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How does Odysseus lose his entire crew?

Zoe Taylor | 2018-06-16 03:24:18 | page views:1501
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Lucas Scott

Works at the International Organization for Migration, Lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
As a domain expert in classical literature, I can provide you with a detailed account of how Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," loses his entire crew during his long and arduous journey back to Ithaca. The narrative is filled with trials, tribulations, and encounters with mythical creatures and divine beings that test Odysseus's cunning, leadership, and perseverance.
The journey of Odysseus and his crew is fraught with peril, and they face numerous challenges that lead to the loss of crew members. Here's a comprehensive overview of the key events that result in the tragic demise of Odysseus's men:


1. The Land of the Cicones: Odysseus and his crew first suffer casualties when they raid the city of the Cicones, a tribe of people who live on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. After sacking the city, they are attacked by the surviving Ciconians at night, resulting in the loss of six men from each ship.


2. The Lotus Eaters: The crew encounters the Lotus Eaters, a people who consume a plant that induces a state of blissful forgetfulness. Some of Odysseus's men eat the lotus and lose all desire to return home. Odysseus has to force them back to the ship against their will.


3. The Cyclops Polyphemus: Odysseus and his men encounter the Cyclops, a one-eyed giant named Polyphemus. After being trapped in the Cyclops's cave, they face a harrowing ordeal. Polyphemus consumes six of Odysseus's men in two batches, using them as his meal. Odysseus devises a clever plan to escape, blinding the Cyclops and leading his remaining men to safety.


4. The Island of Aeolus: Aeolus, the god of the winds, gives Odysseus a bag containing all the winds except the west wind, which would aid their journey home. However, Odysseus's men, thinking the bag contains treasure, open it while Odysseus is asleep, releasing the winds and blowing them back to Aeolus's island.


5. The Laestrygonians: Upon reaching the land of the Laestrygonians, a race of man-eating giants, Odysseus's men are attacked. The Laestrygonians destroy all but one of the ships and kill many of the crew members.


6. The Enchantress Circe: Odysseus's men are turned into pigs by the sorceress Circe. Although Odysseus manages to reverse the spell with the help of the god Hermes, the time spent on her island further depletes their numbers due to the consumption of her enchanted food.

7.
The Sirens: Odysseus's men are tempted by the song of the Sirens, who lure sailors to their deaths. Odysseus plugs his men's ears with wax and has himself tied to the mast to resist their song, but the crew remains intact.

8.
Scylla and Charybdis: The crew faces the monstrous Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. Six of Odysseus's men are taken by Scylla, while the rest barely escape the clutches of Charybdis.

9.
The Cattle of the Sun God: On the island of Thrinacia, Odysseus's men slaughter the sacred cattle of the Sun God Helios, despite warnings from their leader. As a result, Zeus sends a thunderbolt that destroys their ship, leaving Odysseus as the sole survivor.

Throughout these events, Odysseus's crew is gradually reduced, and by the end of their journey, only Odysseus himself remains to tell the tale. The loss of his men is a tragic aspect of the story, reflecting the harsh realities of the ancient world and the perils of hubris and disobedience.

Isabella Lewis

Studied at the University of Seoul, Lives in Seoul, South Korea.
Where does Odysseus lose all of his men? Odysseus lost six men from the crew of each ship to the Ciconians at Ismarus; they were attacked at night by the survivors of the town they'd sacked. He then lost six men total when they were eaten for meals, two at a time, by the Cyclops, Polyphemus.

Zoe Gray

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Where does Odysseus lose all of his men? Odysseus lost six men from the crew of each ship to the Ciconians at Ismarus; they were attacked at night by the survivors of the town they'd sacked. He then lost six men total when they were eaten for meals, two at a time, by the Cyclops, Polyphemus.
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