Odyssey - Blog Posts
has this been done
(inspired by this post)
ur hermes ate so hard 😩
Hey, so I thought of this! (Pls be nice)
Since Hermes comes to Uber Ody(spoilers)...
Hermes Vs Calypso :p (bc Jorge said they were supposed to have a fight scene...)
My designs might change though.... 😭
Odysseus during the the whole of the Odyssey:-
Quick odypen painting because I’m missing them this Christmas Day
This was mine
I don’t know what Spotify is trying to tell me but I feel perceived
SAME BRO SAME 😭😭
GIVE ME A YEAR TO RECOVER, CHAT- 😭
I will need 3 to 5 business days to emotionally recover from this part in gigi's animatic of God Games......
LITTLE BABY TELEPORTATION REACHING FOR ATHENA'S HAND I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS NOW😭😭😭😭😭😭
I love how it turned out :D!!! Thank youuu! I definitely will ^^.
Madi with the lyrics of Legendary, any color is fine (so you don't forget, as you asked.) ^^.
I have it portrait and non portrait, just hit my ask box if others want their own!
@s7nnydrop-flower
Oh gosh definitely a good point every single one of them has their own strong characteristic, or a trait that makes them stand out and even Achilles who is known to have more than your couple of excelling talents. But here comes the one and only King of Ithaca, the guy who only wanted to stay home and chill with his family, and yet he just has a never ending list of killer traits, skills and talents! No wonder he is always being called to clean everyone's meses poor guy is to good for his own well being 🤣
And of course this is the perfect inspo for the cheesy boy! Poor rebel leader who also just wanted a nice calm family life (thankfully he gets it at the end!) and was pushed back and forth in a war and 10000 struggles more 😂 who also has a tactical brain too sly and smart for his own good 🤣👌👌 And always followed by his quirky crazy crew too!
Hahahaha don't you love it when characters in the homeric poems go like;
Agamemnon the warrior and king and Menelaus who has loud war cry we have Ajax who is huge and freaking strong we have Nestor the amazing peace maker and diplomat and so on and so forth and while we have kings and mariners hither thither and finally we get Achilles, the one known being fast, best in war, great with spear and sword and somehow surpassing almost everyone at almost everything (usually war related) and a capable musician...
And then we have Odysseus 😂
Like wits that rival the gods, master mariner, expert with the spear and great archer fast and fierce despite his age, ultimate survivor, master of disguise a diplomat and a speaker, hunter, carpenter and builder schemer and actor master tactician and a freaking goddess magnet
Like...Homer my dude...leave some talents for the rest of the crew will ya??
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oh man giving love a bad name indeed because her love is possessive and twisted 🤣
Gosh definitely fits her! Selling angel smiles and delivering hell hahaha but man it turns so dark in this context the way he says there's no way to run and the damage! It's quite scary in this tone!
Oh my! Never realized how this song fits for Odysseus and Calypso! 👀
I almost feel as if my story was subconsciously inspired by it (and I am sure it wasn't 😆) because the lyrics so fit!
Oh gosh so the only one who's body could be retrieved! And the way he died man he is the real legend isn't he? 😆😆 Poor guy tho asking for his burial like that!
Like I said before I really liked the details of Odysseus cutting his hair like that, since it was the only type of mourning he could do for them... And in his situation it's like he is mourning his own freedom as well while still trying to keep a flame of hope to return home to his family 😢
But man the fact that he couldn't retrieve any of the bodies of his fallen friends... And in your recent writing not even from Argos man it hurts 😭
Elpenor might be the only guy in Odysseus's arduous trip that got a decent funeral 🤔
In my fanfiction "Survivor's Guilt Survivor's Duty" I make Odysseus cut his long hair as a funerary tribute to his men and a sign of mourning:
That was a very common way for ancient Greeks to show mourning and it was mentioned in many literary sources. One of the most infamous examples is Homer's Iliad where Achilles cuts his hair after he kills Hector and places them to the hands of Patroclus in a funerary pyre. The other is Eurypedes "Helen" when Helen cuts her hair and wears black in order to outsmart Theoclymene that she got news from her husband's death
For funerary customs we see generally a combination between burial and cermination depending on the situation. And then it hit me;
Throughout the trip Odysseus lost all his men and crew in most violent ways and the bodies were either consumed by monsters or lost at sea
Elpenor, his comrade that fell off Circe's roof while drunk and later on speaking with Odysseus during his trip in the Underworld, requests a burial and a grave. And this might be the only funeral held by Odysseus during the trip (excluding those who were buried at war).
Odysseus couldn't even give his men funerary rituals! The man just suffered so much! 😭😭😭
Oh gosh I already had the privilege of getting a sneak peek of the first part of this but as always you outdid yourself girl ✨✨✨❤️❤️❤️
Oh man here she comes to get him, the beautiful nightmare!! Which makes it more ironic that this starts with a sweet dream of his wife!! It's so touching how he sees his home so vividly even in his dreams, all the details and landscapes, and he finds all of this better than any kind of heaven... Poor man will be dreaming of his home like this for such a long time 😢
And he's hearing the voice of his wife like coming straight out of his chest like she is always connected to his heart 😭 and the way he half sobs! Like he wants to scream but he's so weak and emotional to see her there 😭 even the way she is described in a silhouette so close yet so far seems like she is a Goddess to his heart as well! And is the wrapped up object their baby? Poor man wanting to cry! But of course this was way too good to be true. The Gods and karma are not kind to him like this!
You described so well the state of a weakened body, especially after the whole mess Odysseus went through! His body is just beaten up, abused and exhausted so of course it's so hard for him to move or even open his heavy eyes! And his poor throat from the harshness of the elements and sea!! Oh gosh the white room!! I know this feeling hahaha "turn off that wall!!" 😂 It's crazy when the light hits! But it also gives a sense of freshness, even tho in this context the blinding white scenario probably will add to Odysseus feeling of "captivity" later on! It's funny that "alien abduction" clishés also talk about people being brought to blinding white rooms, and this context also reminded me of that 😆 tho to be fair a white stone grotto, especially with such furniture and tapestries also sounds beautiful hehe it does fit a Goddess, so you already started with the beautifulXcreepy duality very well even before Calypso appears! Oh gosh and the maid is afraid of him and his look! She even takes a step back hearing him attempting to talk!
Oh boy and here she comes in all her creepy beautiful glory! Also sorry I can't help but compare her to a twisted version of Dilla hahaha deep voice but melodic, tall and strong (despite looking delicate) and a motherly touch, even the dark skin, but unlike Dilla she's just so twisted, cunning and manipulative, emanating a false sense of security from those honey eyes 😆😆
I love the ocean themed details of her like the seashells on her braided hair! Also love the unnatural beauty of her face being pore-less and such, giving her a doll-like or as you brilliantly describes, a marble like texture, it so adds to the uncanny valley sensation that the being he is dealing with is definitely not human despite having human shapes! Also love the choice of honey colored eyes because as said before they add to this false sense of sweetness, but also they can both be sweet and predatory 👀 I also love your choice of words saying that Odysseus gets stunned by her beauty, it makes him seem like he's already sort of jumpy from her!
