Aiden Wang - Book 10
Aiden Wang - Book 10
Aiden Wang - Book 10
Odysseus and his men next land on the island of Aeolus, the wind king, and stay
with him a month. To extend his hospitality, Aeolus gives Odysseus two parting
gifts: a fair west wind that will blow the fleet of ships toward Ithaca, and a great
bag holding all the unfavorable, stormy winds. Within sight of home, and while
Odysseus is sleeping, the men open the bag, thinking it contains gold and silver. The
bad winds thus escape and blow the ships back to Aeolus’ island. The king refuses to
help them again, believing now that their voyage has been cursed by the gods.
The discouraged mariners next stop briefly in the land of the Laestrygones, fierce
cannibals who bombard the fleet of ships with boulders. Only Odysseus, his ship,
and its crew of 45 survive the shower of boulders. The lone ship then sails to Aeaea,
home of the goddess Circe, who is considered by many to be a witch. There, Odys-
seus divides his men into two groups. Eurylochus leads one platoon to explore the
island, while Odysseus stays behind on the ship with the remaining crew.
Eurylochus tells Odysseus what has happened and begs him to sail away from
Circe’s island. Against this advice, however, Odysseus rushes to save his men from
the enchantress. On the way, he meets the god Hermes, who gives him a magical
plant called moly to protect him from Circe’s power. Still, Hermes warns Odysseus
that he must make the goddess swear she will play no “witches’ tricks.” Armed with
the moly and Hermes’ warning, Odysseus arrives at Circe’s palace.
Circe gives Odysseus a magic drink, but it does not affect him and he threatens
to kill her with his sword. Circe turns the pigs back into men but puts them all
into a trance. They stay for one year, until Odysseus finally begs her to let them
go home. She replies that they must first visit the land of the dead and hear a
prophecy from the ghost of Tiresias.