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Odysseus Hero's Journey in Homer's Odyssey

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the "Hero’s Journey" is a recurring pattern of stages that the hero encounters over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most fundamental version has 12 steps that the hero faces, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.

Teachers may wish for students to collaborate on this activity which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature. This can help cut down on the time it takes to complete the entire storyboard while also helping students to develop communication, self-management and leadership skills. Teachers can enable collaboration for the assignment and students can either choose their partner(s) or have one chosen for them. It is suggested that since the Hero's Journey storyboard is 12 cells, it is best if completed by students in groups of 2, 3 or 4.

Odysseus Hero's Journey Example

Hero’s journey project examples and more ideas for the odyssey.

Creating a storyboard that illustrates each of Odysseus’ hero’s journey steps is engaging and creative. However, there are lots of other ways for students to show what they have learned about Odysseus’ monomyth! Check out some of our ideas below:

• Using the timeline layout, make a timeline of Odysseus’ epic journey. You don’t need to include the 12 stages of the hero’s journey for this activity, but be sure to include events in chronological order.
• Create a the hero’s journey chart for another character in literature that you have read and compare that journey to Odysseus' journey. Use our blank template as the hero’s journey graphic organizer to help you plan.
• Make a map of Odysseus’ journey.
• Using one of Storyboard That’s board game templates , create a game based on Odysseus’ hero’s journey for your classmates to play! Think about the setting of the story and use that as the theme of your game.
• Using one of Storyboard That’s biography poster templates, create a poster about the story’s hero, Odysseus.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Use the story of The Odyssey and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. This can be done in place of The Odyssey plot diagram.

• Depict and describe how the chosen character's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
• Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-10

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/3] Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/5] Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/6] Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

How To Encourage Collaboration in Activities

Establish specific goals and objectives, make diverse teams, organize brainstorming sessions, set roles and responsibilities, offer rewards and incentives, reflect and learn, frequently asked questions about odysseus hero's journey, what is the call to adventure in the odyssey .

In The Odyssey , Odysseus’ call to adventure is that he is called to fight the Trojans by King Menelaus.

How does The Odyssey follow the hero’s journey?

The Odyssey hero’s journey follows the 12 steps perfectly. Odysseus is called to adventure, causing him to leave his hometown, and must conquer many challenges and obstacles during his epic journey. Eventually, he makes his journey home after his supreme ordeal.

What is the hero’s journey in The Odyssey ?

Odysseus’ journey begins when he is called to fight in the Trojan War. He goes through all 12 stages of the hero’s journey during Homer’s incredible tale of adventure.

How does Odysseus escape the cyclops cave?

This was one of the many obstacles that Odysseus’ faced, because the blind Polyphemus felt the backs of all the sheep when they left the cave to make sure the men were not riding on them. To escape and continue his journey back, Odysseus and his men tied themselves underneath the sheep to hide from the cyclops.

Odyssey, The

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The Hero's Journey in The Odyssey: How Odysseus Transforms the Mythical Landscape

05.14.2023 // By Tome Tailor

The Odyssey, an epic poem by the ancient Greek poet Homer, tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his long and perilous journey home after the fall of Troy. This classic work is a masterpiece of world literature and one of the earliest examples of the hero’s journey archetype. In The Odyssey, Homer not only portrays Odysseus as a heroic, courageous figure, but also as a symbol of resilience and transformation. In this blog post, we will explore how The Odyssey is a prime example of the hero’s journey in literature, and how Odysseus’ character enriches the mythical landscape of the classical Greek world.

The Hero’s Journey in The Odyssey

According to schorlar Joseph Campbell, the hero’s journey is a narrative pattern present in many myths and stories from various cultures around the world. It consists of twelve stages that the hero goes through in their quest for transformation or knowledge. In The Odyssey, Odysseus undertakes this journey, and his experiences transform not only himself but also the mythical world in which he lives.

Here are the twelve stages of the hero’s journey as they appear in The Odyssey:

The Ordinary World : Before his journey, Odysseus is the king of Ithaca and a brave, respected warrior. However, he is also proud and arrogant, traits that lead to the beginning of his troubles on his journey home from Troy.

The Call to Adventure : Odysseus receives the call to adventure when he sets sail to fight in the Trojan War. This act marks the beginning of his journey, thrusting him into a realm of danger and uncertainty.

Refusal of the Call : Unlike many other heroes, Odysseus does not refuse the call to adventure. Instead, his hubris and arrogance lead him to believe he can outsmart the gods and make his journey home without their help or interference.

Meeting with the Mentor : Though Odysseus does not have a singular mentor figure, he encounters various characters throughout his journey who provide him with guidance and assistance, such as the god Hermes, the enchantress Circe, and the blind prophet Tiresias.

Crossing the Threshold : Odysseus crosses the threshold into a new and unknown world when he and his crew become lost at sea and are destined to wander for a decade before returning home.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies : Throughout his journey, Odysseus faces various tests and trials. Some of these include battling the Cyclops Polyphemus, resisting the enchanting Sirens, and escaping the clutches of the sea monster Scylla.

Approach to the Inmost Cave : The inmost cave can be seen as the island of the goddess Calypso, where Odysseus is held captive for seven years. Here, he is forced to confront his deepest fears and desires, ultimately realizing the importance of returning home to his family.

The Ordeal : Odysseus’ ordeal is likely his journey to the Underworld to consult the prophet Tiresias. In this dark, terrifying place, he gains crucial insights about himself and his journey’s purpose.

Reward : After his ordeal, Odysseus receives help from the gods to make his way home. They assist him in overcoming the final challenges that stand in his way, such as Poseidon’s wrath and the suitors who have taken over his palace.

The Road Back : The road back is marked by Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, where he must reclaim his throne and restore order to his kingdom.

The Resurrection : Odysseus is ultimately transformed by his journey, having learned humility, patience, and wisdom. With the help of Athena, he defeats the suitors and reclaims his throne, symbolizing his rebirth as a just and rightful ruler.

Return with the Elixir : As king, Odysseus uses the lessons he has learned on his journey to create a more balanced, harmonious kingdom. He has not only transformed himself but has also altered the mythical landscape of Ithaca.

In The Odyssey, Homer masterfully tells the story of a hero’s journey that transcends time and culture. Through his transformation, Odysseus becomes a symbol of resilience and change. His journey home can serve as an inspiration for readers today, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, we too can overcome challenges and grow as individuals.

If you haven’t yet read The Odyssey, consider picking up a copy to experience Odysseus’ transformative journey for yourself. Several translations are available, including the celebrated translations by Robert Fagles View on Amazon and Emily Wilson View on Amazon .

To explore similar works of classical literature, consider checking out the Iliad View on Amazon , also by Homer, which tells the story of the Trojan War and is deeply intertwined with the events of The Odyssey.

If you’re interested in learning more about the hero’s journey, consider reading Joseph Campbell’s seminal work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces View on Amazon , which analyzes the patterns and archetypes found in myths and stories from around the world.

Lastly, if you’re ready to dive into the world of Odysseus, purchase The Odyssey View on Amazon and experience this epic journey for yourself.

Recommended Articles:

• Discover the Epic Tales: In-Depth Guide to The Odyssey by Homer
• 5 Essential Themes in The Odyssey: Uncover the Depth of Homer’s Epic
• Understanding Greek Mythology: The Gods and Heroes of The Odyssey
• 5 Books Like The Odyssey: Epic Stories of Adventure and Self-Discovery
• Women in The Odyssey: The Roles and Influence of Female Characters

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Epic Explorations: Teaching the ‘Odyssey’ With The New York Times

By Ryan R. Goble and Elizabeth Wiersum

• March 21, 2019

Homer’s Muse still sings.

His epic tale follows the wily warrior Odysseus as he twists and turns his way back home to the shores of Ithaca after fighting a 10-year war at Troy. As readers everywhere know, the story’s themes of homecoming and hospitality, hubris and humility, suffering and survival continue to resonate across the centuries.

Three recent books show that much remains to be said and discovered about the epic and its relationship to our lives today. In 2017, the first English translation of the “Odyssey” by a woman, the British classicist Emily Wilson , was published to much acclaim , replacing older translations on some high school and college syllabuses. The same year, Daniel Mendelsohn’s memoir, “ An Odyssey: A Father, A Son, and an Epic, ” recounted what happened when his 81-year old father decided to sit in on the author’s seminar on the “Odyssey” at Bard College. And in the spring of 2018, Madeline Miller released “ Circe, ” a novel written from the enchantress’s perspective that expands her story both before and after her affair with Odysseus.

Below, five lesson ideas that draw on Times resources to help students navigate the wine-dark seas and discover how the “Odyssey” might speak to their own lives and the world around them.

Five Teaching Ideas

1. The Hero’s Journey

Daniel Mendelsohn explains in his memoir that the word “odyssey” has three meanings: “voyage,” “journey,” and “travel.” As an epic poem, the ”Odyssey” further prepares us for a long narrative told on a grand scale of time and place, featuring a larger-than-life protagonist who is also Western civilization’s oldest hero. Odysseus, whose very name echoes “odyssey,” is often translated to mean “son of pain.” Taken together the man and his journey seem fated for hardship.

At a time when more than 65 million people around the world are officially displaced from their homes by conflict, violence and persecution — the highest figure recorded by the United Nations since World War II — The Times has chronicled many real-life odysseys in reports of those journeys. Invite students to read articles like “ What Refugees Face on the World’s Deadliest Migration Route ” and “ Desperate Crossin g” to learn more, and to find links to themes and ideas in the “Odyssey.” (For more on teaching with this material, you might also consider some of the questions and activities suggested in this Learning Network lesson plan .)

