Odysseus’ Journey to the Underworld
(and the journey to the underworld made by the men he kills)
(Homer's Odyssey, trans. Martin Hammond, Duckworth: 2000)
1) The goddess Kirke [aka Circe] gives the Odysseus instructions to enable him to enter the Underworld while still alive
2) Odysseus travels to the underworld and meets its occupants
3) Kirke welcomes Odysseus on his return
4) The men he kills (the men trying to marry his wife) journey to the underworld
1) The goddess Kirke [aka Circe] gives the Odysseus instructions to enable him to enter the Underworld while still alive (Homer Odyssey 10.480-541)
[480] But I [Odysseus] went up to Kirke’s beautiful bed and clasped her knees in supplication, and the goddess heard me as I spoke winged words to her: “Kirke, fulfil now the promise you made me, to give me passage home. This is my own eager desire now, and the desire of my companions, who flock round me and wear out my heart with their complaining, whenever you are elsewhere.”
So I spoke, and the queen among goddesses answered my straightaway: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, you must stay no longer in my house against your will. [490] But first you must complete another journey, and go to the house of Hades and dread Persephone, there to consult the spirit of Theban Tiresias, the blind prophet. His mind is still as it once was: though he is dead, Persephone has granted him sense and thought, and to him alone – all the rest are flitting shadows.”
So she spoke, and my heart was broken within me. I sat down on the bed and wept, and my heart had no wish to live further or to see the light of the sun. When I had had my fill of weeping and writhing in grief, I finally answered her and said: “Kirke, but who will guide me on this journey? No man has yet ever reached the house of Hades by ship.”
So I spoke, and the queen among goddesses answered me straightaway: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, when you are ready by your ship do not be concerned for lack of a guide, but set up the mast and spread the white sails and then take your seat: the breath of the north wind will carry the ship on its way. Why you have crossed over Ocean in your ship, there will be a low shore and the wood of Persephone – [510] tall poplars and willows that shed their fruit early. Beach your ship there by the edge of deep-eddying Ocean, and go on foot into the dank abode of Hades. There the rivers Pyriphlegethon and Kokytos, which is a branch of the river Styx, flow into Acheron, and there is a rock at the confluence of the two thundering rivers. Now, hero, you must do as I tell you. Go in close to that rock, and dig a trench about a cubit long and wide. Round the trench pour offerings to all the dead, the first of milk and honey mixed, the next of sweet wine, and the third of water: and sprinkle white barley-grains over it. [520] Then offer long entreaty to the strengthless heads of the dead, vowing that on your return to Ithaka you will sacrifice in your house the best of your cows that have not borne calf, you will heap a burnt offering with precious gifts, and for Teiresias apart, and for him alone, you will slaughter an all-black ram, the finest among your flocks.
When you have made these prayers in entreaty to the famous company of the dead, you must then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe, turning their heads towards Erebos while you yourself turn away and face the waters of the river. Then the spirits of the departed dead will come crowding to the trench. [530] Now you must call to your companions and tell them to flay the two sheep that lie there slaughtered by the pitiless bronze and burn them in sacrifice, with prayers to the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone. You yourself should draw you sharp sword from beside your thigh and sit there, sword in hand, preventing the strengthless heads of the dead from coming any nearer to the blood until you have questioned Teiresias. And soon, leader of your people, the prophet will come there to you, and he will tell you the path and the measure of your journey, and your home-coming, [540] how you are to return home over the fish-filled sea.”
2) Odysseus travels to the underworld and meets its occupants (Homer Odyssey 11.1-331 and 11.385-640)
When we came down to the ship and the sea, first we hauled the ship into the holy sea and placed the mast and sails in the black ship. We took the sheep and stowed them on board: then we ourselves boarded in distress of heart, with heavy tears falling. But now the lovely-haired Kirke, fearsome goddess with human speech, sent a favouring wind blowing for us behind the dark-prowed ship, a faithful companion to fill our sails. We worked at setting all the tackle throughout the ship, [10] then took our seats while the wind and the helmsman held her sails taut. Then the sun set, and all paths grew dark.