Her motherly attitude is definitely a red flag here hahaha seems more condescending somehow! And the way she seems to be so unnaturally strong is realy scary having in account what she could do with said strength! And she feeds him the nectar now hahaha this is the part I got suspicious hahahaha like a drug 😂😂 I like your description of the taste because you left it misterious (since this drink it's probably something hard to explain) yet you have a good hint of what it must feel like to drink it, like all the flavors and none at all is brilliant! And the way the poor guy is almost addicted to it immediately, tho he also seems to need it... And the way he feels so tired just by the act of drinking 😢
Hahaha even the way she tells him she gave him nectar is kind of cocky! Like "you should be happy because humans don't usually drink this, I was so generous giving it to you to save you" 😂 but at the same time it's such fitting behavior for such a Goddess hahaha and poor Odysseus surely feels better for it... Tho he is yet to pay the price!
Oh man "devine beings"... They sure are, but this will definitely not be your heaven my guy! Tho I loved how the girls giggled at his comment hahaha charmer 😆 and of course Calypso can almost already guess this guy crossed the Gods somehow lol
Gosh poor Odysseus still hoping to get some comrade back even if it's just a dead body... And man this reaction of Calypso is definitely quite cruel but fitting for someone who sees the life and death of humans as something so trivial and fleeting. The way she is actually amused at his question... And calling him darling like that, once again sounding condescending rather than comforting! Aww poor guy's heart breaking more even tho he already cried so much for them, and he's still so tired, the way he can't tell how many days have been is both sad but to be expected.
It's so twisted knowing what happens next, because this is also a very complex situation, she definitely helped him and saved his life, some of her emotions are genuine, yet the price he has to pay being raped and forced really is too twisted especially seeing some of her attitudes, her sort of disconnect to human existence, how condescending she is, her air of haughtiness... and her forceful attitude even if it's still soft now, it already is a red flag! She really is quite the scary one, yet she has so many layers until she uncovers the hunting spider beneath!
Oh gosh I love such details the way you make his body finally feel the repercussions of his great stress, heartbreak and torment, and actually giving him a physical reaction through fever shivers and more... This is so realistic the body truly suffers this way in great stress... And the way he is mumbling all the terrors and pains he has suffered until now 😭
I really loved how you described all his horrors in one big amalgamation of a nightmare... The attack on Troy with all the creaming people, the Charybdis whirlpool... The dead baby and the men turned into pigs with the sacred cows! Gosh too much for the poor man now coming for his dreams all at once 😭
The way you described him thinking he would not die by Poseidon really is a good hint that his sweat drenched clothes are making him feel like he is drowning at sea again... Poor guy must really feel like choking with the clothes 😢 oh man and him going back to the thunder that struck his boat... The burning flesh is such a dark detail and gosh the eye crying blood staring at him is such nightmare fuel! Is it from the cyclops? Or Poseidon looking at him from the depths maybe? Either way gosh!! Horror material in an amazing way ✨✨
Oh man him pleading for a drink at her! And her smiling at his state is somehow disturbing even if she goes to assist him! You really did Calypso's red flags so well girl! It's the little subtle things about her!
Oh gosh she just went for it!! Mouth feeding the liquid to him like that seems so violating already, like she was waiting to take advantage of that moment to do it! Oh man but of course the feverish man's thoughts go to his wife instead 😭 the way he connected the honey taste to Penelope remembering even what she used to eat while she was pregnant, and all her other details... Poor guy really is sinking into the desire and longing thinking he is home with her again... 😢
And the way he cries and begs for her before losing consciousness again 😭 man that damn woman hahaha she is wicked! But somehow you also gave her such an interesting touch of humanity in her twisted Goddess demeanor! The way she is curious about these passion feelings inside her, even if she still is creepy lool she kisses him again without a second thought!
It's also a mix of creepy and interesting the way she is drawn to him, she is looking at him and observing him like he was a shiny new toy she has never seen before and wants to have to herself... She wants to know him better because she's curious about what makes him tick and work, and not knowing how to have him frustrates her... Or at least that's the feeling she gives me because she's way too detached from mortal beings so she sees them more as entertainment.
Hahaha but it is interesting how this mortal man who is not particularly handsome compared to Gods and deities still caught the attention of these Goddesses by his rugged and interesting appearance and aura! Also I can see through your descriptions why he is compared to a ram! Bushy guy 😂😂 even the way she touched him tenderly is forceful, her hands trailing like that confidently as if she owned him already is very disregarding of his own wishes, which she doesn't really care of course lol
And of course that remark of the future plus her taking his hairs truly gives a scary feeling! (Also interesting how she took one white and one black hahaha like it's a symbolism for his duality!)
Gosh and here is yet another dream of his family and home the poor guy really can't take it being away from them for so long, his whole body and mind longs to return 😢 and the bed is here hahaha once again so sad that his dreams of home are so vivid even after such a long time!!
Penelope seems like such a soft and supporting wife even tho she shares his temper and wits sometimes hahaha and man he remembers her just like the day he left for war! ❤️ And gosh in this dream he managed to return home after Troy, a wish from his heart 😭 And he even imagines his grown up son! It's interesting how the dreams both end with the silhouette of his loved ones against the sun, first his wife then his son, almost as if it was hard for his heart to picture then at that moment... Especially Telemachus that he never saw grown so his image is more dream like... And oh boy that melody and the weaving... Calypso is definitely putting her spells to work there...
Also possibly this is not the idea but it's almost as if Calypso likes to have Odysseus lying there in the bed next to her working corner as a sort of adornment. Sure he has no choice he needed to rest and to lay there, but I dunno hahaha the weird feeling! I can definitely see the Spider spinning a web inspiration in the way Calypso works on her weaving! And the poor man is still so confused!
The way she calls him darling hahaha shivers! 😂 Once again she points to her immortality as a completely different reality! Oh you went with the week he spent sleeping here instead!! Hahaha so fitting and it makes sense since his body was enduring his fever dreams and repressed stress and all! Poor guy was shocked and of course the Spider is amused at the little fly she caught 😆
The mention of his torn clothes... In a way it's also crazy that even in the middle of his weakness Odysseus was so panicked that he managed to actually tear the fabrics!! Aww and he's ashamed that his wife's name and feelings were exposed while he was in such a weakened state!
Oh boy the flash of jealousy!! 👀😱 Gosh Odysseus doesn't imagine how terribly right he is! And she strikes back by saying he kissed her!! Completely leaving out the fact that she was the one who crashed her lips on him without permission in the first place! Such a sly manipulator she is, because that indeed was not a lie technically however it would not happen without her starting it, letting him subconsciously respond!! He could not even sit up let alone reach up to kiss her! But of course Odysseus in his confused state (plus possibly her spell)does not even ponder that, and just feels guilty!