But epic journeys have also been fodder for comedy. Examples include the cartoonist Roz Chast’s take on the hero’s journey , Brian Gordon’s modern take on the Sirens , Lapham’s Quarterly Odyssey Game (tagline: “lose years, gain strength, return to wife”) and the doughnut-fueled “ Lemon of Troy” episode of “The Simpsons” (Season 6, Episode 24), featuring America’s favorite cartoon dad.

The archetypal hero’s journey takes many forms and is particularly accessible for students through film. Have them read Times reviews of a favorite superhero film, like “ Black Panther ,” “ Wonder Woman ” or “ Iron Man ,” then write their own review explaining how the hero develops. They can do this either using the stages of Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle , or compare the journeys of their chosen protagonist to Odysseus’ journey.

While any Marvel or DC Comics hero should suffice, students can also look to animated films such as “ The Incredibles ” and “ Wall-E ,” dramas like “ The Natural ,” “ Glory ,” “ A Better Life ,” or classic comedies like “ Coming to America ,” “ Goonies ,” “ Back to the Future ” or even “ Some Like It Hot .”

2. On Xenia

Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality. In the “Odyssey,” it is both a civic responsibility — serving the weary traveler who landed on the shores of one’s front door — and a spiritual duty, for it would always be entirely possible that the weary traveler could end up being a god in disguise.

The Learning Network runs an annual Connections Contest , in which students are invited to link anything they’re studying in school with something in the news. This year, one of the winners , Alex Iyer, a student from San Antonio, linked Homer’s “Odyssey” with the Times piece, “ As Rich Nations Close the Door on Refugees, Uganda Welcomes Them ” and talked about the role of xenia in both. Here is his essay:

In literature, we learned that in Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” Homer uses the tribulations of the hero Odysseus to illustrate the Ancient Grecian custom of xenia. This custom focused on extending hospitality to those who found themselves far from home. As Odysseus navigates the treacherous path back to his own home, he encounters both morally upstanding and malevolent individuals. They range from a charitable princess who offers food and clothing, to an evil Cyclops who attempts to murder the hero and his fellow men. In class, we agreed that Homer employs these contrasting characters to exemplify not only proper, but also poor forms of xenia. For the people of its time, the “Odyssey” cemented the idea that xenia was fundamental for good character; resulting in hospitality becoming engrained in the fabric of Ancient Grecian society. I saw a parallel to this in a New York Times article called “As Rich Nations Close the Door on Refugees, Uganda Welcomes Them” published on October 28, 2018. Similar to the prevalent custom of xenia in Ancient Greece, Uganda has made hosting refugees a national policy. The country is now occupied by up to 1.25 million refugees, many of whom are fleeing the violent unrest of South Sudan. The xenia of Homeric times implied a mutually beneficial relationship between host and guest. We see this in Uganda, where villagers share land with South Sudanese refugees. Grateful for this generosity, the refugees gladly help out with farming, carpentry, and even translation. Many Ugandans remember when they themselves had to look to Sudan for sanctuary. During the murderous rampages of Idi Amin and Joseph Kony, the Sudanese provided critical support to Ugandan refugees. These memories are motivating modern-day Ugandans to assist refugees, bringing the world a little closer to what xenia strived for over 2,000 years ago. Uganda and South Sudan are by no means wealthy utopias. However, xenia was never about the rich blindly giving to the poor. It aspired to foster symbiotic relationships of openness and inclusivity that would endure through time. It’s interesting that a quaint Greek ideal from thousands of years ago would find a practical application in Uganda. When Amos Chandiga was asked why he lent two acres of his own land to refugees, he simply responded “They asked me, and I gave it to them.” He then patted his chest and said “It comes from here, in my heart.” Perhaps this can serve as a lesson to Americans, as we grapple with modernizing our own asylum policies. Teaching us that, whether rich or poor, open borders give way to open hearts.

You might challenge students to find more articles in The Times that relate to xenia, the spirit behind welcoming the stranger — pieces like “ Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word: Welcome ,” “ Love Thy Stranger As Thyself, ” “ A Lesson on Immigration From Pablo Neruda ,” “ Texas Pulls Up the Welcome Mat ” and “ Where Companies Welcome Refugees .”

And since school functions as students’ September-through-June “home,” they might then work with their counselors and student government to develop a welcoming committee, mission statement, and a set of resources that would have them sharing their hospitality to all those who make their way to the shores of the school, whether incoming freshmen, transfer students, parents at an open house, or athletes visiting the school for a sporting event or competition. They may also work to propose programs and extracurricular activities to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds have a welcome place at the school.

3. Epic Music Playlists

The British author and screenwriter Nick Hornby explained the art of the mixtape his 1995 novel "High Fidelity,” which was later adapted into film . His protagonist, Rob Flemings, explains:

To me, making a tape is like writing a letter — there’s a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again. A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. You’ve got to kick off with a corker, to hold the attention … and then you’ve got to up it a notch, or cool it a notch … and you can’t have two tracks by the same artist side by side, unless you’ve done the whole thing in pairs and … oh, there are loads of rules.

In the digital age, we still use the analog concept of a “mixtape" to talk about digital playlists or a compilation of related songs. (For example, consider the “ Hamilton Mixtape .”) Many of the playlists streamed on Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music are curated by algorithms based on listener data . That said, these services and others like Mixcloud and SoundCloud also celebrate human curation.

The Times has covered many notable playlists. A Vows column explored how songs texted between a Hollywood couple became the Spotify “mixtape” for their Palm Springs wedding; the Food section wrote about a musician who curated a soundscape for a restaurant ; Politics covered a presidential playlist ; and the Arts section featured the playlist one nonfiction writer created to accompany his book on hip-hop. (Meanwhile, this piece in The Guardian covers the playlists that fiction writers like Stephen King create that are inspired by their books’ characters or themes.)

The New York Times Music section shares weekly playlists of notable new music and videos, and they maintain a Spotify profile with playlists related to their criticism and reporting. The Learning Network has even asked students to share their favorite playlists in the past.

Inspired by these, we created a playlist for the “Odyssey,” which focuses on allusions or retellings of Homer’s epic poem.

See what you think, then tell us: What playlist might you make? Your tracks can be informed by a character’s point of view: How would Telemachus’ playlist differ from Athena’s? Would Calypso’s playlist sound anything like Penelope’s? Students might also create a playlist that addresses a theme like courage or deception, or design one that mirrors the plot in some way, as does a movie soundtrack. Whatever songs you think will capture a unique musical point-of-view of Homer’s epic tale, we invite you to share them as a comment on this lesson, or by tagging us on Twitter @NYTimesLearning .

Finally, you might check out the Learning Network lesson plan “ Nine Teaching Ideas for Using Music to Inspire Student Writing ” to find even more ideas for creating playlists related to topics you are studying in class.

4. Here Be Monsters

Monsters are here, there and everywhere in film and literature. Many Times articles have explored monsters as metaphor. Film Critics have written about what movie monsters teach us about our cultures , childhoods or, most recently, how racism ise the monster in director Jordan Peele’s award-winning film “Get Out .”

Literary and historical monsters are also rich sources for discussion. During Odysseus’ journey he encounters a wide range of supernatural creatures, including the Sirens, Cyclops and the Lotus Eaters. He is caught between the famous Scylla and Charybdis and, at Circe’s behest, visits the Underworld. Many of these places and characters can be read as metaphors for large challenges we face in life.

The New York-based nonprofit organization Artolution recently asked students, “What would creatures in a world without violence look like?” Their short film shows elementary students imagining and creating peaceful creatures. We’d like to suggest a Homeric riff on this idea. Ask students, “What type of monsters would a school-aged Odysseus encounter if he were to spend three years in your middle school or four years in your high school?” Students can draw or use a free monster-making app like this one to create their creatures. You might also share Andrew Bell’s ‘Creatures in My Head ’ website for inspiration. Artwork should be accompanied by a creative narrative or poem about their monster and how it was inspired by “The Odyssey.”

5. Lasting Legacies

It is a minor character in the “Odyssey” who develops one of its most vital themes — the importance of one’s legacy.

Elpenor, one of Odysseus’ men, suffers an unremarkable death, meeting his demise when he falls from a rooftop in a drunken stupor. His story becomes poignant when he meets his leader in the Underworld, and begs to be properly buried and remembered. He pleads:

Don’t sail off and desert me, left behind unwept … No, burn me in full armor, all my harness, heap my mound by churning gray surf — a man whose luck ran out — so even men to come will learn my story (11.79 - 85).

Elpenor’s desire for his story to outlive him highlights the human desire to achieve some mark of the immortality reserved for the gods. At The Times, a team of obituary writers does the important work of summing up those legacies, both for the famous and for those less well-known whose lives nonetheless “ put a wrinkle in the social fabric .” The 2016 documentary “ Obit ” follows that team, as you can see in the film’s trailer , embedded above. In it, Margalit Fox, one of the team, suggests that “obits have next to nothing to do with death and in fact absolutely everything to do with the life.”

While Benjamin Franklin and others did write their own epitaphs, students need not imagine their own deaths in order to ponder the legacy they would like to leave behind. Students can read a selection of Times tributes that commemorate those who have made a lasting impression on the world. Recent tributes include reflections on Aretha Franklin , John McCain , Stan Mikita , and Mac Miller , as well as a collection of tributes The Times put together called “ Overlooked ” that celebrate remarkable people, mostly women, who did not receive a Times obituary when they died.

