strange dream:" "Twenty geese ate some grain in this house." "Not too long from the great mountain eagle descending..." "That's a beggar, he came from afar." "...and break necks to those geese." "What's the meaning of that?" "Why didn't you listen stranger who has come?" "Here is Ir, we'll have some fun." "Two dogs around same bone!" "He was known beggar always ready to drink and eat." "Arnos is his name." "That's name given to him at birth, but all called him Ir...because he brings news." "Who is this?" "He took my place!" "Get lost now, if you don't want me to grasp you with my hands, you miserable!" "Irus!" "Bravely!" "Shake him out of his skin." "Go on!" "Hear them?" "Run till you can." "Don't make me break your bones." "What I have done wrong to you, friend?" "You are like me, so do what I do." "Take what they give you there is a room for everyone." " What are you saying you idiot?" "There is place only for me." "Now you'll spit your teeths." "Don't challenge me." "Wait gentlemen, now there'll be a show." "C'mon, amuse us punks." "Here is your reward:" "...he who wins take this, he that looses, gets out." "I'll fight because I'm hungry, but promise you'll want to beat me later?" "Enough talking." "Get out and fight!" "Start fighting fools!" "Then Odysseus, covered intimate places but reveal his mighty arms, hights and muscles... show himself with his broad shoulders and Athena strenghten his arms which used to tame the strong." "Odysseus struck below the ear..." "Odysseus struck below the ear and broke his bone inside." "...and broke his bone inside." "From the mouth the crimson blood emerged..." "From the mouth the crimson blood emerged..." "Narratorand Chorus:" "...and with a scream he fell to dust gnawing teeth, he struck the ground." "Odysseus then said with pity to Irus: sit there and forsake the dogs and the pigs from the doorstep instead to believe that you are a king of beggars: the miserable always remain miserable." "This is yours." "And now friends, let everyone go to his home." "The queen asks for wedding gifts." "This night let everyone send his own gifts, so not to loose time Because she looks impatient to make her choice." " You fought well old man." " Thank you." "You are Amfinomus son of Nisus, right?" "I met your father in battle." "Listen me for a moment:" "There is nothing more misfortuned than a man:" "...till it's good, he believes that it all the time will be like that but he doesn't understand that today or tomorrow, everything can change." "...Your friends behave as if punishment will never come." "Well, you don't say?" "The beggar who becomes a prophet!" "Go further away from this home and don't come back!" " Stranger, my mistress send me." "She want to speak with you." " Now?" "Yes now, its a queen who is interested in you." "No, not now, after dusk." "Aninous..." "Leucritus..." "Eurimachus!" "...quickly...finish it..." "Even at night you are here to bother." "Now you'll see!" " Sit, I want to speak with you." " To sit?" "No, queen I'm only a poor beggar." " Guests and the poor are the same to me please." " Let me on place for beggars." "Who are you?" "How did you get here?" "Why are you so restrained?" "Why so shy?" "Why?" "Everyone can see that you have suffered." "Exactly because of that, you'll be respected in this house." "I know about pain." "Thus she said, and he wished to cry." "Like the wish of a shipwreck sailor, whom Poseidon smashed the ship at sea, overcome by winds and big waves, from which so few sailors escape from in the white sea swimming to a shore, with the skin scorched by salt and with the urge for solid ground, for salvation from death so he wished for his wife looks." " So speak." "I ask you who are you." "If I tell you my story, you'll think I'm liar..." "And it's not I that interests you, but your husband." "And I saw him..." "You saw Odysseus." "He went to Troy for so many years ago." "Give me some proof that you saw him." "What do you remember?" "Twenty years have past." "Many summers." "But I remember he had a red cloak, with a golden button on which is depicted a dog grasping deer." "And the deer tries to escape." "Such cloak he had." "Stranger, how do you know all that?" "Who are you?" "Well, I..." "I am..." "I am Eton." "The city in which I grew up was Knossos." "But you are..." "Odysseus." "My father is Deucalion, offspring of Minos, son of the great Zeus." "My brother is Idomeneus." "He went to Troy and he is one of few to return." "If it's you Odysseus, why you don't tell me?" "Your glory queen claimed that you