Oh man and the way you describe him looking like a hurt animal when she tells him she enjoyed it... Definitely about to be hunted... "You took me by surprise" she says oh man the nerve 😆
Oh man I can see her spells are taking away a bit of his rational thinking there! Yet the poor guy still wants to be clear that he never meant to do such a thing and avoid any misunderstanding... and now he is seeing her as a predator her layers are starting to peal bit by bit! And gosh the way his chest clenched, he really is so afraid to anger another deity!! And her reply is truly dangerous! It sounds like a treat already! Like she's telling him he's treading on thin ice by thinking of his mortal wife while she's there 😨
Oh man and the way she demands the information from him warning him not to lie while she herself is already manipulating and subduing him without him even knowing! And the fact that she now is certain that he is the infamous Odysseus only made him more interested... In a not so fortunate way for him... Hahaha his long string of titles impressing her 😆
Gosh his guilt eating him alive again preventing him from defending himself, you really make his pain shine through in the most heartbreaking way through your writing 😢 and l the way she holds his chin up I can't! 😆 I love how you make their moments that were supposed to be tender at first glance seem so visceral somehow! And poor Odysseus feels it and is uncomfortable... I love how he faked dizziness to have an excuse to draw away from her grasp! And he's careful to point out she's beautiful perhaps to appease her? Oh boy the rest indeed 🤣 better to pretend being sick forever man 🤣🤣
The poor guy is thankfully healing well but oh man he still is so oblivious of his situation even tho he can feel the ominous sensation over him... The spell idea connected to her singing and weaving truly is scary yet so interesting as a concept! It's like she's trying to weave into his mind quite literally especially since she took his hair!! Still it's sweet to see him satisfied to be healed even tho it's clearly an effect of her spells 😢
Oh man her watching him... Again in other contexts it could be admiration but with her it's so like... A perv stalker! 😆 It's crazy how he indeed still dives into the water despite his traumas tho! And again the way she thinks about making love to humans is so like a novelty to her, taking someone for fun, and how ironic how so many mortal men would jump at the opportunity to share a bed with her, but of course she wants the one whose heart and body just can't belong to her, not truly. Also the way she almost fetishizes human mortality. Tho her duality and complexity is also interesting, the way she tells herself she wants to console him and provide him with a missing piece or that she can connect his loneliness with her own, however this all falls flat because despite the fact that she might love him or not, she still does not respect his true wishes or feeling choosing to manipulate or forcing him to be with her instead! It's quite an interesting way to choose to write an abuser! She's not cartoonishly evil, yet her duality makes her so much more creepy and interesting than if she was! She's truly terrifying and intriguing that way, and has a touch of realism even in her narcissist attitude. Oh man and her jealousy of Penelope really makes her seem more dangerous... Gosh and of course she finally decides to show more of her cunning layers!
Hahaha it's kind of cute how Odysseus knows the names of the nymphs now! Gosh and they are almost as mischievous as their mistress giggling like that knowing what is planned for him! Yeah Odysseus... The good Goddess to wait indeed oh man...
This is an interesting contrast to how he will dislike being bathed by servants, especially female servants, later on... How many times must he have been prepared by nymphs before heading to one more dreaded night with Calypso... also the fact that Calypso is even dressing him up!! It goes back to the "It's almost like she found a cat" idea! Even if it sounds like a trivial thing, it's still like she is somehow taking even the little choices away from him dressing him with what she pleases instead... And it's somehow worse that she made them for him lool this so goes back to the twisted Dilla idea hahaha sorry! 😆
Oh boy and he enters the cage of the lion hahaha I love how you still make him so human, because despite his heart belonging to another and Penelope being always his choice he still of course gets impressed by the beauty of a Goddess because who wouldn't? It's another thing Calypso tries to use against him lol and the way she lays there on the couch sounds like a painting hehe and she definitely chose her wardrobe carefully! I love how how she knew she should not be too provoking or it would be too obvious for her mind games with him!
The environment sounds so beautiful tho and undoubtedly romantic which once again makes it darker as a concept!! Especially with the fact that she made the wine strong to make him inebriated and easier to influence! Oh man and she wants to jump on him the moment he kisses her hand out of gratefulness! The lion den is truly here!!
And even in the conversation she's trying to point out how her island is rich and with abundance like she is trying to suggest it would be the perfect place for him to live... It's also so ironic how she toasts to life since once again mortal life seems to be something so trivial to Gods to a certain extent. The different subjects and perspectives they share are so interesting tho haha Odysseus talks about such human things lands, adventures, war, while Calypso seems to be talking about concepts so transcendental, stars, cycles, songs of birds, it's an interesting perspective of a Deity having "small talk" hahaha
Oh man making the guy drunk... Again so dark, she clearly is trying to make him vulnerable and that is so frightening real to an abuser behavior... And the way she came to realize he's afraid of displeasing her and is using that to make him do what she wants! She is clearly pounding on his defenses like a hammer... Making them come down by emotional force... And the way she finally uses his sadness to get to his heart while sort of guilt tripping him... gosh that was low and it hurt 😭
Oh boy the trust question was it... Somehow the way he's so drunk makes this all the more dark and sad, the way he can't properly talk and she pretty much backed him into a corner until he bursts all of his sadness and emotions out 😭 she's forcing his trust on her and that's messed up...
Oh gosh the poor man crying like that while telling her... In a way thinking he is letting it all out to a person who is listening.. but man once again he is yet to pay the price for it 😭 her cooing at him is definitely even worse!! And NOW she makes her servants stop serving him drink lol aww he's even physically nauseous from his drunkenness and emotions 😭 and he thinks she is soothing!! Oh man 😭
Oh gosh when she said "Shall we go to bed" I thought this would be the first of the 2555 🤣🤣 oh man!!! And he can't even properly reply with a yes or no... He's so defenseless in her arms now... And now he reminds himself of one of her red flags the strength she could use to crush him...
Him trying to convince himself that the fact that she is gentle with him and saved should be a reason for her and her strength not to be concerning... yet his instincts are clearly concerned! Even her ideas of stealing kisses are concerning now let alone the rest! 😆 Man the spider watching her little prey get more and more tangled in her web again... Oh gosh yeah Calypso, or you'll be yet one more sorrow for his list! 😭
Oh boy girl yet one more crazy ride! I really enjoy how you wrote Calypso! She's so interesting as a cunning yet alluring character! Complex in her emotions yet so detached and toxic! And it all fits so well with her Goddess nature, beautiful yet creepy! And of course Odysseus dealing with yet another complicated road ahead!! Fantastic job girl just so perfect! It's building up to a great conclusion here, so exciting to read!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️✨✨✨🫶🫶🫶💎💎💎💎
As said before the soundtracks are so fitting! So dark yet alluring like the Goddess! Oh it's interesting that the horse he was mumbling about could also be the Poseidon! 😲 The honey crackers detail is so sweet for his wife ❤️ Man the spell making him forget his sorrow is both so fitting for an epic yet so horror story material in the best way! Yet the man fights hehe oh gosh what a great idea with the parallel fates! Like Karma always striking him again and again!!