Now the ship came to the furthest extent of Ocean’s deep stream. There is the land and the city of the Cimmerian people, covered in mist and cloud. The shining sun never looks down on these men with his rays, neither when he climbs up the starry sky nor when he turns again from sky to earth, but grim night stretches always over these poor mortals. When we arrived there we beached the ship, and fetched out the two sheep: [20] then we walked on beside the stream of Ocean until we came to the place described by Kirke.
There, Perimedes and Eurylochos held the victims, while I drew my sharp sword from beside my thigh and dug a trench about a cubit long and wide. Round the trench I poured offerings to all the dead, the first of milk and honey mixed, the next of sweet wine, and the third of water: and I sprinkled white barley-grains over it. Then I offered long entreaty to the strengthless heads of the dead, vowing that on my return to Ithaka [30] I would sacrifice in my house the best of my cows that have not borne calf, I would heap a burnt offering with precious gifts, and for Teiresias apart, and for him alone, I would slaughter an all-black ram, the finest among our flocks.
When I had made these prayers and vows in entreaty to the company of the dead, I took the sheep and cut their throats over the trench, and the dark blood flowed. And there gathered from out of Erebos the spirits of the departed dead – young brides and boys yet unmarried, old men of much suffering, innocent girls with the grief fresh in their hearts: and there were many wounded with bronze-tipped spears, [40] men killed in battle and their bloodied armour still on them. From all over they came flocking round the trench with an eerie noise, and terror took its pale grip on me. Then I called to my companions and told them to flay the two sheep that lay there slaughtered by the pitiless bronze and burn them in sacrifice, with prayers to the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone. I myself drew my sharp sword from beside my thigh and sat there, sword in hand, preventing the strengthless heads of the dead from coming any nearer to the blood, [50] until I had questioned Teiresias.
Before the others came there came the spirit of my companion Elpenor, since he had not yet been buried under the wide-wayed earth: we had left his body in Kirke’s house unwept and unburied, as other tasks were urgent. I wept to see him, with pity in my heart, and I spoke winged words to him: “Elpenor, how did you come down to the murky darkness here? You have been faster on foot than I was in my black ship.”
[60] So I spoke, and he groaned out loud and answered: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, it was malign fate, some god’s doing, which blighted me – that and too much wine. I had lain down to sleep in Kirke’s house, but did not think to go back again by the long ladder. I fell straight off the roof: my neck was broken from my spine, and my spirit went down on the way to Hades. But now I beseech you by those you have left behind, who are far from you now – by your wife and your father, who brought you up when you were small, and by Telemachus, whom you left in the house, your only son. I know that when you leave here and go back from the house of Hades you will put in again with your well-made ship at the island of Aiaia. [70] When you are there, my lord, I beg you to remember me. Do not leave me unwept and unburied for ever when you go, do not turn away from me, or I may bring the god’s anger on you: but burn me in my armour, such as I have, and heap a mound for me on the shore of the grey sea, a memorial to a luckless man, for future generations to hear of me. Do these rites for me, and fix an oar on my tomb, the oar which was mine when I was alive and rowing with my companions.”
[80] So he spoke, and I answered him: “My poor friend, I shall do this for you, and it shall be fully done.”
So we two sat there exchanging these sad words, I on my side of the trench holding my sword over the blood, and on the other side the ghost of my companion talking long.
Then came the spirit of my dead mother, Antikleia, the daughter of great-hearted Autolykos: I had left her alive when I went to sacred Ilios. I wept to see her, with pity in my heart: but even so, for all my deep distress, I would not let her come nearer to the blood until I had questioned Teiresias.
[90] And then there came the spirit of Theban Teiresias, holding a golden sceptre. He recognised me, and said: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, why is it now, poor man, that you have left the light of the sun and come here, to see the dead and this joyless place? Well, move back from the trench and put up your sharp sword, so I can drink from the blood and give you true prophecy.”
