Our story begins a long time ago when there were many gods and goddesses, and when there were many great warriors and mighty heroes. At this time many epic battles and great wars were fought because the fortune and pride of both gods and men were bound together. Like the men that the gods and goddesses ruled, these gods and goddesses were imperfect and motivated by petty jealousies and fears. The gods and goddesses, however, rarely fought each other directly; because they were immortals, they couldn't harm each other. Instead they fought their battles and wars through men. Many warriors left to fight in these wars, but only a few returned. Thus the warrior's greatest dream was to return home alive and victorious. This was Odysseus' dream as well.
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Odysseus' dream came true. His resourcefulness and cunning were the foundation of his success, but most importantly it was the favor of Athena that truly made him seem like a god among men. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of the Trojan horse. The plan came to him in a dream inspired by Athena. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and, sure enough, the plan proved to be brilliant. The wooden horse allowed the Greeks to trick the Trojans, because it looked like a gift when it was in fact a secret weapon. Inside the horse many Greek warriors hid and waited. After the Trojans pulled the horse into their city, the Greek warriors waited until nightfall and then they quietly crept out of the horse. Once they were within the mighty walls of Troy, they easily defeated the Trojans.
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After the Greeks had sacked and burned the great city of Troy, they took from its storehouses great quantities of gold, silver and priceless gems. On the shore near the still smoldering city, the Greeks erected two great pyres—one for the dead and the other for the gods. Before the Greeks left for home they first honored their dead and then they sacrificed a hundred rams and a hundred bulls to the gods to thank them for their triumph. The generous sacrifice pleased the gods, and the next morning the gods sent the Greeks a fair, easterly wind—a wind that would take them home. The Greeks rejoiced at this easterly wind for the gods had given them a priceless gift.
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Soon a thousand Greeks ships filled with the surviving heroes of the Trojan War set sail. Odysseus, like the others, was happy to be going home because the Trojan War had lasted for ten long years. With thoughts of his wife and son clearly in his mind, he shouted to his men, "The journey home for triumphant heroes ought to be pleasant, short, and sweet!" His men cheered and put their backs into their oars, but none of them were aware that instead, their story would be one of sorrow, suffering and despair. For Odysseus' fate was also their fate. Their journey was going to be long and they were going to suffer much, because some of the gods disfavored Odysseus—especially the mighty god of the sea, Poseidon.
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For several days Odysseus and his companions sailed smoothly on calm seas. The men were sure that the gods favored them and that they could do no wrong. Consequently when they came within sight of a city that belonged to their enemy, the Ciconians, Odysseus' men begged him to attack. "The gods favor us, Captain," said the men. "They have given us a fair wind, they have brought us to these uncivilized shores, and it would be a dishonor to the gods not to sack this land." Odysseus listened to his men and he let them persuade him that the gods had brought them here so that they could add more gold and silver to the treasure that was already stored in their holds. They attacked the city, and they easily defeated the Ciconians.
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That night after they had plundered the city, Odysseus urged his men to return to their ships, but the men refused. They wanted to celebrate their victory, so they drank a great deal of wine and feasted on a great number of sheep and oxen without thanking the gods for their victory. The greed and disrespect of Odysseus' men did not please the gods, and the gods sent Hermes, their messenger, to warn the other Ciconian tribes about the attack. The following morning, out of the mist, came a great army of men. Hermes had traveled faster than an arrow from one city to the next, and he had warned all the neighboring Ciconian tribes. Ares, the god of war, inspired these men to fight better. Their ability surprised Odysseus and his men, so that when they attacked they easily drove Odysseus and his men back to their ships.
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Once aboard their ships Odysseus and his men immediately set sail, but the angry gods sent an unforgiving wind to blow them into unknown waters. There was also sorrow in their hearts because they had lost six men from each of the twelve ships during the battle. The wind blew like a hurricane and the earth and sky were hidden from view for nine straight days. On the tenth day the skies miraculously cleared. On the horizon they spotted an island, and everyone rejoiced because their food and water were running low. On the island Odysseus and his men ate a simple lunch of bread and cheese. Odysseus then picked two men and said, "Go and find water, and if there are any inhabitants on this fair island see if we can buy supplies." The two men nodded and they set off at once.
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As evening approached the men still had not returned. "I will go and find our friends," said Odysseus. "While I am gone, prepare the ships to sail. We may have to flee this island." Odysseus had not gone far when he met an old man who smiled peacefully at him. "Kind sir," began Odysseus, "have you seen two strangers traveling this road?" "No," replied the old man, "but why worry about them? They will come to no harm here in the Land of the Lotus Eaters. Would you like to eat this flower? It will protect and keep you healthy." Odysseus was about to eat the flowers out of respect for the old man when suddenly an owl screeched in alarm. "Athena is warning me," thought Odysseus to himself. "These flowers are not what they seem."
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Not long after this, Odysseus found his men, and they were happily eating the lotus flowers. "Let's go," said Odysseus to his men. "Go where?" they answered together. "Home," said Odysseus enthusiastically. "This is our home," they answered happily. Odysseus told his men to gather some lotus flowers and to follow him back to his ship. "Let us eat these flowers together," said Odysseus kindly. They happily followed him. When they got back to the ships, Odysseus ordered the two men tied to their benches and the flowers destroyed. Odysseus and his men set sail immediately, and as they departed the two men began to howl and groan in anguish, but Odysseus and his men ignored them because they knew that the flowers had been bewitched.