Students can jigsaw those we suggested or choose someone who interests them . In groups, students might then use these learning experience organizers to think about what makes a life well lived. (Organizers for “cartoonist,” “framer” or “lawyer” work nicely here.) After this process students can brainstorm their life goals for school using the WOOP (Wish-Outcome-Obstacle-Plan) goal-writing method . The “Hidden Brain” podcast and related book explain the science behind the method.

Have students imagine that, 25 years after their graduation, they have been chosen to receive the distinguished alumnus or alumna award for their class. What will the nominating committee say about them? How will they describe what they have achieved and the legacy it will leave for their chosen field? Or, if students would rather write about someone else, have them reflect on the legacy of someone they know personally, such as a friend, parent or mentor.

Let students have fun and focus on making meaning of a life well lived for whatever legacy they choose to write. If they would like to muse about their own lives, invite them to contribute comments to a recent Learning Network Student Opinion question, What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind? They could also consider making a mixed media collage about their own or someone else’s legacy, as suggested in this lesson plan by the artist and teacher Clara Lieu.

Selected Additional Resources

From Around the Web:

• To give your students a useful summary before reading scenes and excerpts from Homer’s poem, try this resource from The Conversation that describes the story and its themes, as well as its links to films like “ O Brother Where Art Thou? ” and, more loosely, “ 2001: A Space Odyssey ” and “ Paris, Texas .”

• Creative visual retellings include Gareth Hinds’s graphic novel “ The Odyssey ,” Marvel’s comic series from 2008-2009 and the Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Eric Shanower’s multivolume Trojan War series, “ Age of Bronze .” Readers of all ages will benefit from Marcia William’s beautiful and succinct picture book retelling of the “Iliad” and “Odyssey.” And here is a rubric designed by the instructional coach Nessa Slowinski and the English teacher Lauren Schewe, our colleagues at Glenbard West High School , to help students do comic annotations of the “Odyssey,” as modeled by Nick Sousanis ’s comics studies class at San Francisco State University.

• Brandon Bourgeois has been working on a hip-hop version of the “Odyssey” since he was a graduate student in classics, while students at the University of Michigan have made modern interpretations of Homer’s work the subject of “ The Translation Game .” An anthropomorphic take can be found in Gwen Cooper’s “ Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat .”

• If you are teaching the “Odyssey” as part of a humanities course you might explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Resource for Educators: Greek Art from Prehistoric to Classical and the Art Institute of Chicago’s resource packet that puts the African-American experience in dialogue with Homer through the Harlem Renaissance artist Romare Bearden’s collage “The Return of Odysseus (Homage to Pintoricchio and Benin).”

• Poems that consider the “Odyssey” from different angles abound. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “ Ulysses ” imagines Odysseus years after his return to Ithaca, bored and longing again for adventure. Margaret Atwood’s much-anthologized “ Siren Song ” transfers attention to the half-female half-bird mythical creatures. And Louise Glück ’s 1996 collection, “Meadowlands,” is a poetic exploration of the relationship between Odysseus and Penelope. Teachers might also join a Twitter discussion about poems to teach with the “Odyssey.”

From The New York Times:

1997 Arts Article: All-Nighter With the ‘Odyssey’ Two Stamford High School English teachers gave their freshmen students a challenge: How about spending 17 hours overnight at the school to study nearly 500 pages of Homer’s “Odyssey,” hearing it aloud as the epic poet might have offered the adventures of Odysseus to his hungry listeners 2,700 years ago?

1998 Op-Ed: An Odyssey The children who sit before me saw in Homer’s hero that one person can be both powerful and foolish, equally full of influence and errors. When my students learn to see this in themselves, they will become — at last — good leaders.

2007 Op-Ed: The Odyssey Years There used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age. Of the new ones, the least understood is odyssey, the decade of wandering that frequently occurs between adolescence and adulthood.

2008 Science Article: Homecoming of Odysseus May Have Been in Eclipse Two scientists have concluded that the homecoming of Odysseus possibly coincided with a solar eclipse in 1178 B.C.

2008 Book Review: A Long, Strange Trip A British classics professor traces the lengthy shadow Homer’s “Odyssey” casts across Western culture.

2009 Op-Ed: Back From War, but Not Really Home A sense of dislocation has been shared by veterans returning from war since Homer conjured Odysseus’ inauspicious return some 2,800 years ago. ( Related Learning Network lesson plan )

2010 T Magazine Article: Speak Easy | Laura Marling An interview with a musician inspired by The “Odyssey.”

2011 Travel Article: Lost in the Odyssey Inspired by Odysseus, who took 10 years to get to Ithaca from the coast of Turkey, an 11-day journey of epic beauty, hospitality and frustrating ferry schedules.

2011 Video and Article: Odysseus in Socrates Sculpture Park and Odysseus Is Parading Into Queens Using puppets and much imagination, two artists are bringing “The Odyssey” to a riverfront park in Long Island City.

2015 Theater Review: ‘The Odyssey’ Takes a Populist Turn as a Musical Professional actors like Brandon Victor Dixon and amateur entertainers combine to turn this adaptation of Homer’s poem into a vibrant tapestry.

2016 Book Review: ‘Why Homer Matters,’ by Adam Nicolson For the voyager Adam Nicolson, Homer is impossible to understand while sitting behind a desk.

2017 Magazine Article: The First Woman to Translate the ‘Odyssey’ Into English The classicist Emily Wilson has given Homer’s epic a radically contemporary voice.

2017 Science Article: A Grecian Artifact Evokes Tales From the ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ An engraved stone with a finely detailed battle scene was found in the grave of a warrior buried about 1450 B.C.

2017: Book Review: A Version of Homer That Dares to Match Him Line for Line Emily Wilson’s landmark translation of the “Odyssey” matches the original’s line count while drawing on a spare, simple and direct idiom.

2018 Book Review: Turning Circe Into a Good Witch In Madeline Miller’s latest adaptation of Greek myth, “Circe,” we encounter a thoughtful and compassionate woman who learns to love unselfishly.

Ryan R. Goble is the Teaching & Learning Coordinator at Glenbard Township High School District 87 Public Schools in Glen Ellyn, IL. and the co-author of Making Curriculum Pop: Developing Literacies across Content Areas .

Elizabeth Wiersum teaches English at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Mythology.Guru » Myths » Europe Myths » Odysseus: Hero Of The Trojan War And The Odyssey

Odysseus: Hero Of The Trojan War And The Odyssey

We show you the story of Odysseus . A hero of Greek mythology with a great assortment of amazing and inspiring history and legends.

Table of Contents

Odysseus, the Hero

Odysseus was one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology . He plays one of the central roles in Homer’s Iliad, where the Greeks were, thanks to his ingenuity, able to defeat the Trojans and reclaim the city of Troy.

who was Odysseus?

Odysseus was a legendary hero , king of the island of Ithaca and the main protagonist of Homer’s epic , the “Odyssey” . He was the son of Laertes and Anticlea. This character was considered the most intelligent Greek hero, finding clean solutions to all problems. He was also a great warrior and a very charismatic leader who often inspired his men.

And on the other hand, he was a very faithful and loyal husband and father, as he refused immortality twice on his journey only to return home to his wife and son. No wonder he was admired and protected by Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

Appearance in works of art

In works of art, Odysseus is often depicted as a fully grown problem-solving man on one of his quests. Whether in the company of his men or alone, he is depicted on a journey from the Odyssey or in the war events of the Iliad. There is some art that depicts him returning to his wife Penelope.

History of Odysseus

Odysseus was well known among the Greeks as a very eloquent orator, a witty and cunning trickster. One of Helen’s suitors, Odysseus was forced to join the Trojan expedition, something he did not want, as he was more than happy with his wife, Penelope, and their newborn son, Telemachus, and he knew from a prophecy that if he went to Troy, it would take him a long time to return home.

So, he tried to feign madness, but Palamedes exposed him, and Odysseus had no choice but to leave. He played a crucial role during the Trojan War, both as strategist and warrior; and finally came up with the famous stratagem that decided the outcome of the bloody conflict, the Trojan Horse.

He then set sail for Ithaca, but after blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, he so enraged Poseidon that the god of the sea did all he could to obstruct Odysseus’ return voyage. After numerous memorable adventures, Circe, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, the Laestrygonians, Calypso, Odysseus finally made it to Ithaca, ten years after leaving Troy and twenty after joining the Trojan expedition.

There he was reunited with Telemachus and Penelope after killing all his wife’s suitors, he claimed his throne. He died an old man, probably accidentally killed by Telegonus, a child he had fathered with Circe during one of his many adventures.

Odysseus was the only son of Laertes of Ithaca, an ancient Argonaut, and Anticlea, the only daughter of Autolycus. Now this Autolycus, Odysseus’ grandfather, was the son of Hermes and was widely known as a thief so skilled that he could not be caught, being “able to change anything he stole into another form from white to black, or from black to white, from an animal without horns to one with horns, or from one without horns to one without horns.”

However, later authors did not seem too happy with a genealogy that made the wily Odysseus a relative of a thief only on his mother’s side, so they began to spread the rumor that his father was not Laertes, but none other than Sisyphus’ master trickster, who supposedly bargained one night with his father’s Anticlea after he finally caught Autolycus stealing his cattle.

The scar of Odysseus

Many years later, while visiting his grandfather, Odysseus joined his uncles on a wild boar hunting trip and, although he was still an inexperienced teenager, he managed to kill the boar himself, after confronting it. However, the boar hurt him, leaving a deep and recognizable scar on his leg, which will play an important role in the memorable drama of his later life.