So he spoke, and I stepped back and fixed my silver-studded sword in its sheath. Then, when he had drunk the dark blood, the peerless prophet spoke these words to me:
[100] “You are seeking your joyful return home, glorious Odysseus: but a god will make that journey hard for you. The Earthshaker, I am sure, will not fail to see you, and he has lodged anger in his heart, in fury at your blinding of his dear son. But even so, and despite much hardship, you may all still reach home, if you have the will to hold back your own and your men’s appetite when once you bring your well-made ship in to the island of Thrinakia, and make landfall there from the violet sea. You will find grazing there cattle and sturdy sheep belonging to Helios the Sun, who sees all things and hears all things. [110] If you leave these unharmed and keep thinking only of your return, then you may still reach Ithaka, despite much hardship. But if you harm them, then I warn you of destruction to come for your ship and your companions. And even if you yourself escape, you will come home late and luckless, all companions lost, and on an alien ship: and you find troubles in your house – arrogant men consuming your substance, wooing your godlike wife and offering marriage gifts. But their crimes you will punish when you come. Now when you have killed thee suitors in your house, whether by cunning or openly with the sharp bronze, [120] you must then set off, taking with you a well-balanced oar, and travel until you reach a people who do not know the sea and do not eat their food seasoned with salt. These men will know nothing of the crimson-bowed ships nor of well-balanced oars, which are the wings of ships. I will tell you a sign to look out for – it will be very clear, and you will not miss it. Whenever another traveller meets you and speaks of the winnowing-fan held on your noble shoulders, then you should fix your well-balanced oar in the ground and make a fine offering to lord Poiseidon, [130] sacrificing a ram and a bull and a boar that has mated with two sows. Then return home and sacrifice holy hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven, to all the gods in turn. Your own death will come away from the sea, a death as gentle as these words: it will take you in the weakness of a ricj old age, with your people prospering around you. All this I tell you is the truth.”
So he spoke, and I answered him: “Teiresias, this will be the fate which the gods have spun for me, according to their will. [140] But come, tell me this and tell me in clear truth. I can see there the spirit of my dead mother: she is sitting silent near the blood, and has not yet looked her own son in the face or spoken to him. Tell me, my lord, how can she be made to recognise me as the son that I am?”
So I spoke, and he gave immediate answer: “That is easy to say: I shall tell you and put it clear in your mind. Whichever of the departed dead you allow to approach the blood will speak to you in truth: whichever you refise will go back again and leave you.”
[150] So speaking the spirit of Tiresias went away into the house of Hades, after making these prophecies. But I stayed there where I was, until my mother came up and drank the dark blood. Then she recognised me: “My child, how did you come down to the murky darkness here, and you still alive? It is hard for living men to visit this realm – in between there are great rivers and dangerous waters, Ocean most of all, which is impossible to cross on foot, only if a man has a well-made ship. [160] Is it that you are come here now still on your way from Troy, after long wanderings with your ship and your companions? Have you nott yet been to Ithaka? Have you not seen your wife in your house?”
So she spoke, and I answered her: “Mother, it is need that has brought me down to the house of Hades, the need to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias. I have not yet come near the land of Achaia, I have not yet set foot in my own country, but all the time I have been wandering in constant misery, ever since I first went with godlike Agamemnon to Ilios, the city rich in horses, to fight against the Trojans. [170] But come, tell me this and tell me in clear truth. What was the fate that brought you down in death’s long sorrow? Was it a lingering sickness, or did Artemis the archer-goddess visit you and kill you with her gentle arrows? And tell me of my father and the son I left behind. Is my royal estate still with them, or does some other man hold it now and people think I shall not return? Tell me too about the intentions of my wedded wife and how she is minded – is she staying there with our child and keeping everything safe, or has she by now been married to the best of the Achaian nobles?”