Truly fantastic 🕷️🕷️🕸️🕸️✨✨
Survivor's Guilt and Survivor's Duty (P2)
this is dedicated to @aaronofithaca05 because I believe I read somewhere his birthday was coming? Hehehe Either way this is the second part
Continuation from:
It was only for a brief second that the rays of sun touched his salt-crusted cheek but Odysseus saw or at least he thought he saw a tall slender figure picking something up from the beach many meters away from him (maybe a seashell). The figure turned towards him and walked there. And then everything turned black…
Sweet warm sunlight was embracing him. It was a familiar warmth; as familiar were the smells of grass, land and flocks of goats. He could hear the birds singing, feeling the soil beneath his feet and the grass tops to his fingertips. The warm breeze was caressing his face and softly playing with his hair. He had his eyes closed taking in every detail his eyes could not perceive. He opened them to see the familiar land showered in light. Everything was still there…the hills, the crops…the flocks playing at the rocks…the birds singing amongst the olive trees… Tears overflew his eyes as his heart flattered within his chest. This was better than Elysium… This was home…
“Odysseus!”
The melodic voice came from a distance… Maybe it had come out of his very chest. And yet the familiar voice of the woman he so much longed for made him feel his heart ready to burst in his chest.
“Odysseus!”
There she was…showered in light. She had the strong sunlight at her back so he couldn’t make her features; just her silhouette. However he did not need to see her face to know who she was; that straight and slim body covered with her modest veils softly waving at the evening breeze.
“Penelope!”
It was a half-sob through that whisper; a prayer, a longing scream of the soul. She was standing there, as if to the beginning of a light tunnel. She was holding a small, wrapped up thing in her arms. Oh, he was home!
“Come, Odysseus!” the lulling voice came again
“Penelope…!”
Her name was the only thing he could utter. His throat was clenched by sobs that he wanted so much to let out and was holding them back.
“Come…my love…come…”
He extended his arm towards her offering one.
Light engulfed him…
*
He could hardly feel his surroundings but he gradually gained some level of consciousness enough to start to gain subsequently some essence of feel and touch. He could understand he was lying upon the soft, sweet-smelling surface of a bed. His eyelids seemed to be weighting a ton each as if they were made out of lead. His body felt even heavier than that and he barely could twitch a finger, yet alone move. His throat still hurt and felt dry but he noticed the feeling was infinitely better than the last time he remembered being conscious. He forced himself to open his eyes and again and again till finally he succeeded. At first all he could see was whiteness but after a second his vision half-cleared as he blinked. He noticed he was inside a white room made of stone. The sunlight was reflecting upon the whiteness of the walls creating a natural almost blinding result. It took him a few extra seconds to realize that he was inside some sort of grotto. The walls, even if they bore no decorations from murals like most palaces did, still looked magnificent and tall, they had nothing to be jealous of the great palaces he saw in his life or even holy Troy herself. There were quite a few pieces of furniture around and tapestries with patterns he didn’t recognize. He tried to raise his neck from the pillow but he realized he found it easier to move the rocks instead. His head seemed nailed to the pillow. He drew out a rusty breath as he scanned the place and only then he noticed a young girl above him fixing his covers, he presumed, with another behind her leaving a tray at a small table somewhere. The maid that fixed him had a scared look on her face. Was he really that much of a dreadful sight? He tried his voice that seemed stuck like the crust of salt that seemed to be gone from his body now.
“Where…where am I…?” he managed to rasp out
The maiden took a few steps back.
“Madam! He’s awake” she called upon someone behind her shoulder
“I can see that” came a melodious deep female voice from somewhere behind
Odysseus weakly looked up to see a magnificent woman. She was tall and slender with dark sun-kissed skin and dark hair carefully arranged in braids adorned with gold and seashells which cascaded down her back like a cape. Her face was heart-shaped and completely clear and pore-less; looking more like the magnificence of marble rather than flesh. Her large almond-eyes had the color of rich honey and her lips were full and shaped like a shell. Odysseus was stunned by her beauty and much more by her soothing voice.
“Who…” he started but his voice betrayed him
The stunning woman smiled almost maternally at him, raising with her richly adorned with gold bracelets and rings a goblet.
“Well, stranger, welcome back to the world of the living! You had us worried there. We believed you wouldn’t make it…”
“Wha…?” Odysseus started but again his throat betrayed him
“There, there, stranger…” the woman repeated maternally, “Come on, drink this…”
She slid her arm behind his back and half-raised him with unexpected strength, bringing the goblet to his lips. As the liquid touched those thirsty, dry lips, Odysseus gained strength anew to his arms; the type of strength you get when you need to survive. He greedily downed sips from the drink and aimed to hold it with his weak, shaking hands. He tasted the sweetest drink he ever thought he would taste; it was sweeter than honey, smoother than wine. It was all the tastes he ever knew and none at the same time. He coughed as the drink went down the wrong way but he drank more ignoring some that escaped his lips and down the thick layer of curly hair that adorned his wide chest. He was thirsty! He was thirsty to the point of madness!
“There…there…” the woman repeated, removing the goblet from his lips, “Easy there, take it easy…”
She handed the goblet to her maid who refilled it and she repeated the action, to which Odysseus responded quite the same way before breathing heavily of exhaustion and be lowered slowly back to his pillows. How weak one can be to feel exhausted by drinking from a cup while being held limb by someone else, he thought!
“Rejoice” said the woman standing to her feet, making her braids and jewels clatter with each other, “That’s Nectar you’re drinking; the drink of the gods. Not many humans have the honor of tasting it. It is the only thing capable of giving your strength back, given the state you were in”
The tormented king of Ithaca took a few more breaths; sucking the oxygen with the same thirst as he had drank the godly drink. However he realized that even though his body was still heavy like metal and his limbs weak he wasn’t in so much pain as he used to or at least as much as he could remember. His wounds were also healing as it seemed for they didn’t sting him anymore like burning coals. His burnt by sun shoulders, back and face no longer stung so badly either. He looked at the divine form once more. Her dark skin was perfectly contrasting the white walls of the grotto.
“Who…who are you…?” he managed to whisper with some effort, “Did I die…and somehow ended up to Elysium to be greeted by divine beings…?”
The girls now giggled as their mistress also chuckled softly.
“No, stranger, you are not dead, not yet; even if as it seems the gods are trying very hard to achieve that! You washed up on my isle to the brief of death. I found you and brought you to my home.”
“Then…” the stunned king began, “…who are you…?”
“I am Calypso” the woman replied with a tone of pride and regal aura, “Daughter to Atlas; immortal Nymph and Goddess Protector of Ogygia.”
“A goddess…” Odysseus repeated like an echo
He tried once more to sit up, this time with some success (which however left him exhausted and rasping for breath again).
“Pray tell me, magnificent lady” he began, “Has…”
He hesitated.
“Has…anyone else washed up to your doors? Alive or dead?”
The hope that was biting his heart wouldn’t leave him in peace; no matter what his brain was signaling would be logical. However Calypso’s half-amused look destroyed all the last bits of that hope before the goddess actually spoke.
“Anyone else? No, darling. Just you and it was already a miracle that you survived this. You washed up at my isle in what seemed like half a step from death. I highly doubt there are more people out there who could survive so.”
Odysseus felt his heart sinking. Yes, he expected that blow but it was a blow nonetheless. He felt his body grow weak again. He was struggling really badly to hold himself awake.
