Chronology of the Odyssey

From Troy to the Journey Home

Period: Jan 5, 1230 to Aug 10, 1240

Odysseus' journey back to Ithaca.

Leaving Troy

Jan 6, 1230

Odysseus and his men sail from Troy to Ithaca after a wonderous victory against the Trojans in the Trojan War after 10 years.

Ismarus and the Cicones

Jan 17, 1230

The first stop on their journey home; they reach Ismarus and pillage the land for "fuel" and supplies. They engange in battle with the local Ciconians who were allies with the Trojans. They lose six men from each boat.

Lotus Eaters

Jan 26, 1230

Nine days later, Odysseus and his men make way to an island full of lotus flowers. Three men go inland and find the flower which causes them to forget who they were. Odysseus takes them to the ship and commands the crew to sail off.

Cyclops

Feb 15, 1230

The crew arrives on the island housing Poseidon's son, Cyclops. They go into Cyclops' cave and wait for him hoping for a warm welcome. However, the beast eats one of the men and pushes a boulder blocking the only way out. They blind him with a burning stick and escapes by tieing themselves under his sheep.

Aeolia

Mar 15, 1230

On the island of Aeolia, they meet the god Aeolus. Aeolus is a good host and gives them two bags of winds, the bustling one to the east, north, and south, and a bag that would gently sail them west to Ithaca.

Return to Aeolia

Mar 24, 1230

After nine days, the crew is close to Ithaca. Some men begin to feel jealous of Odysseus and open the bag of winds due to their greed. This winds blows them back to Aeolia. Aeolus doesn't help them this time.

Laestrygonia

Mar 31, 1230

The men arrive at the land of the giants who are people-eaters. The crew runs away from the King Antiphates. The giants throw rocks at the ships sinking all but one ship.

Circe

Apr 11, 1230

On the island of Aeaea, they meet Cicre. She turns all of Odysseus' men into swine. Hermes warns Odysseus of her trick and finds moly which repels her magic. She returns to men to their human form. They stay on the island for a year to get healthy and Odysseus become her lover while on the island.

The Underworld

Apr 23, 1231

On the advice of Circe, the crew goes to the Underworld to seek out Tiresias. The dead, blind prophet warns them not to indgulge in their greed nor eat the cattle of Helios. Odysseus also meets his mother who died during his journey home and other dead heroes.

Sirens

May 19, 1231

They heed Circe and Tiresias' warnings of the sirens. Odysseus orders his men to put beeswax in their ears to prevent them from listening to the sirens. Meanwhile, odysseus is tied to the mast, being the first person to survive the sirens' cries.

Charybdis and Scylla

May 20, 1231

Right after the incident with the sirens, the crew runs into Charybdis and Scylla, a giant whirlpool and a six-headed monster. Odysseus sails to the right near the cave of Scylla to avoid being crushed to death in Charybdis. He loses six men to Scylla.

Helios' Cattle

Jul 11, 1231

Over a month has passed on Thrinacia. They men paid tribute to their dead and are now dying of starvation. A mutiny begins and they disregard Odysseus' word. They eat Helios' cattle and are given divine punishment by the lightning bolt of Zeus. Odysseus is the only one left alive.

In Calypso's Grasp

Jul 22, 1231

Odysseus is washed up on Calypso's island where he stays there for seven years. On Zeus and Athena's command, Hermes forces Calypso to release Odysseus from her grasp. He makes his own maeshift raft and and sails off.

Phaeacia

Dec 17, 1238

Odysseus crash lands on Phaeacia. He stumbles upon Nausicaa, the princess. She invites him to her home where he meets the king and queen. He tells them the story of journey back to Ithaca to prove he is Odysseus.

Return to Ithaca

Apr 19, 1239

Odysseus return to Ithaca after 20 years away at sea. He returns to see there are suitors waiting to marry Penelope. He kills them all after he defeats them in an archery battle with the help of Athena.