[180] So I spoke, and my honoured mother answered straightaway: “Oh, she is certainly staying steadfast in your house: but all the time her nights and days of misery are spent in tears. Your fine estate is not yet in other hands, but Telemachos enjoys your land undisturbed and takes his share in the feasts which are proper for a law-giving noble: all the others invite him. Your father stays out there on his farm, and does not come down to the town now. For his bed he has no mattress, blankets, and shining rugs, [190] but in the winter he sleeps where his labourers sleep in the house, in the ashes by the fire, and the clothes on his back are wretched. When summer comes and fruitful autumn, then his bed is made on the ground, wherever the leaves have fallen along the crown of his garden vineyard. There he lies in sorrow, and the grief swells large in his heart with longing for your return: old age has come hard on him. And that is how I too perished and met my fate. No, the sharp-sighted archer-goddess did not visit me in the house and kill me with her gentle arrows: nor did any sickness come on me, [200] such as often takes life from limb with hateful wasting. But it was longing for you, glorious Odysseus, for your wisdom and your gentle-hearted way, which took the sweetness of life from me.”
So she spoke. My mind was torn, but I wanted to embrace the spirit of my dead mother. Three times I reached for her, with my heart eager to embrace her, and three times she slipped out of my arms like a shadow or a dream. Each time the grief grew sharper in my heart, and I spoke winged words to her: “Mother, why will you not stay for me to embrace you, [210] when that is my desire – so that even in the house of Hades we can throw our arms around each other and both have our pleasure in the pain of tears? Or is this some phantom that queen Persephone is sending me, to make yet more pain and weeping for me?”
So I spoke, and my honoured mother answered straightaway: “Oh, my child, most ill-fated of all men, this is not delusion worked on you by Persephone, daughter of Zeus. No, this is the way with all mortals when they die. The sinews no longer hold flesh to bone, [220] but all these are consumed by the mighty power of the fire’s burning, when once the life has left the white bones, and the spirit flies away like a dream and stays on the wing. But you must press back to the light with all speed. Remember this, so that you can tell it later to your wife.”
Such were our words to each other. And now, sent up by queen Persephone, there came a pageant of women, all those who were the wives or daughters of great men. They gathered all together around the dark blood, and I wondered how to question each of them separately. [230] This seemed the best plan to my thinking: I drew the long sharp sword from beside my thick thigh, and prevented them from all drinking the dark blood at once. They came forward one after the other, and each told me her birth: I was able to question them all.
The first I saw was Tyro, daughter of a noble house. She told me that she was the child of the excellent Salmoneus, and the wife of Kretheus, son of Aiolos. She had fallen in love with a river, the divine Enipeus, loveliest of all the rivers that flow on earth, [240] and she used to walk by his beautiful stream. Now the encircle and shaker of the earth took the form of Enipeus and lay with her in the mouth of the eddying river: a wave surged mountain-high and arched to cover them, hiding the god and the mortal woman. He undid her virgin’s belt, and shed sleep over her. When the god had finished the work of love, he took her hand and spoke to her: “Woman, be happy in our love. As the year comes round you will give birth to splendid children – [250] union with an immortal is never fruitless. You must care for them and bring them up. But now go back to your house. Keep this to yourself and do not tell my name: buut you should know that I am Poseidon the earthshaker.”
So speaking he sank down under the swelling sea. And she conceived and gave birth to Pelias and Neleus. Both became powerful regents of great Zeus, Pelias living, in rich flocks, in broad Iaolkos, and Neleus in sandy Pylos. And this queen among women bore other sons to Kretheus: Aison, and Pheres, and the great chariot-fighter Amythaon.
[260] After her I saw Antiope, the daughter of Asopos, who could claim the honour of sleeping in the arms of Zeus himself. She bore him two sons, Amphion and Zethos, who were the first founders of seven-gated Thebes and then built walls round their settlement: strong as they were, they could not continue to live in broad Thebes without walls to defend them.
After her I saw Alkmene, the wife of Amphitryon, who lay in love in the arms of great Zeus and gave birth to Herakles, a man of bold spirit and with the heart of a lion. And I saw Megara, the daughter of proud-hearted Kreion, [270] who was taken to wife by Herakles, son of Amphitryon and untiring in his strength.
And I saw the mother of Oidipous, beautiful Epikaste, who did a terrible deed in all ignorance and married her own son: and he married her after killing his father. In time the gods made this known among men. And then the gods’ cruel plans kept him ruling over the Kadmeians in lovely Thebes, though in pain and suffering, while she went down to the house of Hades, the strong Keeper of the Gate. She hung a lethal noose from a high roof-beam, overcome by her grief: and for him she left behind pain abounding, all that [280] is brought by the Furies who avenge a mother.
