The Odyssey
Book 11
The Journey to the
Underworld
• Reach the place where Circe had
told them to go.
• Odysseus dug a pit the size of a
cubit and begins to pour
libations for the dead.
– Mixture of honey, then sweet wine,
then water
• He then sprinkled white
barley on it.
The Journey
Continued
• Hey says his prayers and vows.
• Then he killed the sheep and
poured their blood into the pit.
– The souls of those who had died
begin to gather.
• They burn the sheep as a sacrifice
to the gods.
• Odysseus has to prevent the souls
from going near the blood.
Who Does He See?
• First Elpenor speaks to him.
– He asks them to go back and burry
his body along the way.
• He then sees his mother, but she
does not speak to him.
– He is sad because she was alive when
he left for war.
Finally Tiresias
• Odysseus lets him drink the blood.
• He tells Odysseus that his return
will not be easy and that Poseidon
will not leave him alone.
– Poseidon is mad because of the
Cyclopes incident.
Tiresias Continued
• He says, they will still make it
home if they leave the Son God’s
cattle alone.
– If not, their ship
will be destroyed.
• However, even if Odysseus
manages to survive this he will
return late and lost all his
companions and finding troubles
in his house.
Tiresias Advice
• He tells Odysseus that after he
has been home and gotten rid of
the suitors he needs to journey
until he meets men that do not
know the sea.
• When a stranger tells him he has a
winnowing fan on his shoulder, he
is to sacrifice to Poseidon.
– A ram, a bull, and a boar
Odysseus Speaks to His
Mother.
• He lets her drink the blood.
• She asks him why he is among the
dead and not at home.
• He asks her about her death and the
fate of his family.
– She tells him that she died missing him
and waiting for him.
– His wife has not married.
– His father remains alive but sick and
waiting for Odysseus
• He tries to embrace her, but can’t
because she is only soul.
Persephone Sends
Women
• A lot of wives and daughters come
to talk to Odysseus.
• Some well known women
– Alcmene
– Megara
– Epicaste-Mother of Oedipos
Back to the Present
• Odysseus tells the
Phaeacians that he
is tired and wants to
go to bed.
• Alcinoos and Arte insist that he
stay and rest one more day before
going home.
– Odysseus agrees to do whatever they
wish.
Odysseus Talks of More
Souls
• Alcinoos compliments his story
telling abilities-he compare
them to that of a singer-and
urges him to tell more.
• Odysseus speaks of seeing the
soul of Agamemnon
A Talk With Agamemnon
• Odysseus asks Agamemnon how he died.
– He tells Odysseus that Clytemnestra,
Aigisthos murdered him.
• He claims that she has brought shame
to womankind and warns him against
trusting women.
– He also informs him that he has nothing
to worry about. Penelope is trustworthy.
• He asks about his son’s fate, but
Odysseus does not know.
Odysseus Talks With
Achilles
• Odysseus commends him for having
great rule over the dead, as he had
over the living in life.
– Achilles tells him he would rather
serve on another man’s land than rule
over the dead.
• He asks about his son and Peleus.
– Odysseus tells him he has not heard
about Peleus
– But tells of Neoptolemos’ great
bravery and successes.
A Not So Friendly
Meeting With Ajax
• Odysseus speaks of seeing Ajax
• However, Ajax will not talk to him.
– He has not gotten over the fact that
Odysseus won Achilles' armor
Odysseus Sees Some
Other People
• Minos
– “Dealing justice to the dead”
• Orion
– Driving the beasts he had slaughtered
• Tityos
– Vultures picking at his liver
• Tantalos
– Inability to obtain food and water
• Sisyphos
– Pushing his stone
• Heracles
– Appeared as a phantom
– He bragged to Odysseus about his successes
They Leave
• Many souls begin to approach
• There is a loud shout
• Odysseus fears that Persephone is
going to send the Gorgon head, so
they leave.
The End