“How…how long was I…?”
He had counted around 9 days out in the sea. He assumed it was probably one more since he had lost consciousness more than once but now time escaped him. Calypso smiled again as her honey eyes reflected the light of the sun through her white cave.
“This is the morning of the fourth day you have been unconscious. My maids and I cleaned your wounds and anointed you with oil so that they would heal faster. We gave you a new change of clothes and tried to give you Nectar in hope from dragging you out of death’s door”
That explained the soft clothes that embraced his tormented body. There was so much he wanted to ask; so much he wanted to say… He made a move to sit up even further but his body shivered as if his arms had lost all their previous strength.
“No…” Calypso whispered melodically, “Too soon. You must keep your strength…”
Her touch felt warm against his chest. His senses swam. That delicate hand held strength beyond his comprehension as she firmly pressed him down and yet it was soft and welcome in his tortured soul.
“Goddess…” he began, “I…”
“Shhh…” Calypso whispered again, “Save your strength…sleep…”
Her voice was lulling…even more enchanting now than the Sirens whose forbidden song he was privileged to hear. His head softly touched the pillow as his sight got out of focus. Calypso’s beautiful face was blurred within his swimming, dizzy mind. Suddenly his body felt light…like falling weightlessly to the abyss. Calypso’s voice came as if from a distance even if she was right there above him.
“Sleep…”
Darkness took over him once more…
*
He was coming in and out of consciousness; that much he could tell, although everything became a blurring mess in his brain. Sometimes in some moments of clarity he could remember where he was; he was in the unknown location of Ogygia, nursed to health by the immoral Calypso…his men all gone…his ship was destroyed… The gloomy thoughts were swimming soon after and he drifted back to a sort of lethargy without beginning or end as if he was falling softly down an unknown hole; softly like a feather that was let go from a bird’s wing. His tormented body finally kept up with the events of the past weeks and soon came the shivers, the tremors, the fever and the dreams. That much Odysseus could remember in those rare moments of clarity that were interrupting his lithe. Body twitching and soaked in sweat, Odysseus the king of Ithaca found himself mumbling incoherent phrases and pledges confusing them with the images that attacked his tortured mind.
“No…ah…no…don’t…there…run…run…”
Twitching arms were moving over the light silky sheets. Twitching fingers grappling the material constantly. Droplets of sweat were always adorning his forehead.
“The wall…the wall…d-don’t…the horse…the horse…oh, gods, mercy…the horse…”
There was fire and screaming; faces of men and women tangled in a mass…there was a whirlpool of water opening up sharp teeth coming for his life. Cries of a baby were being mixed with yelps of pain and screeching of pigs being slain and moans of cows being sacrificed…
“Gods…! Oh, gods…mercy…the horse…the sea…get in…d-don’t…get in…don’t…the horse!”
The material of his shirt was so soaked that was plastered against his chest. He occasionally had to tear the material to be set free; no, he wouldn’t die out there by Poseidon! The material wouldn’t strangle him! Not today!
“No more…ah…gods, mercy…n-no more…! D-Don’t…c-catch it…h-hold it… The horse…gods…in the horse…fire…fire…that voice…gods…gods…make it stop!”
His throat was dry, his chest was clenched by an iron hand.
“No…no…ah…p-please…n-no more…the hair…run…I…I don’t…no…no…”
There was a flash of light and a loud bang then the smell of wine and burning flesh however the source of it he did not know. Then an eye staring at him from the black abyss, crying tears of blood.
“The horse…in the water…gods, mercy…no more…!”
He was falling…softly and slowly but still falling.
“The wall…the horse…in the water…that voice…c-catch…stop…stop the…”
Then there was darkness…
“…No…”
His eyes opened slowly but he was out of focus. There was a dim light around him and whiteness but everything was a blur. He was feeling like burning; both from the outside and the inside. There was a blurry figure at some small distance. His arm extended pleadingly towards it.
“Th-Thirsty…” he whispered as if in a trance, “Please…I’m…thirsty…”
Calypso noticed the movement at the bed and heard the whisper coming so feverishly out of those lips. She saw that wrecked body; those eyes that barely slid open to make a request before falling heavy once more. She smiled.
“Of course…”
She stood up and went to the table, pouring liquid in a goblet. However instead of doing what she did initially she drank deeply from it and leaned down. Her lips covered those burning ones. Odysseus felt the taste of water and honey in his tongue. His throat moved spasmodically and desperately to accept the sweet liquid. The softness of flesh against his lips…the taste of honey on his tongue… Penelope… Only she had breath that smelled of honey… Crusty honey cakes were her favorite snack. She was munching them all the time when she was pregnant to their sweet Telemachus and so her breath always tasted honey and sesame; her body smelt fine olive oil… Those lips desperately moved. Finally he was home… Penelope… His lips softly massaged those soft ones and moved harmoniously to the movement of response he felt. Oh, the longing! The sheer happiness! His lips tasted her again and again, hoping that his strength would come back; that his weak arm and hand that rose to touch that soft cheek would allow him to TRULY embrace her… He wanted to explore further…he wanted to taste more…however his body was sinking anew. Tears escaped his eyes, running and getting lost within his raven curly hair… Just a bit longer…oh, gods, have mercy…let me stay a bit longer… As that head sank down to the pillows, his mouth left hers and he drifted back to a deep sleep. Calypso felt their lips separate and pulled back to look at the sleeping form of the mortal man that washed up so unexpectedly to her isle. She touched her lips with her thumb in comprehension. She could still feel his lips on hers. What a weird sensation!
“Who are you, stranger…?” she thought with a curious smile, “…and you kiss so passionately…?”
Calypso tasted her lips in apprehension and a smirk rose to her face. She was definitely curious now. She leaned over that sleeping form. Her face was inches apart from his. The man beneath her was a mere mortal; he was barely average of height but of amazing physical structure, even though he had obviously lost weight from all the hardships he had to face. He seemed long past the age of his youth but that air of maturity in combination to the hardened features from life and sea gave him a special charm. That raven hair like ram’s fleece and the bushy beard gave him some wild beauty despite the fact that his features were not particularly handsome compared to gods and immortal nymphs. She landed her lips on top his head and between his brows and once more landed on those dry from sea lips, hoping to get that reaction again however Odysseus was so far under his sleep that he didn’t move anymore.
“Who were you thinking of…?” she whispered again, “What secrets do you hide…?”
Her smooth hand soothed that bushy chest and felt the fleece that covered it, feeling the hard muscles beneath. Her hand stopped to feel some tiny scar here and there; obviously reminders of war. The arms and legs obviously belonged to a warrior, a craftsman and a sailor…soft scars that could be done by nothing else but hunting knives and animal teeth could be seen in his fingers. Blisters found at his palms could be done by nothing else but sword shield and bow with arrows. The little hardened skin to his shoulders could be done by nothing else but armor. When she and her maidens were firstly nursing him back to health she noticed a distinct scar to his upper thigh (obviously some animal) and a scar to his abdomen (clearly a reminiscent of a spear). This man was no ordinary man. Calypso slowly rose herself off that sleeping form.