And I saw the surpassingly beautiful Chloris, married for her beauty by Neleus, after he gave a countless bride-price for her. She was the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasos, who once ruled in strength over Minyan Orchomenos. She then was queen in Pylos, and bore Neleus splendid children: Nestor, and Chromios, and proud Periklymenos. As well as these she bore him a fine daughter, Pero, a marvel for the world, and wooed by all the men who lived thereabouts. But Neleus would only give her to the man who would drive back from Phylake [290] the twist-horned broad-browed cattle of mighty Iphikles, and they were hard to drive. Only one man, a peerless prophet, undertook to drive them off: but he was caught in a harsh fate from a god, and country herdsmeb there put him in cruel chains. But when the days and the months were accomplished as the year turned and the seasons came round, then the mighty Iphikles released him when he had spoken all his prophecies – and this was the working of Zeus’ will.
And I saw Leda, the wife of Tyndareos, who bore Tyndareos two mighty-hearted sons, Kastor the horse-breaker and the boxer Polydeukes. [300] Both are alive, even though the life-giving earth holds them under. There, though thet are in the world below, Zeus has given them the privilege of alternating life and death as the days succeed, alive for one day then dead for the next: and they are honoured like the gods.
After her I saw Iphimedeia, the wife of Aeolus. She used to boast of her union with Poseidon, and indeed she bore him two sons, though they were short-lived – godlike Otos and far-famed Ephialtes. These were the tallest men ever bred by the grain-giving earth, [310] and far the most handsome too, except for the famous Orion. At nine years old they were nine cubits in bredth, and had grown to nine fathoms in height. These two threatened to bring the clash of furious war against the very immortals on Olympos. They were ready to pile Ossa on Olympos, and wooded Pelion on Ossa, in order to scale heaven. And they would have succeeded, if they had reached their manhood. But Apollo, son of Zeus born to lovely-haired Leto, destroyed them both, before the hair could sprout below their temples and [320] the lovely down thicken on their cheeks.
And I saw Phaidra and Prokris and beautiful Ariadne, daughter of the grim Minos. Theseus had tried to carry Ariadne away from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens, but he had no joy of her: before that Artemis killed her in the islabd of Dia, on the indictment of Dionysos.
And I saw Maira and Klymene, and hateful Eriphyle, who accepted a bounty of gold for her own husband.
But I could not tell you of them all or even name them – all the wives and daughters of heroes whom I saw: [330] the immortal night would be passed and gone before I could finish.
….
[385] Well, when chaste Persephone had driven away the spirits of the women, scattering them this way and that, there came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, still furious in his sorrow: and round him were gathered all the others who died with him and het their fate in the house of Aigisthos. He recognised me at once, as soon as he had drunk the dark blood. [390] He began to weep loud, letting the heavy tears fall, and stretched his arms out to me, eager to embrace: but there was no longer the strength left or any if the force that had once been there in the flex of his body. I wept to see him, with pity in my heart, and I spoke winged words to him: “Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men, what was the fate that brought you down in death’s long sorrow? Was it with your ships at sea? Did Poseidon overcome you, raising the hateful blast of cruel winds against you? [400] Or was it enemies on land who did you harm, when you were lifting their cattle and their fine flocks of sheep, or fighting them for their city and their women?”