A suitor of Helena

Odysseus was one of the suitors of Helen, stepdaughter of King Tyndareus of Sparta. However, he was undoubtedly the most reluctant among them, not only because he was reasonably certain that Menelaus would be the chosen bridegroom, but also because, as beautiful as Helen was, he was much more deeply in love with her cousin Penelope, the daughter of Tindar’s brother Icarus.

With or without Odysseus, the suitors were too many to please, and Tindarus justifiably feared an outbreak of violence, regardless of his final choice. Fortunately, Odysseus thought of an excellent solution.

In exchange for Tindarus’ help regarding Penelope’s hand, Odysseus advised him to make all the suitors swear that they would respect his final choice and support husband and wife in whatever ill fate they might both face in the future. And so, when Menelaus was chosen, all the other suitors peacefully left Sparta; except Odysseus, who remained there until Tindarus kept his part of the promise and convinced his brother to give Penelope’s hand to Odysseus in marriage.

The tactics of Palamedes

After marrying Penelope, Odysseus took her to Ithaca, where the couple lived a happy life, even more so after the birth of their only son, Telemachus. However, while the child was still a baby, Helen was kidnapped by Prince Paris of Troy. Invoking the oath of Helen’s suitors, Menelaus summoned all of them to aid him in his quest to bring her back.

Ironically since it had been he who had proposed the oath in the first place, Odysseus did not want to join the expedition; and he had a good reason for this; the seer Haliterses had informed him that if he participated, it would take him a long time to return home. So he decided to feign madness by taking advantage of a donkey and an ox to plow and sow salt in a field.

Palamedes who was the man sent to recruit Odysseus from Ithaca, did not believe the hero one bit; to test his sanity, he put Telemachus in front of the plow. Odysseus immediately changed course, thus exposing his plan. Odysseus never forgave Palamedes for this and spent many hours planning his revenge.

Myths of Odysseus during the Trojan War

It would be an understatement to say that the successful recruitment of Odysseus was a crucial event, one that would ultimately decide the outcome of the Trojan War perhaps more than any other, without Odysseus, the Greeks might never have sacked Troy.

Recruiting Achilles

In fact, his recruitment began to pay dividends even before the Greeks arrived in Troy. That is, fearing a prophecy that Achilles would either live a long and peaceful life or die gloriously as a mighty warrior, his mother Thetis decided to disguise him as a woman and hide him in the court of King Lycomedes, who ruled with the island of Scyros. Unfortunately, Odysseus learned from the prophet Calchas that the Greeks could only win the Trojan War if Achilles joined forces.

So, after learning of his whereabouts, he devised a plan to penetrate Achilles’ disguise as well. Masquerading as a peddler of women’s clothing, Odysseus placed a spear among his goods, and Achilles (then called Pyrrha) was the only one to show interest in the shiny object. Some are more inclined to tell a different story, according to which Odysseus feigned an attack on Scyros; in this case, all but Achilles fled at the sound of the battle horn.

Odysseus’ role in the Trojan War

From a discussion between Priam and Helen in Homer’ s “Iliad, ” we learn that Odysseus was shorter in the head than Agamemnon, but broader in the chest and shoulders. Physically unimpressive, “you would have thought him a rude man and nothing but a fool,” says Priam.

“But when he uttered his great voice from his chest, and the words fell like snowflakes on a winter’s day, then no mortal man could compete with Odysseus; then we do not marvel so much when we contemplate Odysseus’ appearance.” “He knows all manner of craft and cunning,” agrees Helen, this illustrious “Odysseus of many wiles.”

As might be expected, Odysseus’ primary role during the Trojan War was that of a shrewd strategist and wise counselor . He was the one most capable of keeping the morale of the Greeks at a high level, and the one who managed to prevent the bulk of the Greek army from withdrawing from the war after Agamemnon’s plan to test their resolve by allowing them a furlough had backfired.

Odysseus was also the leader of the three-man expedition sent to appease Achilles who, enraged by what he had perceived as unfair treatment by Agamemnon, decided to leave the battlefield.

However, this does not mean that Odysseus did not prove his worth as a warrior as well. Together with Diomedes, he captured and killed the Trojan spy Dolon and slew the Thracian king Rhesus during a dangerous night attack on the Trojan camp.

He also captured the Trojan seer Helenus to learn from him some conditions on which the fulfillment of the fall of Troy depended. Among them, the recruitment of Achilles’ son Neoptoleus and the wounded archer Philoctetes (in whose possession were the bow and arrows of Herakles), and Odysseus played the central role in both.

The Trojan Horse

Odysseus’ main and most memorable contribution to the successful conclusion of the Trojan War was the creation of the stratagem by which, after a decade of war, the Greeks finally succeeded in entering Troy. It was the construction of the Trojan Horse, a huge wooden sculpture inside which was hidden the hollow belly of the greatest of the famous Greek heroes.

After leaving the Horse near the Gates of Troy, the Greeks pretended to sail away; initially confused, in time, the Trojans began to believe that the war was over and that the Horse had been a divine gift; so they carried the sculpture inside the gates of their city. They spent the entire day joyfully celebrating their victory and dancing around the Horse.

However, as night fell, the Greek warriors jumped off the sculpture and opened the gates for the rest of the Greeks, who, under the disguise of night, had managed to sail back to shore. In short order, the Greeks stormed the unsuspecting, drunken and virtually defenseless Trojans, killing many of them and ultimately winning a famous and conclusive victory.

The cruelty of Odysseus

Odysseus was at times unreasonably cruel to his enemies, which is why, as much as he was adored by the Greeks, he was reviled by the Romans (who knew him as Odysseus and considered themselves descendants of Trojans).

Certainly, Odysseus’ most vicious act occurred just after the fall of Troy: fearing some sort of future retribution, he urged the death of Astyanax, Hector’s infant son. Some even say that it was Odysseus himself who killed Astyanax, possibly by throwing the boy off the walls of Troy.

Moreover, Odysseus never forgot his grudge against Palamedes. According to some authors, he forged a letter from Priam and falsely exposed him as a traitor, after which he and Diomedes stoned Palamedes to death.

Others say that the two comrades tricked Palamedes into descending into a well on the premise that there was treasure hidden inside; once Palamedes climbed down the well, Odysseus and Palamedes began throwing stones at him and finally buried him at the bottom.

Beginning of the odyssey: Journey Home

After the Trojan War , Odysseus set out on a ten-year journey to reach his home, Ithaca ; his adventures are recounted, mostly in flashbacks, in Homer’s monumental epic “Odyssey”. Chronologically, this is the order in which they happen.

The Cicones

Odysseus left Troy with twelve ships – as many as he had sailed a decade earlier. Soon after, a strong wind blows the ships off course and they end up on the southern coast of Thrace, among the Cicones, Trojan allies. In the ensuing battle, Odysseus and his crew kill every man there except a priest of Apollo named Maron.

In gratitude, the priest gives Odysseus twelve jugs of strong wine. Drunk with victory, the Greeks stay a little too long in Thrace, giving the Cicones enough time to summon the necessary reinforcements and finally prevail, overpowering Odysseus’ crew and killing six men from each of the twelve ships in the process.

The Lotus Eaters

They then landed on the island of the lotus eaters. Ulysses sent three men to explore the island before deciding what to do next. After a while, when they did not return, he followed them and discovered that they had been drugged. They had been eating lotus fruits with the natives which were narcotic and caused the men to refrain from their goal of getting home. Odysseus dragged them back to the ship against their will and tied them to the rowing benches to prevent them from escaping to the island.

One-eyed Polyphemus

Next, Odysseus’ ships reach the island of the Cyclops, a race of one-eyed giant shepherds famous for their rude and violent ways. Lured by some resources, Odysseus and twelve of his men end up trapped in the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus, who, after blocking the cave entrance with a giant rock, begins to eat them, two by two.

The monster manages to devour six of Odysseus’ men before the hero devises a life-saving trick. After introducing himself as Outis – that is, “Nobody” – he gives Polyphemus some of Maron’s wine and gets him so drunk that he can pierce his eye with a stake. “Nobody is killing me by fraud,” cries Polyphemus, “Nobody is killing me by force!” While not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed, no one can blame the other Cyclops this time for not coming to Polyphemus’ aid.

The next morning, Odysseus and his six surviving men escape Polyphemus’ cave by hiding under the bellies of their sheep, while the Cyclops let them out to graze unsuspectingly. Before leaving the island, however, Odysseus makes the mistake of revealing his true identity to Polyphemus, who asks his father, the sea god Poseidon, to avenge him; this will have a great impact on the hero’s journey, as it will be Poseidon’s wrath that will keep Odysseus away from his beloved Ithaca for the next ten years.

Winds of Aeolus

The ships then arrive at the island of the god of winds, Aeolus, who welcomes them warmly and shelters them for a month. At the end of it, to help Odysseus on his journey, Aeolus puts all his winds except the West Wind in a leather bag and gives the bag to Odysseus.

For the next nine days, the West Wind gently steers the ships to Ithaca. However, on the tenth day, just before reaching shore, Odysseus falls asleep. Thinking it contains gold, his men steal the leather bag and open it, thus releasing all the other winds at once. The ships are violently driven back to Aeolus’ island, where, realizing that Odysseus must be cursed, the god of the winds refuses to help him again.