are a great woman." "Odysseus!" "You'll sleep here tonight." "I'll order to prepare you a bed." "Euriclea, take care for the guest." "He isn't a beggar but Eton from Crete." "He use to be a king." "He is the same age like your master." "We mortals quickly grow old." "You know whom you look like?" "The master." "You have the same posture, the same voice." "I know, I think the same." "Master, honored by your old nurse, who knows where you are?" "You live in some house like this, and are begging for a crust of bread." "Humiliated, forsaken, you serve the strong who oppress you." "She washed the legs of her master and looked for scars which bore inflicts with his tusk, when he hunted the young." "Odysseus!" "Odysseus, my child!" "I didn't recognize you..." "You were all time in front of me - " "Be silent, don't betray me, or I can't defend you!" "You seem so prudent and clever, stranger." "Give me some advice." "Speak." "You know that my house is invaded for years by the pretenders." "And my son grows impatient to get rid of me." "What should I do?" "Wait." "Odysseus shall return and execute justice." "No." "I wish tomorrow to propose a competition to the pretenders:" "...the first who succeeds to string a bow which Odysseus left me and loose the arrow thru 12 hollows of axes will become my husband." "And thus father and son concealed the beautiful weapons and when a miraculous light showed them the way before Telemachus could talk, Odysseus said:" "...Say nothing." "That's all usual for the gods of heaven." "The night passes very slowly and Penelope with sorrow looked at her wedding bed." "Artemis, daugther of Zeus, shoot me with your arrow or let the storm carry me like a mist." "Let me die." "Thus she spoke inside and Odysseus heared her." "He began to doubt." "He thought in his head that, since he saw Penelope, now he will sleep beside her." "You awoke from a dream, You the most misfortuned amongst man because you are here in your home, and with your wife in your house and still you are a stranger." "Suddenly the dawn came on her golden throne." "To fulfill what the goddess expects from me who returned me to my home, please Zeus that you inspire someone in the house, and give a clear omen." "At the mill, only one woman left, the others were gone." "This one was the oldest and just finished her job." "Now she'll speak, listen!" "You thundered, and there was no cloud meaning you want to give someone an omen." "And I'll listen, even if I'm only a servant:" "...The pretenders eat for the last time in Odysseus' house this flower which broke my back." "Quick, quick." "You with sponges, clear the tables." "The princes are almost here." "Faster, e'll eat more abundant like being on a holiday." "Euriclea, how do you serve our guest?" " Not good but it's not my fault, he didn't want the bed but he fell asleep on rags and covered with ox hide." "From the fields came Eumeus." "He also, like Euriclea and Telemachus, couldn't call Odysseus by name." " Who is the shepherd?" " Filoteus, son of Dolius." " You bought him as a kid?" " The Kid did grow up!" "He again started to think that he is alone." "He again started to think that he is alone." "Why with weapons thrown on the pretenders..." "Narrator and Chorus: ...with only one young man and a swineherd endeavor is too dangerous." "But he felt Athena's presence and her rebuke:" "You fool someone else would be content with the help of even weaker frends than these and they are even oblivious of the future." "And you don't trust me even if I'm a goddess who helped you always, even in all dangers." " Nice animal." " Greetings to you old man." "Filoteus, the stranger isn't a beggar but was a glorious warrior before." "the same can be said of our master:" "...maybe he also travels in rags around world if he isn't already dead." " Maybe you know him?" "Yes, but I don't remember." "...Of course, he was only a child when he was appointed to guard the best flocks and Odysseus didn't find any better." "No one could watch for cattle like him." "Like it's his own." "Good, I see you are a loyal servant." "Thus I shall reveal you a secret:" "...your master Odysseus is returning." " Returning?" "When?" " Don't yell." "Just tell me only one thing." "If he returned, what would you do?" " What would I do?" " Yes." " I believe these muscles woul be of good use to him." "The pretenders arrived just like every morning to Odysseus house where the big sheep was prepared for them fat goats, porks and calfs from the herd." "The inwards were prepared first." "Than the