So I spoke and he answered me straightaway: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, it was not Poseidon who overcame me, raising the hateful blast of cruel winds against me: nor was it enemies on land who did me my harm. No, Aigisthos contrived my death and doom. He killed me, he and my accursed wife. [410] He called me to his house and feasted me, then killed me as a man kills an ox at the manger. So I died the most pitiable death: and all around me my companions were killed in a welter, like white-tusked hogs slaughtered in the house of a rich and powerful man, killed for a marriage or a feast or a lavish festival. In your time you have experienced the deaths of many men, men killed alone or in the fury of battle: but this would have moved your heart to the greatest pity, if you had seen how we fell and lay there round the wine-bowl and the laden tables, [420] and the whole floor running with blood. Most pitiable of all were the screams I heard from Priam’s daughter, Kassandra, as the treacherous Klytaimnestra killed her over me: and I lifted my hands and beat them on the earth as I lay dying there with the sword in me. And the bitch turned away from me: even though I was on my way to Hades she did not bring herself to shut my eyes with her hands and close my mouth. So for sure there is nothing worse or more shameless than a woman who can put her mind to such deeds – the way she plotted an outrageous act, contriving the killing of her own wedded husband. [430] I had thought that my homecoming would be a joy to my children and my household: but she with the utter evil of her plans cast shame on herself and on all women to come, all the female sex, even the virtuous.”
So he spoke, and I answered him: “Oh, wide-seeing Zeus has shown special hatred for the family of Atreus, right from the beginning, and all through the plans of women. Many of us died for Helen’s sake, and then again Klytaimnestra laid this plot for you while you were far away.”
[440] So I spoke, and he answered me straightaway: “So you too should never be too kind even to your wife: and do not tell her all that you know – reveal some of any plan, but keep part hidden also. But for you Odysseus, there is no danger of death at your wife’s hands. The good Penelope, daughter of Ikarios, is a woman of great sense and a loyal heart. She was just a young bride when we left her to go to the war, and there was a child at her breast, a baby boy who by now, I imagine, must be taking his seat with the men. [450] Lucky man! His dear father will see him on his return, and he will be able to embrace his father. That is as it should be. But my wife did not even allow me to fill my eyes with the sight of my son – before that could be she killed me. I tell you another thing, and you mark it well in your mind. When you bring your ship in to your dear native land, put in secretly, not in open view: women can be trusted no more. But come, tell me this and tell it in clear truth. Have you men heard news of my son still alive somewhere, in Orchomenos perhaps, or in sandy Pylos, [460] or perhaps with Menelaos in broad Sparta? Surely godlike Orestes is not yet dead on the earth.”
So he spoke and I answered him: “Son of Atreus, why do you ask me this? I have no knowledge whether he is alive of dead, and empty words are wind and nothing.”
So we stood there in sorrow, exchanging these sad words with heavy tears falling. And there came the spirit of Achilleus, son of Peleus, and the spirits too of Patroclus and the noble Antilochos, and of Aias, who was the best of all the Danaans in body and looks after the boble son of Peleus. [470] The spirit of Achilleus, the fast runner of Aiakos’ stock, recognised me, and in sorrow spoke winged words to me: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, you dear stubborn man, what deed will your mind plan yet greater than this? How could you dare too come down to Hades, where the dead live senseless, mere ghosts of men who have laboured their last?”
So he spoke and I answered him: “Achilleus, son of Peleus, far the greatest of the Achaians, I have come here in need of Teiresias, hoping for some word from him how I might reach rugged Ithaka. [480] I have not yet come to my own country – no man before or after is more blessed than you. Before, while you still lived, we Argives held you in equal honour with the gods, and now in this place you are king among the dead. So do not be angry in your death, Achilleus.”
So I spoke, and he answered me straightaway: “Do not talk to me lightly of death, glorious Odysseus. I had rather be above the earth and a labourer for another, [490] for a man without land of his own and little to live on, than be king over all the lifeless dead. But come, tell me now the news of my proud son – did he follow me to prominence in war, or not? And tell me too if you have heard anything of the noble Peleus, whether he is still held in honour among the host of the Myrmidons, or whether they slight him now throughout Hellas and Phthia because old age has taken hold of his hands and feet. If only I were there under the light of the sun to protect him, the man I was when fighting for the Argives in the broad land of Troy [500] and killing the best of the Trojan army. If I were to return like that to my father’s house, even for a short while, then I would give them cause to hate the strength of my invincible hands – any who are molesting him and trying to force him from his throne.”