The Laestrygonians

Seven days later, Odysseus arrives on the island of the Laestrygonians, a tribe of bloodthirsty, carnivorous giants. Throwing huge boulders at them and spearing the drowning man like a fish, the Laestrygonians sink eleven of Odysseus’ ships and eat most of his sailors; in fact, Odysseus’ ship is the only one that manages to escape, the members of his crew being the only survivors of this gruesome adventure.

The sorceress Circe

Odysseus’ ship arrives at Eea, an island ruled by the sorceress Circe. She turns some of Odysseus’ men into pigs, but Odysseus, aided by Hermes who gives him a magic herb called moly, resists Circe’s sorcery and attacks her with his sword. Overwhelmed by Odysseus’ courage and determination, Circe falls in love with him and agrees to transform the pigs into men. After this, they remain on the island for a year, during which Odysseus becomes Circe’s lover.

Expedition to the Underworld

At the end of the year, Circe advises Odysseus to descend into Hades and seek the advice of the seer Teiresias before continuing his journey. Odysseus does so and, in the process, not only learns of some of the difficulties ahead, but also encounters many famous dead (Agamemnon, Achilles, Herakles), including the spirit of his mother, who tells him to hurry home, as his wife Penelope is surrounded by potential suitors. Back in Aea, Circe reaffirms some of these prophecies and warns Odysseus of many other dangers that await him.

First, Odysseus passes by the island of the Sirens who, as Circe tells him, enchant all who approach them through the seductive sound of their song. However, Odysseus orders his crew to fill their ears with beeswax and wedge themselves tightly against the mast, so that they can not only escape unharmed, but also hear the beautiful song of the sirens.

Scylla and Charybdis

Then Odysseus’ ship must pass through a strait; a strait situated between the whirlpool of Charybdis and the six-headed monster Scylla. Yes, but not before Scylla manages to devour six of Odysseus’ men.

The cattle of Helios

They then reach the island of Trinacia, where Odysseus, remembering the warnings of Circe and Teiresias, warns his companions that they must not eat the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios. In his absence, however, they do so, and Helios, enraged, demands that Zeus punish them, or else he would take the sun with him to the Underworld. Zeus obliges and sends a violent storm during which all Odysseus’ companions, except him, die.

The captive of Calypso

The sea takes Odysseus to the island of Ogygia, where the witch Calypso falls in love with him and keeps him captive for the next seven years. Meanwhile, Odysseus dreams of his beloved Ithaca and even the promise of immortality fails to change his mind. Finally, through the intervention of Zeus and Hermes, at the end of the seven years, Odysseus is freed.

The Phaeacians

Then he arrives at Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians (today’s island of Corfu). There, during a feast, Odysseus tells his impressive story. Happy to have had the honor of receiving such an honored guest, the Phaeacians provide Odysseus with a ship and a couple of sailors, who pilot the exhausted hero to Ithaca. After twenty years of war and wandering, Odysseus has finally returned home.

Back to Ithaca

Odysseus arrives in Ithaca late at night, sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb his sleep, the Phaeacian sailors lay him down on the shore and leave. Odysseus wakes up confused, but Athena appears to him and, after revealing to him what had happened, disguises him as an old beggar, both for his safety and so that he can better learn what had happened during his absence.

Pretending to be a Cretan returning from Troy with news of Odysseus, the disguised hero finds his way to the hut of one of his most faithful servants, the swineherd Eumaeus. Eumaeus gives him a warm welcome, while speaking in superlatives for his former master.

Meanwhile, Telemachus has sailed from Sparta and, after evading an ambush by Penelope’s suitors, lands on the coast and heads straight for the hut of Eumaeus. Odysseus makes himself known, and father and son are finally reunited, twenty years after being separated by the Trojan War and the stratagem of Palamedes.

Penelope and the suitors

Accompanied by Eumaeus, he goes to his own house. There he is ridiculed by the suitors, especially by Antinous, one of their two most prominent leaders, who even hurts him with a footstool and incites him to fight Irus, another beggar present in the palace.

Suddenly, Penelope appears and, prompted by Athena, announces that she is finally ready to remarry. Happy to hear this – since it implies that Penelope has been faithful to him all this time – Odysseus (still in disguise) has a chat with his unsuspecting wife, during which Penelope is moved to tears upon hearing some (false) news of Odysseus’ visit to Crete.

Euriclea and the secret of Odysseus

Appreciating this stranger, Penelope calls Euriclea, Odysseus’ only wet nurse, and asks her to wash the beggar’s feet. In doing so, Euriclea notices a scar on his leg and realizes the stranger’s identity. She tries to tell Penelope, but Odysseus and Athena intervene, and the secret is kept safe.

Odysseus and the test to win over Penelope

Urged on by the beggar, Penelope announces the next morning that she would marry the suitor capable of stringing her husband’s bow and then shooting an arrow through twelve shafts. None of the suitors succeeds; Odysseus, still in disguise, completes the challenge and then reveals himself; aided by his son Telemachus and Athena, he kills all the suitors and hangs twelve of the maids identified by Eurycleia as traitors.

The reunion of Odysseus and Penelope

Eurycleia notifies Penelope of the unexpected outcome of the contest, cheerfully notifying her that the stranger had been none other than Odysseus all along. Penelope does not believe her and refuses to acknowledge Odysseus’ identity even after coming down and seeing him bathed and dressed in royal attire, anything but a god among humans.

Understandably wary, Penelope asks Odysseus to move his marriage bed to another room. This hero replies that such a thing is impossible, since he had made the bed himself and knows that one of its legs is an olive tree still alive and deeply rooted in the ground. Penelope needs no further proof. she runs into her husband’s embrace and they both begin to weep for joy.

Joyful, Athena orders Eos to postpone the dawn for a few hours, so that the two spouses can fully enjoy an extended night of embraces, tears and stories, of love and pleasure.

The death of Odysseus

Not much is known about Odysseus’ later years; or, to be more precise, too many contradictory stories are told by different authors. The more romantic the state that he and Penelope lived happily ever after, the more skeptical it is that, after finding proof of his infidelity, This hero left or even killed Penelope and set out on another journey to the kingdom of Thesprotia, where he eventually married Callidice.

The most famous story of Odysseus’ death, however, concerns Telegono, the son he fathered with Circe while in Aeaea. Once Telegonus reached adulthood, he went to Ithaca to meet his father. Landing on the shore, he killed some sheep to satisfy his hunger.

Odysseus was not pleased with this act and went out to confront him. In the ensuing fight, Odysseus was mortally wounded by Telegonus’ spear with lightning poison. After discovering the identity of his victim, Telegonus took Penelope and Telemachus to Aea, where Circe made all three of them immortal. Afterwards, the two sons married each other’s mother.

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Unraveling the Mythical Journey of Telemachus: A Hero's Quest

Telemachus, a central character in Homer's Odyssey, has an important role in Greek mythology as more than just the son of Odysseus and Penelope. His story is one of growth, wisdom, and heroism. He embarks on a journey to find his father who has been absent from his life since leaving to fight in the Trojan War. 

While Odysseus struggles to return home after the war, Telemachus faces his own set of challenges, including dealing with suitors vying for his mother's hand in marriage. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, plays a crucial role in guiding Telemachus on his quest to find his father. 

In this blog post, we take a look at Telemachus' parentage, his adventures in searching for his father and the impact of Odysseus’ absence on his upbringing. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the point.

The Lineage of Telemachus: Son of Odysseus and Penelope

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Parentage and early life

Telemachus was born to Odysseus and Penelope in Ithaca, before the Trojan War. Odysseus was a Greek hero, famous for his role in Greek mythology , while Penelope was a virtuous and loyal queen. As a child, Telemachus was raised by his mother, who instilled maternal wisdom in him while his father fought in the war.

Growing up in Ithaca, his early life was mostly spent within the palace, learning about his heritage and understanding his dual legacy, from both his father and mother. As he reached manhood, Telemachus became increasingly aware of his parents' importance and the responsibility that he would one day bear.

Impact of Odysseus' absence on his upbringing

Odysseus' prolonged absence due to the Trojan War and his subsequent odyssey had a significant impact on Telemachus' upbringing. Without his father's guidance, he relied on maternal wisdom and his father's loyal friends for support. His mother, Penelope, remained steadfast in her loyalty to Odysseus , teaching Telemachus the value of patience and resilience.

In the years that followed, Ithaca became overrun with suitors seeking Penelope's hand in marriage, believing that Odysseus was dead. Despite the hardships and challenges, Telemachus managed to maintain his composure and displayed wisdom, patience, and courage - traits inherited from both Odysseus and Penelope. 

He eventually embarked on a journey to find his father and restore order to their kingdom, embracing the paternal legacy bequeathed to him.

The Call to Adventure: Telemachus' Quest Begins

Telemachus finds himself troubled by the presence of aggressive suitors vying for his mother's hand in marriage. This predicament sets the stage for his own journey in the ancient Greek epic, the Odyssey. 

In this critical phase of his life, Telemachus is introduced to the goddess Athena, who disguises herself as his father's old friend, Mentes. In their very first encounter, Athena plants the seed of adventure within the young prince, telling him his father is still alive.

The characteristics of Telemachus' quest are as follows:

• Mentorship and Guidance : Throughout his journey, Athena serves as his mentor and protector, assisting him in various forms, whether it's supporting his decisions or providing him the tools for his success.
• Facing Challenges : Telemachus must overcome the resistance from suitors, elders, and even his own mother Penelope, who are hesitant about him embarking on this perilous journey.
• Growth in Character : As the son of a hero, Telemachus learns to embrace his youth, assert himself, and establish his own identity and responsibilities as a rightful prince. His tale highlights the importance of resilience and self-discovery.