meat was fried and parted, than the bread partaken and the cups of wine, all the food settled and served and the meal began." "An abundant and sweet meal, and even many animals were slaugtered no meal shall be more bitter than this when for him the goddess and hero soon arrived." "Narrator and Chor:" "Stand up now, and boast with the wine Telemachus gave you because Athena wants to upset the pretenders that they insult you more, and that your rage and hatred stronger then ever, fill your breasts." "In fact, one of them is already put in a game, proud lord named Ctesipus of Samos." "As you can see, the beggar has his part just as us." "How nicely that fits with the guests of Telemachus!" "And I want to give him something nice, a gift of hospitality to feed him for today and tomorrow." "Thus he said and threw a beef thigh." "Odysseus duck to avoid being hit but in his heart he bitterly smiled." "All at once became quiet." "Nothing of those which breath or walks on the ground is more unhappier than man." "This was uncontrollable laughter because Athena messed with their minds." "They laughed eating simultaneously the meat and the blood." "They laughed with their eyes full of tears." "The whole court ominously echoed from their laughter." "Even the prophet Teoclimenus heared." "He came to hear and to declare the divine omen." "Wretched fools!" "You should weep!" "Don't you see the utter destruction howling above your heads?" "Your eyes are covered with darkness!" "I see the walls sprinkled with blood!" "I see the court room full of shadows!" "Shadows which go into the kingdom of darkness, forewer." "The sun is obliterated." "The dark night of death covers all." " Yet another lunatic!" "We grow tired of these people." "They annoy us." "Just look what guests Telemachus has:" "lunatics and beggars!" "Listen Telemachus,I'll give you an advice:" "...why don't we board them on a ship and sell them to the Sicilians?" "I'm assured someone will buy them cheaply!" "I don't need your advice Eurimachus." "The only person here who can give me that is my mother." "I won't tolearate your insults anymore." "You wished to kill me, but luckily that didn't happen." "Till then, don't insult my guests at the table!" "I'm no longer a child, remember that!" "Telemachus speaks sharply to scare us." "Unfortunately Zeus didn't wish to help us, or he wouldn't talk anymore." "Nor some speech, nor some strenght, slow down." "We won't tolerate your insult!" "You warned them Teoclimenus." "You give them a chance to save themselves." "They didn't comply." "So they near towards the end of this excellent meal abundant from many slaughtered animals." "Yet, there was another meal preparing to begin which soon goddess and hero with pretty much different schedule alloted to them." "The evening falls." "Athena incited Penelope's heart that moment at which that competition with the bow commences." "That bow was given to Odysseus twenty years ago, from one guest and when he was young he could easily string it." "That Penelope remembers how she now looked tired and old and in the midst of enemies." "The queen!" "She suddenly appeared in the doors which leads to her chamber." "They look at her and the giant bow." "Instantly they thought that she'll finally tell them who is in her heart." "The princes!" "I proposed this competition." "Those among you who string the bow and loose the arrow through 12 axes that man I'll marry." "He can lead me from this house and he'll become king of Ithaca." "Eumeus!" "Swineherd, give me that bow!" "C'mon princes!" "Your reward is in front of you:" "...The best lady in the whole Ahaya." "But you know that already!" "Should I glorify my own mother?" "Zeus inspired me for a moment!" "My mother says she'll go with another and I laughed." "What a full!" "I want to compete with you also." "So if I succeed to string the bow, my mother shouldn't, with all my grief leave this house with another one, but she'll stay with me as winner of the tournament." "telemachus grasped the bow from Antinoüs afraid that he doesn't win, afraid of his father's age and afraid of the danger." "And now he alone tested naively thinking to pierce the arrow." "You take it, you who are so strong!" "Odysseus in the mean time, put axes of whom everyone have hollow near the cutting edge." "He aligns the iron in a straight line." "Let's go, from left to right, starting from you Leod." "Leod, to him the deeds of the pretenders were abominate, even if he was with them." "Leod loved Penelope and he hoped all the time, that Penelope, if