So he spoke, and I answered him: “Of the noble Peleus I have heard nothing, but as for your dear son Neoptolemos I can tell you all that you ask in truth – because I myself brought him from Skyros in my hollow balanced ship to join the well-greaved Achaians. [500] Now whenever we were in council outside the city of Troy and laying our plans, he was always the first to speak and his words would not miss the mark: only godlike Nestor and I were his superiors. And then when we Achaians were fighting in the Trojan plain, he would never stay among the mass of men or the serried ranks, but was always charging out far ahead and yielding to no one in his fury. And there were many men he killed in grim combat. I could not tell or name them all, all the enemy he killed while fighting for the Argives. But there was one above all whom he cut down with his bronze sword, the son of Telephos, the hero Eurypylos: [520] and round him there were killed many of his Keteian companions, and all because of the bribes offered to a woman. Eurypylos was the handsomest man I saw, after the godlike Memnon. And then when the best of us Argives entered the horse which Epeios had laboured to build, and all was entrusted to me, to decide when to open this tight=packed trap or to keep it closed – then the other leaders and the lords of the Danaans were wiping tears from their eyes with their legs trembling under them. But I never saw Neoptolemos at any point pale the handsome colour of his face or wipe a tear from his cheeks. [530] No, such was his eagerness to be doing harm to the Trojans, he kept begging me to let him out of the horse, and his hand was ready on the hilt of his sword and his spear with its weight of bronze. And then when we sacked the high city of Priam, ho took his share and a fine prize on honour, and broaded his ship quite unscathed, with no wound from the throw of the sharp bronze and no cut from close fighting, as in the usual way of war – there are no exceptions when Ares rages.”
So I spoke, and the spirit of swift-footed Achilleus went away striding long over the fields of asphodel, [540] joyful that I had told him of his son’s glory.
The other spirits of the departed dead still stood round in sorrow, and each asked after those dear to them. Only the spirit of Aias, son of Telamon, stood aloof, angry at the victory I had won over him by the ships in the judgement for the armour of Achilleus: his honoured mother had set the armour as a prize, and the judgement was given by the captive sons of the Trojans and Pallas Athene. How I wish that I had never won, when that was the nature of the prize! So great was the man that the earth took under because of that armour – [550] Aias, who in looks and deeds was far the greatest of all the Danaans, after the noble son of Peleus.
So I spoke to him withy gentle words: “Aias, son of noble Telamon, were you not even in death to forget your anger at me over that accursed armour? The gods set this as a punishment for the Argives, such was the tower of strength they lost in you. At your death we Achaians grieved for you constantly, no less than we did for the head of Achilleus, son of Peleus. And there is no man to blame, only Zeus who showed a fearful hatred for the army of Danaan warriors, and brought your fate on you. [560] So come now, my lord, come closer to hear the words I have to speak to you – beat down your fury and the pride of your heart.”
So I spoke, and he gave me no answer, but went away to Erebos, to join the other spirits of the departed dead. There, despite his anger, he might have spoken to me, or I to him: but the heart in my breast was eager to see the spirits of the others who were dead.
There I saw Minos, the splendid son of Zeus, sitting with a golden sceptre in his hand and giving judgements for the dead. [570] They were bringing their cases for his decision, sitting or standing around the king in the broad-gated house of Hades.
And after him I caught sight of the huge Orion rounding up over the fields of asphodel the same beasts which in life he had killed in the lonely mountains: and in his hands he held a club made all of bronze, never to be broken.
And I saw Tityos, son of the great goddess Earth, lying on the ground – and he covered nine acres. Two vultures were sitting by him, one on each side, tearing at his liver and reaching right through the caul: but he could not keep them away with his hands. [580] This was because he had raped Leto, the glorious bed-fellow of Zeus, as she was on her way to Pytho through the beautiful spaces of Panopeus.
And I saw Tantalos enduring his agony. He was standing in a lake which came up to his chin. He was thirsty and always ready to drink, but he could not reach the water. Every time the old man bent down in his urge to drink, the water would be sucked away and vanish: a god would dry all up, and the dark earth would show at his feet. And high leafy trees had fruit hanging from their tops – [590] pears and pomegranates, bright-fruited apple-trees, sweet figs and flourishing olives. But whenever the old man reached up to take the fruit in his hands, the wind would toss it up into the shadoqing clouds.