Telemachus' journey eventually leads him on a quest for knowledge about his father, Odysseus' whereabouts, and ultimately a reunion with his long-lost father. By navigating the challenges and obstacles in his path, he gradually emerges as a more knowledgeable and confident individual.

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In this captivating story that unfolds in parallel to Odysseus' own trials, readers of the Odyssey are guided through the fascinating evolution of Telemachus, from a timid young man to a more assertive and responsible prince. The call to adventure and the influence of a mentor like Athena help shape Telemachus into a Greek hero of his own.

Trials and Tribulations: Challenges Telemachus Faced

Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, embarked on a journey filled with challenges throughout Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. As a young man growing up in a world of Greek mythology, his early life was marked by the absence of his father, who had been away at the Trojan War for nearly two decades.

One significant challenge faced by Telemachus was dealing with the suitors who overran his household, harassing his mother Penelope and consuming the family's resources. Telemachus was unsure how to protect his family and home. Without a father figure or mentor, he struggled to find a way to assert his authority and defend his family's honor.

Thankfully, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, took an interest in the young prince and guided him on a quest to discover his father's fate. Telemachus traveled to the courts of Nestor and Menelaus, who shared their knowledge and advice with him. 

Upon returning to Ithaca, Telemachus faced a vicious ambush orchestrated by the suitors; they sought to kill him before he could reassert his position as the rightful heir. With the help of deus ex machina and his now cunning mind, he managed to thwart their attack. 

Telemachus was also instrumental in a climactic battle alongside his father, Odysseus. Together, they triumphed over the oppressive suitors, reclaiming their household and restoring honor to their family. These hardships forge him into the strong, capable leader that he had always aspired to be.

The Return: Telemachus' Reunion with Odysseus

In Greek mythology, the reunion between Telemachus and his father, Odysseus, holds a significant and emotional place in the story of the Odyssey. As the son of the legendary hero Odysseus, Telemachus has grown up without his father's guidance, and in his absence, his home has been invaded by unruly suitors seeking to marry his mother, Penelope.

Telemachus sets out on a journey to gather information about his father, guided by the wise Goddess Athena. During his travels, Telemachus matures and learns about his father's adventures, as well as the need for bravery and loyalty. He attends an Assembly in Ithaca, where he addresses the Elders and gains their respect and support.

Meanwhile, Odysseus returns to Ithaca in disguise, aided by Athena. He stays with Eumaeus, a loyal and humble swineherd, who is unaware of the true identity of his guest. It is in Eumaeus' hut that the long-awaited reunion between Telemachus and Odysseus finally takes place.

Upon arriving at the hut, Telemachus initially mistakes his father for an old beggar. However, with the help of Goddess Athena, Odysseus reveals his true identity to his son. Their emotional reunion is marked by tears of joy and relief, as they realize that they can finally stand together against the suitors.

Key elements of the reunion:

• Telemachus' journey of self-discovery
• Odysseus' return to Ithaca in disguise
• The emotional moment of recognition
• The strengthened bond between father and son

Telemachus and Odysseus' reunion signifies the importance of loyalty and trust in their relationship. They join forces, and with Athena's guidance, they plan their revenge on the suitors who have disrespected their home and family.

In conclusion, the reunion of Telemachus with Odysseus is a pivotal moment in the Odyssey, demonstrating the importance of family, loyalty, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

In wrapping up the mythical journey of Telemachus, it is evident that his story is a quintessential coming-of-age tale that has resonated through the ages. The growth and maturation of Telemachus, from a passive observer in his own home to an assertive and wise leader, reflect the universal challenges of growing up and finding one's place in the world. 

His journey, under the guidance of Athena, showcases the transformation from boyhood to heroism, a narrative that continues to inspire modern interpretations and adaptations.

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Telemachus' legacy in Greek literature is significant; he symbolizes the potential within all young people to rise above their circumstances through courage, wisdom, and perseverance. His adventures and trials contribute vitally to the central plot of the Odyssey, intertwining his fate with that of his father, Odysseus, and highlighting the enduring bonds of family and loyalty.

Who is Telemachus in the Odyssey, and what role does he play?

Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, and a central character in Homer's Odyssey. As his father embarked on his journey to Troy, Telemachus was just an infant. He grows up devoted to his mother and maintaining his father's estate. During the events of the Odyssey, Telemachus embarks on a journey to find his wandering father and faces challenges that reveal his own growth and maturity as a hero. 

How is Telemachus's relationship with Athena portrayed in the Odyssey?

In the Odyssey, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, takes a keen interest in Telemachus. She guides and advises him throughout his journey, giving Telemachus the courage and wisdom to stand up against the suitors and search for his father. 

What does the character of Telemachus symbolize in Greek literature?

Telemachus's character represents growth, maturity, and the transition from boyhood to manhood. His journey to find his father and the challenges he faces along the way symbolize the universally relatable struggles of self-discovery, forging an identity, and finding one's place in the world. 

How did Telemachus contribute to the events in the Odyssey?

Telemachus plays a pivotal role in the Odyssey by embarking on a journey to locate his father and gather information about his possible fate. While he does this, he also learns valuable life lessons and develops his skills as a leader. Telemachus ultimately helps Odysseus to reclaim their family's estate from the suitors who have overrun it in his absence.

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The hero's journey: a story structure as old as time, the hero's journey offers a powerful framework for creating quest-based stories emphasizing self-transformation..

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Holding out for a hero to take your story to the next level? 

The Hero’s Journey might be just what you’ve been looking for. Created by Joseph Campbell, this narrative framework packs mythic storytelling into a series of steps across three acts, each representing a crucial phase in a character's transformative journey.

Challenge . Growth . Triumph .

Whether you're penning a novel, screenplay, or video game, The Hero’s Journey is a tried-and-tested blueprint for crafting epic stories that transcend time and culture. Let’s explore the steps together and kickstart your next masterpiece.

What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey is a famous template for storytelling, mapping a hero's adventurous quest through trials and tribulations to ultimate transformation. 

What are the Origins of the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey was invented by Campbell in his seminal 1949 work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces , where he introduces the concept of the "monomyth."

A comparative mythologist by trade, Campbell studied myths from cultures around the world and identified a common pattern in their narratives. He proposed that all mythic narratives are variations of a single, universal story, structured around a hero's adventure, trials, and eventual triumph.

His work unveiled the archetypal hero’s path as a mirror to humanity’s commonly shared experiences and aspirations. It was subsequently named one of the All-Time 100 Nonfiction Books by TIME in 2011.

How are the Hero’s and Heroine’s Journeys Different? 

While both the Hero's and Heroine's Journeys share the theme of transformation, they diverge in their focus and execution.

The Hero’s Journey, as outlined by Campbell, emphasizes external challenges and a quest for physical or metaphorical treasures. In contrast, Murdock's Heroine’s Journey, explores internal landscapes, focusing on personal reconciliation, emotional growth, and the path to self-actualization.

In short, heroes seek to conquer the world, while heroines seek to transform their own lives; but…

Twelve Steps of the Hero’s Journey

So influential was Campbell’s monomyth theory that it's been used as the basis for some of the largest franchises of our generation: The Lord of the Rings , Harry Potter ...and George Lucas even cited it as a direct influence on Star Wars .

There are, in fact, several variations of the Hero's Journey, which we discuss further below. But for this breakdown, we'll use the twelve-step version outlined by Christopher Vogler in his book, The Writer's Journey (seemingly now out of print, unfortunately).

You probably already know the above stories pretty well so we’ll unpack the twelve steps of the Hero's Journey using Ben Gates’ journey in National Treasure as a case study—because what is more heroic than saving the Declaration of Independence from a bunch of goons?

Ye be warned: Spoilers ahead!

Act One: Departure

Step 1. the ordinary world.

The journey begins with the status quo—business as usual. We meet the hero and are introduced to the Known World they live in. In other words, this is your exposition, the starting stuff that establishes the story to come.

National Treasure begins in media res (preceded only by a short prologue), where we are given key information that introduces us to Ben Gates' world, who he is (a historian from a notorious family), what he does (treasure hunts), and why he's doing it (restoring his family's name).

With the help of his main ally, Riley, and a crew of other treasure hunters backed by a wealthy patron, he finds an 18th-century American ship in the Canadian Arctic, the Charlotte . Here, they find a ship-shaped pipe that presents a new riddle and later doubles as a key—for now, it's just another clue in the search for the lost treasure of the Templars, one that leads them to the Declaration of Independence.

Step 2. The Call to Adventure

The inciting incident takes place and the hero is called to act upon it. While they're still firmly in the Known World, the story kicks off and leaves the hero feeling out of balance. In other words, they are placed at a crossroads.

Ian (the wealthy patron of the Charlotte operation) steals the pipe from Ben and Riley and leaves them stranded. This is a key moment: Ian becomes the villain, Ben has now sufficiently lost his funding for this expedition, and if he decides to pursue the chase, he'll be up against extreme odds.

Step 3. Refusal of the Call

The hero hesitates and instead refuses their call to action. Following the call would mean making a conscious decision to break away from the status quo. Ahead lies danger, risk, and the unknown; but here and now, the hero is still in the safety and comfort of what they know.

Ben debates continuing the hunt for the Templar treasure. Before taking any action, he decides to try and warn the authorities: the FBI, Homeland Security, and the staff of the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence is housed and monitored. Nobody will listen to him, and his family's notoriety doesn't help matters.