Odysseus doesn't return, shall go with him and born him sons." "Veil!" "But now, testing the bow, he realises that his arms are weak soft and tender." "From that moment, he should go for another Achean woman." "He undersood that Penelope isn't his anymore, and he didn't know that Odysseus will soon cut off his head." "Many young this bow will break heart." "It's better to die, when you miss a purpose in life, it's better to die!" "Don't say that everyone else will fail because you fail." "Obviously, your mother didn't raise you for archer." "But the other pretender will string it." "Now you." "If you help me now to commit justice, you'll live by my side as my own sons." "Tell the servants to remain in their quarters, and then Eumeus and you lock the entrance into the court room so no one escapes." "Quick!" "They were full of hope, but they failed to string the bow." "They couldn't." "The goddess Athena made him solid." "Eurimachus turn has come." "With many sighs in his heart he tries." "...He didn't realize that the bow was spelled." "You lost all hope in the wedding gift Eurimachus." "I lost, but we'll see what you'll do." "Friends!" "Tomorrow is a holiday in the glory of Apollo, archer!" "Lets postpone the competition!" "He'll give us the needed strength." "Today is Apollo's day..." "so who can string a bow on that day?" "You've all tried, noble lords, now let me try." "God will tomorrow give victory to whome he wants, but in the mean time allow me to test what remains from my previous strength." "What has fallen on your mind?" "Are you getting mad, or what?" "You are mad." "You'll never succeed but even you do, be aware...!" "...don't expect to leave Ithaca alive." " Why those threats Antinoüs?" "What are you afraid of?" "That the stranger will win and take me away?" " That's impossible Penelope!" " So why shouldn't he try?" "Why?" "You ask why!" "Just think what people will say if the beggar wins this competition:" "...the beggar succeeded what the lord has failed!" "Eumeus, give the bow to our guest!" "The lords may continue tomorrow." "Till tomorrow, I still order in this house." "On the flame he warms it, one side than another he touches it, looked if worms have attack the horns." "Truly, he is an expert or maker of bows in his country." "I tell you, young princes, who despise him:" "If I just have such luck I would win in competition!" "Like when we, the bards." "strenghten the string on the lyra so this man, easily strung the giant bow and it gave a sound of a small swallow." "Madness!" "You dogs!" "You who never believed I'll ever return from Troy!" "You who want to steal my wife and my kingdom, to kill my son without any fear of wrath from the gods or the mock of men!" "Now, you all come to an end, and I'll kill you all as dogs!" "Telemachus, don't expect to save anyone of them!" "No one of you shall come out alive!" "The moment of vengeance and horror had arrived." "Like a scared herd, they try to find an escape from death." "But the fence is closed and I'm trembling from fear!" "If you are really Odysseus who returned to Ithaca, than what you say is true." "But still, hear me." "But the causer lies here killed by your hand." "Antinoüs personally prepared this wedding!" "He wanted to rule Ithaca, after he killed Telemachus." "Antinoüs is now dead, and we shall repay you everything we wasted." " and what would you repay me Eurimachus?" " Twenty cattles each bronze, gold, all you say Odysseus." " Your life Eurimachus your life is all what I want and the lives of all the others!" "Get back, servants." "You can't get out of here, Odysseus order!" "Back servants!" "You betrayed this home with pretenders!" "Shameless bitches, you want to escape the wrath of a king!" "You want to save yourself!" "Open the doors." "Let us out!" "Open!" "I'll exterminate you all!" "Get out, get out all!" "That's your last arrow Odysseus, stop!" "Cry." "There's no shelter, nor salvation to anyone because Athena mercilessly sealed their hearts." "Like birds flying all around because they are scared by a cloud and then they fell to the ground and hawks suddenly descended on them, and you see them terrified, expecting death." "Filetius, come quick!" "C'mon dogs!" "Zeus!" "Like a bride weeping over a dying groom  and loosing him with great sighs, till her heart melts down." "Odysseus stopped." "The event is owerwhelming." "Telemachus stop." "It's enough." "Now, ere is Mentor, the friend of his father." "That's it Odysseus.Y ou don't need strength and courage any more with whom you fought for