“Well, well, well…” she whispered, “Man with many talents…we shall see what the future holds…”
She caressed his hair gently and took two curly hairs from his head; one jet black and one silver for he had plenty that had started emerging from his obsidian mane like the first thunderbolts in the dark sky.
*
The light was warm; it was playing tricks between the leaves of the perennial olive trees that intertwined together to form the leg of his beloved bed; the wedding bed he had built with his own hands. And there, there was the familiar corridor of his palace; which he had walked up and down ever since he could remember. It seemed that everything was showered in yellow sunlight. He recognized every corner; every piece of marble, every mural in every wall. It was home; a humble yet perfect for him home.
“Odysseus!”
He turned around. There she was in all her beauty; Penelope, his wife and love approached him and hugged his arm. Her veils were already covering her hair as always when she came out of the chamber. Odysseus looked at her stupefied.
“Penelope?”
“Dear, oh, dear!” Penelope claimed playfully, “There you are! It was about time you came! You’re going to miss the celebration, darling, and it wouldn’t be appropriate, given that you are the honoring person!”
“Penelope?” Odysseus question again, “How…? I mean…when…?”
The love of his life, looking young and fresh like the day he left her for war chuckled in her usual crystal way that opened his heard like a rose.
“My, my! When you drink you don’t know what you’re saying!”
“But…I don’t…!”
The pull in his arm made him stagger forward.
“Well, come on then! You’ll miss the celebrations!”
“Hold on, a second, Penelope… What celebration?”
She chuckled again. Odysseus could swear he could hear that forever.
“But for the anniversary of taking Troy, of course! It was a year ago since the day you came back to us with the joyful news!”
“I’m…home…? I came…back…”
“Well come on! Your son has been preparing for this celebration for weeks! You don’t want to miss his performance now, do you?”
“Father!”
It was a distant voice Odysseus did not recognize. He looked forward towards the entrance that was showered in light. It almost seemed like Helios Hyperion was right outside his door, showering everywhere in light. There at the entrance he saw the silhouette of a young boy, with his arm above his head weaving at him.
“Father!”
“Telemachus!” Odysseus’s voice chocked into his throat
How much had he grown! He was almost a proper young man! The boy’s lean silhouette was still there. Odysseus cried tears of joy. There was a distant song coming from somewhere afar. He didn’t know that melody. There was also the rhythmical sound of someone weaving.
“Father! Come father! Come!”
It was as if an invisible hook was tied at his stomach for suddenly he was pulled towards the light. And then he was engulfed in white…
*
Odysseus opened his onyx eyes only to find himself to the familiar, now, environment of Calypso’s grotto. There were no more tapestries he knew or halls he had almost built brick by brick but the known white grotto. At the corner there was Calypso. She was humming some melody, moving to and fro. He remembered that song from his vague dream. That voice that could possibly be rivaling the Muses and the Sirens seemed like ringing like a bell in his brain. He work was considered of fine golden thread and patterns Odysseus did not recognize. Her fingers were moving swiftly and yet softly with a dexterity only an immortal goddess could have. For a moment he felt dizzy again but he realized it was much better than he thought. His body was still weak but in an infinitely better condition. His hand cupped his face and ran his fingers through his hair. He was feeling lost. Everything seemed exactly as he had left them before he lost consciousness.
“Forgive me, goddess…” he mumbled, “I fell asleep in the middle of our conversation…”
Calypso halted her movements and turned around to face him. Her shell-like lips formed a smile.
“It is quite a forgivable sin, darling” she replied airily, “Besides what’s a few days before eternity? It all passes like a breath”
“A few day-…?!” Odysseus was astounded, “Why, how long was I…?”
“Around a week this time, my darling.
“A whole week?!”
Calypso chuckled.
“And you gave quite the scare to my poor maids as well. They told me you torn the royal clothes they put on you twice and got alarmed by your voice as they thought you were going under again”
“I was talking in my sleep?”
“You don’t know half of it!” Calypso teased him, “You were mentioning a name quite often though when your phrases could make some sense… I believe it sounded like… ‘Penelope’…?”
Odysseus lowered his eyes in shame. It was already embarrassing enough that he was weaker than a baby and that he had these gorgeous women take care of his basic needs as he was unconscious and to hear he was sleep-talking as well but now that his wife’s name came out in the light he felt exposed.
“She’s my wife…” he finally admitted
Was that a shadow of jealousy that he saw passing flashily before her face like a tiny cloud momentarily shadowing the sun? Maybe he had imagined it, he thought, for her face returned to her previous calm state.
“I see…” Calypso whispered, “That explains a lot actually.”
“What?”
“It must have been her you were thinking of, when you kissed me”
All color left Odysseus’s face. He had no recollection of that event but the way Calypso said it, it sounded true!
“Gods! Forgive me goddess I shouldn’t have done that…!” he rushed to explain
Calypso, though, laughed.
“No need to worry too much, darling. Actually…I quite enjoyed it.”
Odysseus looked at her. His face almost looked like a hurt animal; like the fox that got out of his den to find a hound staring at him.
“You’re the first mortal to kiss me, actually” Calypso continued, “You took me by surprise but I don’t think ill of it”
“P-Please don’t take it the wrong way, goddess…” Odysseus tried to collect himself
His usual eloquent nature was once more gone; somehow lost in the sea and in the dreams; in the song and the spinning wheel.
“I…I was not myself. I shouldn’t have done that”
Calypso smirked again. Odysseus thought he had seen that smile before; a cat before attacking a rabbit at the fields of Ithaca. However her honey eyes shone wholeheartedly.
“Like I said, my dear guest, I quite enjoyed it. You seem to be a man of many talents… Even if…”
Odysseus’s heart clenched once more. The last thing he wanted was to see the bad side of yet another god.
“…you seem to have quite the nerve. You almost seem like you want to insult me by having me at your presence and admitting you mistakenly kissed me, thinking of some mortal woman!”
“I’ve had enough of offending gods for a lifetime, fair Calypso…” Odysseus mumbled fixing himself better in his bed
“Is that so…?” Calypso’s eyes shone again mischievously as she scanned him again, “I think it’s time you revealed who you are, stranger. What is your name? Which is your native land? Answer me truthfully, though. Gods can know when you are lying”
Odysseus lowered his eyes to his lap. Yes, his first instinct would be to conceal himself. He didn’t know what this goddess would think of him but she had saved his life after all. The very least he owed her was honesty and, if anything, indeed the gods often read the mortal soul like an open book.
“Odysseus…of Ithaca” Odysseus mumbled
“Ho?” Calypso brought her hand to her chin amused, “Is that so? Your reputation precedes you, Odysseus son of Laërtes, Man of Many Ways, the Man of Experience, Godly and Equal to Gods, Sacker of Cities… That’s a pretty long string of titles for a mortal! I am impressed. Although I must say that you have created quite a mess for the gods. Poseidon is crossed with you and won’t rest till he sees your destruction after you blinded his son.”