Step 4. Meeting the Mentor

The protagonist receives knowledge or motivation from a powerful or influential figure. This is a tactical move on the hero's part—remember that it was only the previous step in which they debated whether or not to jump headfirst into the unknown. By Meeting the Mentor, they can gain new information or insight, and better equip themselves for the journey they might to embark on.

Abigail, an archivist at the National Archives, brushes Ben and Riley off as being crazy, but Ben uses the interaction to his advantage in other ways—to seek out information about how the Declaration of Independence is stored and cared for, as well as what (and more importantly, who) else he might be up against in his own attempt to steal it.

In a key scene, we see him contemplate the entire operation while standing over the glass-encased Declaration of Independence. Finally, he firmly decides to pursue the treasure and stop Ian, uttering the famous line, "I'm gonna steal the Declaration of Independence."

Act Two: Initiation

Step 5. crossing the threshold.

The hero leaves the Known World to face the Unknown World. They are fully committed to the journey, with no way to turn back now. There may be a confrontation of some sort, and the stakes will be raised.

Ben and Riley infiltrate the National Archives during a gala and successfully steal the Declaration of Independence. But wait—it's not so easy. While stealing the Declaration of Independence, Abigail suspects something is up and Ben faces off against Ian.

Then, when trying to escape the building, Ben exits through the gift shop, where an attendant spots the document peeking out of his jacket. He is forced to pay for it, feigning that it's a replica—and because he doesn't have enough cash, he has to use his credit card, so there goes keeping his identity anonymous.

The game is afoot.

Step 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

The hero explores the Unknown World. Now that they have firmly crossed the threshold from the Known World, the hero will face new challenges and possibly meet new enemies. They'll have to call upon their allies, new and old, in order to keep moving forward.

Abigail reluctantly joins the team under the agreement that she'll help handle the Declaration of Independence, given her background in document archiving and restoration. Ben and co. seek the aid of Ben's father, Patrick Gates, whom Ben has a strained relationship with thanks to years of failed treasure hunting that has created a rift between grandfather, father, and son. Finally, they travel around Philadelphia deciphering clues while avoiding both Ian and the FBI.

Step 7. Approach the Innermost Cave

The hero nears the goal of their quest, the reason they crossed the threshold in the first place. Here, they could be making plans, having new revelations, or gaining new skills. To put it in other familiar terms, this step would mark the moment just before the story's climax.

Ben uncovers a pivotal clue—or rather, he finds an essential item—a pair of bifocals with interchangeable lenses made by Benjamin Franklin. It is revealed that by switching through the various lenses, different messages will be revealed on the back of the Declaration of Independence. He's forced to split from Abigail and Riley, but Ben has never been closer to the treasure.

Step 8. The Ordeal

The hero faces a dire situation that changes how they view the world. All threads of the story come together at this pinnacle, the central crisis from which the hero will emerge unscathed or otherwise. The stakes will be at their absolute highest here.

Vogler details that in this stage, the hero will experience a "death," though it need not be literal. In your story, this could signify the end of something and the beginning of another, which could itself be figurative or literal. For example, a certain relationship could come to an end, or it could mean someone "stuck in their ways" opens up to a new perspective.

In National Treasure , The FBI captures Ben and Ian makes off with the Declaration of Independence—all hope feels lost. To add to it, Ian reveals that he's kidnapped Ben's father and threatens to take further action if Ben doesn't help solve the final clues and lead Ian to the treasure.

Ben escapes the FBI with Ian's help, reunites with Abigail and Riley, and leads everyone to an underground structure built below Trinity Church in New York City. Here, they manage to split from Ian once more, sending him on a goose chase to Boston with a false clue, and proceed further into the underground structure.

Though they haven't found the treasure just yet, being this far into the hunt proves to Ben's father, Patrick, that it's real enough. The two men share an emotional moment that validates what their family has been trying to do for generations.

Step 9. Reward

This is it, the moment the hero has been waiting for. They've survived "death," weathered the crisis of The Ordeal, and earned the Reward for which they went on this journey.

Now, free of Ian's clutches and with some light clue-solving, Ben, Abigail, Riley, and Patrick keep progressing through the underground structure and eventually find the Templar's treasure—it's real and more massive than they could have imagined. Everyone revels in their discovery while simultaneously looking for a way back out.

Act Three: Return

Step 10. the road back.

It's time for the journey to head towards its conclusion. The hero begins their return to the Known World and may face unexpected challenges. Whatever happens, the "why" remains paramount here (i.e. why the hero ultimately chose to embark on their journey).

This step marks a final turning point where they'll have to take action or make a decision to keep moving forward and be "reborn" back into the Known World.

Act Three of National Treasure is admittedly quite short. After finding the treasure, Ben and co. emerge from underground to face the FBI once more. Not much of a road to travel back here so much as a tunnel to scale in a crypt.

Step 11. Resurrection

The hero faces their ultimate challenge and emerges victorious, but forever changed. This step often requires a sacrifice of some sort, and having stepped into the role of The Hero™, they must answer to this.

Ben is given an ultimatum— somebody has to go to jail (on account of the whole stealing-the-Declaration-of-Independence thing). But, Ben also found a treasure worth millions of dollars and that has great value to several nations around the world, so that counts for something.

Ultimately, Ben sells Ian out, makes a deal to exonerate his friends and family, and willingly hands the treasure over to the authorities. Remember: he wanted to find the treasure, but his "why" was to restore the Gates family name, so he won regardless.

Step 12. Return With the Elixir

Finally, the hero returns home as a new version of themself, the elixir is shared amongst the people, and the journey is completed full circle.

The elixir, like many other elements of the hero's journey, can be literal or figurative. It can be a tangible thing, such as an actual elixir meant for some specific purpose, or it could be represented by an abstract concept such as hope, wisdom, or love.

Vogler notes that if the Hero's Journey results in a tragedy, the elixir can instead have an effect external to the story—meaning that it could be something meant to affect the audience and/or increase their awareness of the world.

In the final scene of National Treasure , we see Ben and Abigail walking the grounds of a massive estate. Riley pulls up in a fancy sports car and comments on how they could have gotten more money. They all chat about attending a museum exhibit in Cairo (Egypt).

In one scene, we're given a lot of closure: Ben and co. received a hefty payout for finding the treasure, Ben and Abigail are a couple now, and the treasure was rightfully spread to those it benefitted most—in this case, countries who were able to reunite with significant pieces of their history. Everyone's happy, none of them went to jail despite the serious crimes committed, and they're all a whole lot wealthier. Oh, Hollywood.

Variations of the Hero's Journey

Plot structure is important, but you don't need to follow it exactly; and, in fact, your story probably won't. Your version of the Hero's Journey might require more or fewer steps, or you might simply go off the beaten path for a few steps—and that's okay!

What follows are three additional versions of the Hero's Journey, which you may be more familiar with than Vogler's version presented above.

Dan Harmon's Story Circle (or, The Eight-Step Hero's Journey)

Screenwriter Dan Harmon has riffed on the Hero's Journey by creating a more compact version, the Story Circle —and it works especially well for shorter-format stories such as television episodes, which happens to be what Harmon writes.

The Story Circle comprises eight simple steps with a heavy emphasis on the hero's character arc:

• The hero is in a zone of comfort...
• But they want something.
• They enter an unfamiliar situation...
• And adapt to it by facing trials.
• They get what they want...
• But they pay a heavy price for it.
• They return to their familiar situation...
• Having changed.

You may have noticed, but there is a sort of rhythm here. The eight steps work well in four pairs, simplifying the core of the Hero's Journey even further:

• The hero is in a zone of comfort, but they want something.
• They enter an unfamiliar situation and have to adapt via new trials.
• They get what they want, but they pay a price for it.
• They return to their zone of comfort, forever changed.

If you're writing shorter fiction, such as a short story or novella, definitely check out the Story Circle. It's the Hero's Journey minus all the extraneous bells & whistles.

Ten-Step Hero's Journey

The ten-step Hero's Journey is similar to the twelve-step version we presented above. It includes most of the same steps except for Refusal of the Call and Meeting the Mentor, arguing that these steps aren't as essential to include; and, it moves Crossing the Threshold to the end of Act One and Reward to the end of Act Two.

• The Ordinary World
• The Call to Adventure
• Crossing the Threshold
• Tests, Allies, Enemies
• Approach the Innermost Cave
• The Road Back
• Resurrection
• Return with Elixir

We've previously written about the ten-step hero's journey in a series of essays separated by act: Act One (with a prologue), Act Two , and Act Three .

Twelve-Step Hero's Journey: Version Two

Again, the second version of the twelve-step hero's journey is very similar to the one above, save for a few changes, including in which story act certain steps appear.

This version skips The Ordinary World exposition and starts right at The Call to Adventure; then, the story ends with two new steps in place of Return With Elixir: The Return and The Freedom to Live.

• The Refusal of the Call
• Meeting the Mentor
• Test, Allies, Enemies
• Approaching the Innermost Cave
• The Resurrection
• The Return*
• The Freedom to Live*

In the final act of this version, there is more of a focus on an internal transformation for the hero. They experience a metamorphosis on their journey back to the Known World, return home changed, and go on to live a new life, uninhibited.

Seventeen-Step Hero's Journey

Finally, the granddaddy of heroic journeys: the seventeen-step Hero's Journey. This version includes a slew of extra steps your hero might face out in the expanse.