Helen under the walls of Troy." "and that wasn't Mentor speaking sharply, but Athena who took his appearance." "Now when you take back your home, what are you doing?" "Cry?" "You got to do it Odysseus,you got to do it!" "Yes, I must." "Eumeus, Filoteus, get out." "It was enough." "How many times heaven himself waned you to obey loyalty and dignity of men." "You understood that too late, when payback time came." "Stubbornly proud, blind and deaf, you claim that misfortunes are given by the gods, that they are careless so that you must live in sin." "What we saw, warned us:" "...who's holding justice, knows that sometimes pity and her clean eyes can be eclipsed by blood." "Now it was done what the gods decided to fulfill." "Open it!" "Euriclea,open it!" "You can open it again!" "Odysseus looked around if there is anyone alive but they all lay down washed in blood, like fishes which fisherman draws ashore, away from the blue sea and they wish for the sea, laying aligned on the sand till the sun slowly quenched their lives." "No." "Not him." "Spare him!" "I saw your wrath Odysseus." "My song will tell it forever." "You can kill me now, but later you'll be sorry." "Sing about what happened so that people can know what's good and what's evil among men." "Go, you are free." "Telemachus, what I told you, that happened." "We got to kill these young nobles." "We didn't have a choice." "All these misfortunes have brothers and fathers whom we'll face, but not now." "We must get some time." "I'm too tired to face the anger of these families." "We got to do something." "Telemachus, gather singers let them believe in the city that there is still a party." "Here are unfaithful servants." "Let they tell you alone how they fled." "Stop!" "Euriclea says that only those were faithful to the pretenders...but we'll give example to others!" "On your knees." "Odysseus, do you want them dead?" " Not yet!" "Let them first clean the room and carry away the corpses." "Filetius, clean the room with sulphur." "Go to Penelope and tell her what happened." "Wait!" "Fire." "First bring fire." "Penelope, your husband has returned." "Odysseus has returned!" "Don't you hear me Penelope?" "I told you that your husband has returned." "Am I changed?" "I got to prepare." "Help me!" "Don't be afraid." "C'mon girls, your fidelity shall be rewarded." "Hear these sounds?" "I still see light in the court." "That's wedding song." "Maybe the queen chose her husband." "She couldn't wait any longer for Odysseus' return." "Last night I recognized him, but he stopped my mouth." "If I speak, he would probably kill me." "Real man!" "Know to hide whats on his mind:" "...wise and dangerous, he trusts no one." "Like someone awakening from a nightmare in a clear morning, and then he forgets everything." "Go!" "You are saved!" "You are saved, my son!" "Mother, why you don't throw him in your arms?" " To that stranger?" " Why are you saying like that mother?" "I don't know this man." "My son, yesterday he was different man a beggar,and one moment I thought I recognized Odysseus." "But he told me:" "I'm Eton from Crete." "I saw in front of me a man I'm waiting for twenty years." "He lied to me, like he doesn't trust me like I've betrayed him." "I, who is his wife." "And for what?" "I want to ask." "I'll be quiet..." "with you." "Odysseus' wife must remain strong." "But how much effort is needed to swallow all those tears of joy after so many years of wait!" "What do you want from me?" "Proof that I didn't change?" "You have it." "But I want one proof for myself." "And proof is something which belongs only to me and him." "You'll prove me that you didn't change if you remember those few years of happiness we had together when you didn't doubted me that I'm on your side." " Allow them to prepare me the bed." "Please, I'm very tired." "My bed." "Prepare Odysseus' bed and bring him here." "That bed cannot be moved." "All knows that its built around an olive tree, but no one, not even you Telemachus, don't know why, and what that means for us." "That olive tree was alvays dear to your mother." "She wished that I build a room around her all the walls around, cut the brances, make the roof and the entrance and that the whole house would be around that tree." "We were still young." "You wasn't even born." "Like wishful land, which shipwrecks the sailor sees and whom Poseidon smashed the solid built ship at sea by the winds and huge waves thus wished was in him for his wife." "He couldn let his arms off her." "Odysseus, don't let your job be