Odysseus lowered his eyes. There was so much he wanted to say and defend himself but as always his past wouldn’t let him… Troy, Polyphemus, the cows of Helios Hyperion… As if noticing his inner battle Calypso smiled softly. She placed a hand under Odysseus’s chin, making her look at her in the eyes. For a moment his eyes god lost inside her honey pools that reflected the sunlight.
“Don’t worry, Odysseus. You are safe here with me. No god would dare to come to my territory unprovoked. They have no reason to come and seek you here. You will be safe…”
Safe… That was a word the tormented king of Ithaca couldn’t really contemplate… However the closeness with the goddess made him feel uncomfortable. There was something in the back of his head that felt wrong but he didn’t even know why or he wouldn’t dare to offend her. He pretended feeling dizzy again and he leaned back to avoid her touch. Calypso smiled and got up.
“My maids shall bring you some food, Odysseus. I believe you are strong enough to eat now. Nectar and potions we created should allow you to heal to that point”
“I am grateful, beautiful goddess…”
“Rest and regain your strength first” Calypso advised sweetly, “The rest shall come…”
*
The weeks passed and Odysseus was indeed trying his best to keep himself in good condition. A few days more and he could walk about Calypso’s grotto without any problems and soon he felt gaining his old strength back. Eventually he got out of the grotto and got to explore the isle around and know his surroundings. Under the tender care of Calypso and her maids, Odysseus felt like finding himself again. He gained the weight he lost by his cruel misadventures and managed to built his previous physical strength. He could still have an ominous feeling pressing over his chest and more often whatnot he would wake up from his dreams because he would hear a mystical song or someone weaving but he brushed it off. Calypso on the other hand could not help herself feeling more and more for this mortal man that showed up at her door. She would get a glimpse of him diving into the waters of her isle to gather mollusks and shells. Others with similar experiences might not even want to be near the sea but not Odysseus. Odysseus was different. She was observing him from afar and hoped to join with him. The curiosity of how humans made love already excited her yet alone now that this man had showed up at her door; a man whose wits seemed to rival the gods. She wondered if that was what made this king attractive in her eyes or maybe his mortal nature; this ephemeral essence of human existence that would disappear one day. She hoped to get closer…much closer to him. However that seemed impossible. Odysseus seemed to be like a fort; closed behind walls he built around his heart. During their countless conversations they would speak on a variety of subjects but every time she asked him about himself and his emotions he would grow distant from her. He closed up like a clamp and refused to elaborate. It frustrated her that she could not get a way to his heart; console his pain and maybe provide a missing piece. It was the first time the immortal goddess had discovered someone as lonely as she was feeling. She looked down at the end of the valley and saw Odysseus. He was shirtless from the waist and above and was chopping some wood for the grotto. It was good for him to have some work to distract himself, or so he had said. Quite frankly Calypso could stare forever. She felt incredibly jealous of Penelope, the woman that had so much influence on him without even being there! If only she had a way to his heart! She looked at her work; her tapestry of gold thread…she looked at the tiny black and the tiny silver hairs that were incorporated to the sea of crimson and gold. She smiled apprehensively. Odysseus was cunning but so could she.
Odysseus walked back into the chamber, wiping the sweat off his body with his shirt. He entered the chamber only to see the maids of Calypso, the nymphs he had learnt by name by now, waiting for him.
“What is it, Ipomea?” he asked the girl who came first to him
“My lord…” the nymph replied respectfully (although the giggles behind her surely didn’t help her), “My mistress requires your presence at the pavilion”
“The goddess? Whatever for?”
“If it pleases you, my lord, we have prepared your bath, aromatic oils and my mistress arranged your clothes for you.”
“My, my, it sounds important!” Odysseus smiled, “Well…it’s not proper to let the good goddess wait then…”
He entered the tub that was filled with water to the temperature he liked and let himself to the hands of the maids who washed him from top to bottom helped him dry himself and anointed his body with aromatic oils. They dressed him in fine crimson that night that slithered across his body like water. They brushed his hair and trimmed his beard, tied a goldthread headband around his head and wore golden sandals to his feet. Yes, Calypso did that a lot; she was picking clothes for him and making sure he didn’t want of anything but yet some part of his soul was always ringing a bell; resisting as if by instinct. Dressed up at the godly clothes made by Calypso, Odysseus walked about the grotto to climb to the pavilion. The pavilion was basically a small half-closed terrace; an opening to the cave, which allowed Calypso to lay upon her bench and stare to the openness of the sea. He was summoned there before but never so late in the evening. He wondered what it was all about. He reached the dimly lit pavilion and he stopped in amazement. Calypso was already there lying on her couch lazily. She was dressed in a magnificent garment; a cloth to the color of amber that was bringing out her complexion and her honey eyes. Her braided hair was adorned with gold and pearls and neatly arranged. Odysseus could smell her aromatic oils even from the entrance. Calypso was very careful when she chose that dress. She wanted something to let out her beauty without making it too obviously provoking. She knew that Odysseus would be too clever to fall for such a trick. Sensing his presence she smiled.
“Odysseus! I am so glad you came!” she said in her low, melodic voice
Odysseus scanned the pavilion. There were torches to light it and some candles. There was a second bench waiting undoubtedly for himself and in the middle he saw the large gold-pleated crater that was already being stirred by the nymphs. Calypso had chosen the best godly wine in her cellar and she made sure she gave clear instructions to her maids to keep the analogy 3 to 1 so that the godly drink would be strong and savory.
“Come, sit with me, darling,” she said pointing at the other bench with her bracelet-adorned hand, “there is wine and dinner waiting”
Odysseus smiled.
“Goddess…” he returned her greeting with a bow of his head, “What’s the occasion?”
Calypso smiled a cat-like smile.
“But you returning back to health, of course” she replied with winged words, “I can tell by the way you prance about my grotto that you have finally reached your original strength”
“I have” Odysseus confirmed kneeling by her bench, he took her hand in his, “And it’s all thanks to you, goddess…”
He gratefully kissed her hand. Calypso shivered as those lips touched her immortal flesh. Oh, she adored him! She wanted to explore more of him! However she knew she had to be patient if she wanted Odysseus to become hers. She drew her hand back chuckling.
“Now, now, Odysseus!” she said airily, “Let us not get stuck in such…trifles! Let us just enjoy this night that is so beautiful. Let us not worry of yesterday or tomorrow”
“Couldn’t agree more, goddess” Odysseus smiled taking his place to the bench right opposite her.
Calypso smiled.
“Wine?”
“If you please…”
Calypso signaled at her maid to serve from the crater the ruby liquid. Odysseus brought it to his lips and tasted the rich taste of the drink.
“This wine belongs to the best year of my isle. My land is as you know rich. We do not want of anything here…” she looked at him again, scanning him with her eyes, “What do you think…?”
“Exquisite…”
Calypso raised her cup in a toast.
“To life then!”