• Refusal of the Call
• Supernatural Aid (aka Meeting the Mentor)
• Belly of the Whale*: This added stage marks the hero's immediate descent into danger once they've crossed the threshold.
• Road of Trials (...with Allies, Tests, and Enemies)
• Meeting with the Goddess/God*: In this stage, the hero meets with a new advisor or powerful figure, who equips them with the knowledge or insight needed to keep progressing forward.
• Woman as Temptress (or simply, Temptation)*: Here, the hero is tempted, against their better judgment, to question themselves and their reason for being on the journey. They may feel insecure about something specific or have an exposed weakness that momentarily holds them back.
• Atonement with the Father (or, Catharthis)*: The hero faces their Temptation and moves beyond it, shedding free from all that holds them back.
• Apotheosis (aka The Ordeal)
• The Ultimate Boon (aka the Reward)
• Refusal of the Return*: The hero wonders if they even want to go back to their old life now that they've been forever changed.
• The Magic Flight*: Having decided to return to the Known World, the hero needs to actually find a way back.
• Rescue From Without*: Allies may come to the hero's rescue, helping them escape this bold, new world and return home.
• Crossing of the Return Threshold (aka The Return)
• Master of Two Worlds*: Very closely resembling The Resurrection stage in other variations, this stage signifies that the hero is quite literally a master of two worlds—The Known World and the Unknown World—having conquered each.
• Freedom to Live

Again, we skip the Ordinary World opening here. Additionally, Acts Two and Three look pretty different from what we've seen so far, although, the bones of the Hero's Journey structure remain.

The Eight Hero’s Journey Archetypes

The Hero is, understandably, the cornerstone of the Hero’s Journey, but they’re just one of eight key archetypes that make up this narrative framework.

In The Writer's Journey , Vogler outlined seven of these archetypes, only excluding the Ally, which we've included below. Here’s a breakdown of all eight with examples: 

1. The Hero

As outlined, the Hero is the protagonist who embarks on a transformative quest or journey. The challenges they overcome represent universal human struggles and triumphs. 

Vogler assigned a "primary function" to each archetype—helpful for establishing their role in a story. The Hero's primary function is "to service and sacrifice."

Example: Neo from The Matrix , who evolves from a regular individual into the prophesied savior of humanity.

2. The Mentor

A wise guide offering knowledge, tools, and advice, Mentors help the Hero navigate the journey and discover their potential. Their primary function is "to guide."

Example: Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid imparts not only martial arts skills but invaluable life lessons to Daniel.

3. The Ally

Companions who support the Hero, Allies provide assistance, friendship, and moral support throughout the journey. They may also become a friends-to-lovers romantic partner. 

Not included in Vogler's list is the Ally, though we'd argue they are essential nonetheless. Let's say their primary function is "to aid and support."

Example: Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings , a loyal friend and steadfast supporter of Frodo.

4. The Herald

The Herald acts as a catalyst to initiate the Hero's Journey, often presenting a challenge or calling the hero to adventure. Their primary function is "to warn or challenge."

Example: Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games , whose selection at the Reaping sets Katniss’s journey into motion.

5. The Trickster

A character who brings humor and unpredictability, challenges conventions, and offers alternative perspectives or solutions. Their primary function is "to disrupt."

Example: Loki from Norse mythology exemplifies the trickster, with his cunning and chaotic influence.

6. The Shapeshifter

Ambiguous figures whose allegiance and intentions are uncertain. They may be a friend one moment and a foe the next. Their primary function is "to question and deceive."

Example: Catwoman from the Batman universe often blurs the line between ally and adversary, slinking between both roles with glee.

7. The Guardian

Protectors of important thresholds, Guardians challenge or test the Hero, serving as obstacles to overcome or lessons to be learned. Their primary function is "to test."

Example: The Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail literally bellows “None shall pass!”—a quintessential ( but not very effective ) Guardian.

8. The Shadow

Represents the Hero's inner conflict or an antagonist, often embodying the darker aspects of the hero or their opposition. Their primary function is "to destroy."

Example: Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender; initially an adversary, his journey parallels the Hero’s path of transformation.

While your story does not have to use all of the archetypes, they can help you develop your characters and visualize how they interact with one another—especially the Hero.

For example, take your hero and place them in the center of a blank worksheet, then write down your other major characters in a circle around them and determine who best fits into which archetype. Who challenges your hero? Who tricks them? Who guides them? And so on...

Stories that Use the Hero’s Journey

Not a fan of saving the Declaration of Independence? Check out these alternative examples of the Hero’s Journey to get inspired: 

• Epic of Gilgamesh : An ancient Mesopotamian epic poem thought to be one of the earliest examples of the Hero’s Journey (and one of the oldest recorded stories).
• The Lion King (1994): Simba's exile and return depict a tale of growth, responsibility, and reclaiming his rightful place as king.
• The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo: Santiago's quest for treasure transforms into a journey of self-discovery and personal enlightenment.
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman: A young girl's adventure in a parallel world teaches her about courage, family, and appreciating her own reality.
• Kung Fu Panda (2008): Po's transformation from a clumsy panda to a skilled warrior perfectly exemplifies the Hero's Journey. Skadoosh!

The Hero's Journey is so generalized that it's ubiquitous. You can plop the plot of just about any quest-style narrative into its framework and say that the story follows the Hero's Journey. Try it out for yourself as an exercise in getting familiar with the method.

Will the Hero's Journey Work For You?

As renowned as it is, the Hero's Journey works best for the kinds of tales that inspired it: mythic stories.

Writers of speculative fiction may gravitate towards this method over others, especially those writing epic fantasy and science fiction (big, bold fantasy quests and grand space operas come to mind).

The stories we tell today are vast and varied, and they stretch far beyond the dealings of deities, saving kingdoms, or acquiring some fabled "elixir." While that may have worked for Gilgamesh a few thousand years ago, it's not always representative of our lived experiences here and now.

If you decide to give the Hero's Journey a go, we encourage you to make it your own! The pieces of your plot don't have to neatly fit into the structure, but you can certainly make a strong start on mapping out your story.

Hero's Journey Campfire Template

The Timeline Module in Campfire offers a versatile canvas to plot out each basic component of your story while featuring nested "notebooks."

Simply double-click on each event card in your timeline to open up a canvas specific to that card. This allows you to look at your plot at the highest level, while also adding as much detail for each plot element as needed!

If you're just hearing about Campfire for the first time, it's free to sign up—forever! Let's plot the most epic of hero's journeys 👇

Lessons From the Hero’s Journey

The Hero's Journey offers a powerful framework for creating stories centered around growth, adventure, and transformation.

If you want to develop compelling characters, spin out engaging plots, and write books that express themes of valor and courage, consider The Hero’s Journey your blueprint. So stop holding out for a hero, and start writing!

Does your story mirror the Hero's Journey? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Itinerary of Odysseus, an Ancient Treasure Map

• Roberto Volterri's blog

• By Roberto Volterri
• Mythology & Mystery

Did Homer’s Odyssey contain a secret code, that would guide the Greeks to gain complete control over the Black Sea and the North Atlantic and access to the riches of precious metals and other treasures? Was the Odyssey not only a heroic poem, but actually intended as a coded secret ancient treasure map? Dr Roberto Volterri takes on the challenge of the odyssey of discovery as suggested by the author Gilbert Pillot in his (1972) The Secret Code Of The Odyssey; Did The Greeks Sail The Atlantic? Only those who had committed to their memory the detailed descriptions of the routes followed by the Greek hero Odysseus and, at the same time, had possessed the 'secret code of deciphering' would be able to retrace the same routes, to find the same places visited by Odysseus and to take possession of the wealth (metals or other natural resources) of which those places abounded.

Homer's conception of the world during the Heroic era. From The Challenger Reports (1895) ( Public Domain)

The theory proposes that Homer , through the mouth of Odysseus, wanted to indicate - stage by stage of the long and perilous journey - a whole series of complementary facts, which could act as a guide to the initiated successors of the Achaeans (Greeks who fought in the Trojan War) to reveal to them the secret to deciphering the code, which could have lead them to the locations of treasures. Could these treasures not only be tangible, but also perhaps explain the ‘Greek miracle’ of the sudden development of the arts, sciences and general knowledge explosion of the Greeks by the fifth century? To decipher with some accuracy the real routes followed by Odysseus, perhaps one of the 'keys’ is to consider the direction of the winds that propelled Odysseus’ ship during its long voyage.

Odysseus Deriding Polyphemus by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1829) Web Gallery of Art ( Public Domain )

In summary the events described in Homer’s Odyssey refer chronologically to the years immediately following the conquering of the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks), around the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 12th century BC. At that time sailing could only make use of the classic stern wind, since the so-called 'Latin sail', which allowed sailing even against the wind, was introduced much later.  So, when Homer narrates that Odysseus' ship - equipped with a square sail useful only with the wind coming from the stern of the boat - was propelled by the wind of Boreas, the name by which the Greeks called the wind coming from the north, one has to conclude that the ship was definitely heading south.

To follow Odysseus’ classical itinerary, he leaves the country of the Cicones - north of the Aegean (modern-day Turkey) - to head towards Cape Malea, on the south coast of Greece. Similarly, when Homer describes Odysseus’ ship propelled by the wind, Zephyr, one concludes that the route is eastwards, while when it is propelled by the Euro, it is westwards, and so on.

Ursa Major, plate 9 in Urania's Mirror, a set of celestial cards accompanied by ‘A familiar treatise on astronomy’ by Jehoshaphat Aspin (1825) ( Public Domain )