And I saw Sisyphos too enduring his agony, lifting a huge stine with both hands. Then taking purchase with hands and feet he would push the stone up to the crown of the hill. But whenever it was just about to go over the top, its own force would turn it back again: and then the pitiless stone would go rolling back to the level. Once more Sisyphos would strain to push it up, [600] the sweat dripping from his limbs and dust raising round his head.
And after him I caught sight of the mighty Herakles – the phantom of him: he himself is with the immortal gods in the enjoyment of their feasting, with lovely-ankled Hebe as his wife, the daughter of great Zeus and Hera of the golden sandals. Around him the dead kept up a clamour like frightened birds, and fled away from him whenever they could: and he walked like black night, holding his bow at the ready and an arrow on the string, staring fearfully round him, as if always on the point of shooting. And there was a grim baldric round his chest, [610] a golden belt with amazing scenes worked on it, bears and wild boars and staring lions, and fights and battles, slaughters and the killing of men. Whoever it was who encompassed that belt in his craft should never have made it, he may never make another like it.
Herakles recognised me at once, as soon as he saw me, and in sorrow spoke winged words to me: “Royal son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, you poor man, have you too then had to carry some wretched fate with you, like that which burdened me under the light of the sun? [620] I was a child of Zeus, son of Kronos, and yet I had misery without limit. I was bound in servitude to a man much my inferior, who set hard labour on me. And once he even sent me here to bring back the dog of Hades, thinking that no further labour could be harder for me than this. But I took the dog and brought him up out of Hades, with Hermes and bright-eyed Athene helping me on my way.”
So speaking he went away back into the house of Hades, but I waited on there, in the hope that another of the long-dead heroes would come. And I could have gone on to see the men of an earlier time whom I wanted to meet – Thesus and Peirithoös, the glorious children of the gods. But before that the countless company of the dead came gathering with an eerie noise, and terror took its pale grip on me – fear that queen Persephone might send against me out of Hades the head of the terrible monster Gorgon. So then without delay I went back to my ship and told my crew to get on board also and loose the stern-cables. They quickly boarded and sat by the rowlocks. And the current of the stream carried the ship out along the river Ocean, [640] first with our rowing, and then there came a fine breeze.
3) Kirke welcomes Odysseus on his return (Homer Odyssey 12.17-28)
Now Kirke had not failed to notice our return from Hades, and she got herself ready quickly and came to us. With her her maids brought bread and meat in plenty and bleaming red wine. [20] The queen among goddessese stood in the middle of our company and spoke to us: “What amazing men you are, to have gone down alive into the house of Hades! Other men die once, but you will have had two deaths. But come now, stay here eating food and drinking wine all day long: and then with the showing of dawn you can set sail. And I will show you the way and tell you everything you need to know, so that no dangerous mischief will bring you pain and misery to suffer either at sea or on land.”
4) The men he kills (the men trying to marry his wife) journey to the underworld
Now Hermes, the god of Kyllene, began to call out the souls of the suitors, holding in his hands the beautiful rod of gold with which he lulls the eyes of mortal men as he wishes, and again wakes men from their sleep. With this he herded them and led them on their way, and they followed with thin squeaking. As when a colony of bats flutter squeaking about the depths of a wondrous cave, when one falls from the tight cluster hanging down from the rock roof, such were their squeaks as the flocked together after strong Hermes, who led them down along the pathways of gloom. [10] They went past the streams of Ocean and the White Rock, past the gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams, and soon then came to the fields of asphodel, where the spirits live, the ghosts of men who have laboured their last.
There they found the spirit of Achilleus, son of Peleus, and the spirits too of Patroklos and the noble Antilochos, and of Aias, who was the best of all the Danaans in body and looks after the noble son of Peleus. These then were the company round Achilleus. And now there came up to them the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Ateus, still furious in sorrow: and round him were gathered all the others who had died with him and met their fate in the house of Aigisthos.
…
[205] Such were their words to each other, where they stood there in the house of Hades, in the cellars of the earth.