unfinished." "One more person waited for you all these years." "Your father." "Go to him." "He retreats on an old estate with some servants and he doesn't comes to the court anymore." "Use the night till the families come to ask for the dead." "Wait here for me." "Your father has grown old and without strength waiting for you." "He doesn't come to a city anymore, but dwells among the servants." "Now he lives as a savage, sleeps near the fire at winter and on a heap of leafs in the summer." "Where the night falls, he lays and sighs for you." "C'mon!" "How many memories." "I was a kid when my father planted these." "How much time has passed!" "Already." "But if it was needed, I would cut them." " My lord, there isn't anyone here." " I know where he is." " Father!" " My son!" "So its true." "C'mon,get up." " No!" "My son, you finally returned." "It hurts me father to see you like that." "I was a king, and only privileged I wished to retain  is not to hurt my fingers with thorns." "But I also preserved one more privilege." "Look!" "It's still goog, and its only one I have." "It was usefull to me to clear our fields from the rocks so that I can cultivate it." "I believe you'll use it for more important things." "I've been on the court, and I killed all pretenders." "All." "There is power in Olympus, if you are searching for justice!" "The servants prepared a bath for Laertes." "The water was brought from a distant, while Telemachus, Filetius and Eumeus guarded the house under arms." " and so you must live here as a servant." " Yes I live with the servants as them." "A pile of straw was my bed and bread and cheese was my food, which I made with my own hands working from morning to dusk but still, I'm not a servant I lived as at the court." "Yes, I understand what you are trying to say." "I abandoned everything." "There I left Penelope and your son to fight alone against the violence of our enemies but for a long time, I wasn't king anyway." "I wasn't king since I gave my rule to you." "You were still a kid, but already strong and ready." "You were cunning like a fox, and you liked power." "I didn't." "So I abandoned my throne." "Not long after that, you went for Troy." "We waited ten years for you." "People cared for and respected Penelope." "His loyalty guarded Telemachus also." "Many years they were silent." "Your mother expected you, and as many others, I also start to believe that I lost you forever." "How to be strong to figh then?" "My master, everthing is now fine when you see your son again as you wished all these years." "Dolius was wery kind to me:" "...he helped me that on this estate I find a small piece of happiness which the gods gave to me." "Father, you preserved a royal garment." "Dress it, since combat is still ahead of us." "Evil comes to Ithaca, no one knows from where." "Cursed Penelope, who deceived them giving false hope!" "Otherwise, they wouldn't be in that house, our children!" "He came to the most distant part of the island, where the swineherd lives revealed to the servant, and then to the son arriving in Pylos who instantly go to the same place, as he knows." "Then they went to the court." "Odysseus dressed in rags." "Like a beggar, holding on a stab." "No one recognized him." "The children mock him like any other beggar someone kicked him, but his iron heart endured everything." "Finally, he decided when and how, and with his sons he hid the weapons." "Than Penelope, hypocrat, offered a wedding competition to the boys:" "...to string Odysseus bow and shoot an arrow through holes." "The plot was Odysseus work." "No one of the kids couldn string the bow only he did it, shooting through holes, then jump throwing arrows on the ground, looked around, and hit Antinoüs in the chest." "Than, aiming accurately he shot the others,and they fell one by one." "Utter massacre." "The death screams echoed." "The ground was smoked from the warm blood." "No one... escapes." "Antinoüs, my son." "Antinoüs!" "After they paid them respect, the fathers and brothers will avenge them." "Antinoüs!" " They were rich and elite." " They have plenty of stuff but it wasn't enough." "Close in the house." "Blood will run through the island." "Why do we care, when we have nothing with it!" "Lets go father, before the news reaches the other islands." "Relatives of the killed may get help from other places." "It's better that we receive them first, it will cause us less in lives." "Today it will be decided who'll rule Ithaca." "How much longer will this competition last?" "My son, listen to me." "Don't get me wrong." "I'm not afraid..." "What pleasure it will be to give an old man the opportunity to fight and what death is more glorious than the heroes, but you who alone committed justice, what use you'll have if you don't fulfill justice?" "The gods protected you till now, but now there is a silence around you." "Master, lets not commit injustice and spill the blood first!" "You defended the honor of your home, now it's on them to revenge by armor their sons and brothers we killed." "Offer them honourable peace." "If they don't accept, we'll fight!" "Lets wait for them here, and offer them a peace." "Maybe god will prevent a new massacre, maybe they'll admit justice you have done, and your royal rights." "No!" "There is never peace without combat first." "If we retreat now, they'll rooted us forever!" "You must commit justice, Ithacans." "Your sons are killed killed from those wild pig, man without honor!" "Too young he became a ruler, and this is on what his rule reduced!" "These boys didn't go to war, and he slaughtered them all by his hand!" "And from two offsprings of nobility, not one survives on Ithaca!" "He returned, but our sons won't ever." "Where did he leave his ships?" " Where did he loose his army?" " Gather the servants you have!" "Give them armor." "Send a war cry to all our neighbouring nobles whose children are savagely slaughtered as ours!" "Let the army strike on him!" "His house and property will burn." "Let his people tremble!" "Haliters, son of Mastor, speak to them:" "...I saw the past and the future." "Thus, wisely thinking, I speak." "Hear me Ithacans." "It was your fear who caused these events." "You didn't listen to me and not even to Mentor, who tried to stop the madness of your sons." "Serious mistakes do stupidity and pride which grasped the wealth and dishonoured wife of a great hero." "Now, you do this:" "listen to me!" "Lets not go, so no one gets hurt from more evil." "You evildoer, false prophet, so we don't avenge our sons?" "Acheans!" "Your duty is to punish Odysseus." "What are you waiting for?" "He'll flee to Pylos or Sparta where he has mighty allies." "No, he is still on Ithaca, I saw." "He went with his son and two servants before dawn, to an old estate." "If its true what you are saying, lets face him when he is still weak!" "Don't loose time any more." "This is a sign from the gods!" "Athena tells to her father Zeus:" "What are you thinking, lord?" "You wish to continue for more this war or you'll settle peace between the two sides?" "My dear, father answers, why are you asking me that?" "Didn't you alone arrange Odysseus return?" "Lets give them oblivion, says Athena." "Lets give them peace and oblivion, says father." "Stop Laertes!" "It's futile to have another massacre." "We don't need more blood." "I say to you, we don't need more blood!" "Lets peace rule." "Offer to the hurted side some fee and live in peace." "Live in peace forever among eachother." "Live in peace forever among eachother." "One more thing Athena devised." "To Icarius daughter, a sweet dream she sent." "Stretched on her back with fatique in her legs, with oil of ambrosia the goddes cleared her face and made her even more beautiful in face whiter than ivory." "Strange." "I feel we won't have nights like these any more." "That I feel, but I'm not sad." "How many nights I imagined to speak with you." "I asked the gods, and they answered me many things hard to explain." "But your love will explain." "Every time you wished your bed will be ready." "Don't be afraid to tell me what you think or what the god lay on your mind." "I am always there." "Soon, I'll again go to sea, Tiresias told me." "He told me that I won't find peace till I found a place where people don't do crime and don't salt their food and don't know about the ships, nor oarsman fatique." "I'll understand that I found what I'm searching for, without need to ask." "Than, I'll stick my oar in ground and offer sacrifices to Poseidon, and then return." "Death will be easy, and it will come from the sea, and find me here in calm oldness, surrounded by blessed people." "Thus Tiresia prophesied." "That must fulfill." "Our fate is in the hands of the gods and when it is fulfilled, we can do nothing else but to watch and listen like we are going or coming back born or die." "Thus she said and the goddess heared her." "Then she flew on the Olympus on which, they say, weather to the gods is always fair." "The winds never blow strong, nor wet rain but serenity always spread... and a clear light rules."