“To life”
The two of them sat at the pavilion all evening talking on various subjects. Odysseus told her about the airs of the Aegean and the lands he met on his way to Troy, the mountains of Parnassus and the crops, the ships and warfare, circle of seasons and many more while Calypso talked about the stars and the sky, the secrets of the cycle of epochs and the song of the birds of Ogygia. The hours passed without Odysseus realizing it. Calypso had given clear orders to her maids to make sure that Odysseus’s cup would never empty and every time he would try and refuse she would try to lure him with yet another toast or some small talk for distraction. She knew however that he wouldn’t really refuse if she asked. She had come to know he was afraid to displease her. She had invited him there and he felt it was his duty to obey her requests. He wouldn’t refuse her out of fear that he would offend her. She watched him sip the red liquid away and his cheeks flare from the alcoholic beverage and his eyes shine in inebriation and yet his defenses were still strong for he refused to open up every time Calypso would try to sneak in a more personal question. He might still discuss different matters and laugh every time a maid mentioned something but she could tell he was still hiding many things inside him. Calypso knew she had to be careful. She was absolutely certain that Odysseus despite the fact that the wine was making his speech slower and his reactions more lethargic, that he could understand perfectly well what was going on and that he would be perfectly cognitive. She had to advance softly if she needed him to open up. She needed an opportunity. And she found it. At some point as Odysseus was pretty much completely drunk she realized that shadow of melancholy passing from his eyes. Yes, she knew that look. It was the look he got every time he lost himself in deep thought.
“Odysseus…?” she called at him in her melodic singing voice, “Odysseus…?”
“Hm?”
“Do you find my company that unpleasant, Odysseus?”
Odysseus looked at her. She saw those eyes, those eyes that resembled obsidian, looking at her and she felt almost weak in her legs.
“No, goddess…” he eventually replied sluggishly
“Then why do you look so gloom?” Calypso questioned, “I am here to entertain you; so we can celebrate your recovery back to health and you sit there looking sad. Please talk to me, what’s wrong…?”
“G-Goddes…”
“Don’t you trust me, Odysseus…?”
Odysseus froze.
“I…”
Such an easy question and such a difficult answer it would need! Odysseus tried to find the proper words and force that stupid tongue of his that had turned sluggish in his mouth and explain. However the dizziness wouldn’t let him to concentrate. Perhaps he shouldn’t have drunk so much! Calypso, on the other hand, could almost feel his head wheels running, cornered by her direct question.
“Please, Odysseus…” she said in a mellow tone, “Open up to me, darling. I want to help you…”
Just a bit more, she thought, just a little more. She looked at him again; how he was gazing her with those eyes glistering from unshed tears and wine. For one second she wondered that maybe he was too drunk and that she should have stopped earlier but she dismissed the thought. Only in the condition he was now he would be able to drop his defenses and finally trust her even for a little bit.
“Talk to me, Odysseus…”
And, finally, Odysseus talked. He could not contain his emotions any longer as he spoke to her of his experiences; of how he faced contempt in Troy, of how they were captured by Polyphemus, of the agony of the trip…how he saw his mother in the underworld who told him she died of grief…how his son waited in Ithaca; the son he never saw to grow and finally the brutal deaths of his comrades… And then she saw the man break...there she saw him come undone... He talked and tears were flowing from his eyes like rivers, wetting the cloth he wore and he seemed inconsolable till he managed to muster some of his self-control and try to stop. Calypso slowly got up and sat beside him. He clearly was in no state to walk.
“My darling…” she whispered maternally embracing him
She kissed his head and forehead and she pulled him closer, letting him lean his head to her bosom. She rocked him softly.
“My poor tormented darling…”
She realized that he was probably at his limit so she signaled at her maid with her eyebrows not to refill his cup, which she placed aside. Odysseus was feeling his lips tingling; his stomach was upset and his head was turning like a top and yet that soft embrace seemed to be soothing him. His head was heavy as he leaned to her chest, struggling to keep his eyes open.
“G-Goddess…I…” he mumbled
Calypso leaned over to his ear and she whispered in a tone that rang to his mind like a silent bell.
“Shall we go, my darling…?” Calypso whispered directly in his ear, “Shall we go to bed…?”
He shook his head. It wasn’t a yes and it wasn’t a no. He was completely inebriated. Calypso passed one arm behind his waist and she raised them all up with unexplainable strength. Odysseus was led almost completely limb in her arm towards the chamber and it made him realize for one more time he difference between gods and mortals; Calypso’s body that looked fragile and feminine held strength enough to crush him if she wanted to. And yet she was being gentle with him…she had saved his life. This detail shouldn’t be concerning him, right? As Calypso led him and helped him lie down the bed his eyes truly couldn’t remain open. He closed them feeling the world spinning around him like a top. He fathomed he should sleep. His head was feeling heavy.. Calypso watched him and for a second she was tempted to kiss him; taste those lips of his. However she was almost certain that Odysseus would remember everything of that night. She didn’t want to ruin her opportunity. She smiled like a spider watching her web.
‘Soon, my love…soon you will forget those sorrows…here with me…”
~~~~
So here's the second part of this story and Odysseus beached in Ogygia with his life and yet things are about to be difficult for him. Now the reason I chose Calypso to have dark complexion was mainly because I was enamoured with The Odyssey (1997) and I thought it would be a fun idea to explore. Her house in Ogygia in my story is at Gozo in Malta.
Now for Odysseus's visions I was inspired by the amazing soundtrack from "The Perfume"
I was also heavily inspired by Gladiator movie for them.
I figured Odysseus would be incredibly weak for days after his ordeal. And I tried to add some more details to make it look more like Calypso fell for him.
Odysseus fell ill because when he finally relaxed, all his anxiety was basically striking his body mercilessly. Now his mumbles were not supposed to make any sense and they were random based on his adventures. Now if someone wants to make something out of them, the most infamous horse he is related to is the Trojan horse but also the horse is a symbol of Poseidon so maybe just maybe it refers to Poseidon as well hahahaha!
He tears his clothes because in his delirioum when the clothes plaster on him, he feels as if he is back at the sea struggling alone
The "honey crackers" exist in Greece even today and they are called παστέλι (pasteli). It is a savory snack made of sesame seeds and honey. Sesame existed as crop in Greece since homeric times. Which is why I put it here. Quite frankly I am not sure if it was a thing in bronze age when Odysseus lived but hey if Homer can use anachronism so can I! Hahahahaha
Also suspicious suspicious that Odysseus seems to be healling "happy" in the island hahahaha! That is because some people interpret Calypso weaving and singing while moving to and fro as her enchanting him. In my story he is basically subtly enchanted to "forget" some parts of his sorrow to stay and heal. Calypso thought she could bind him but his will is stronger so her magic only reaches a superficial level.
In this I wanted Odysseus to suffer fates that he imposed to his enemies or were imposed to his friends and he was spared for example lethe (Lotus Eaters) drunkeness (Polyphemus)etc.
For Calypso I was inspired by a spider spinning a web.
I hope the last part will come soon!
As always I shall thanks @loco-bird @tunguszka20 @doob-or-something @jarondont @prompted-wordsmith @simugeuge @ilov3b00kss0much @fangirlofallthefanthings
Oh man this hits harder because he lost so many people... The last ship was brutal...
Also very random but in my head this kind of ties up to the moment the giants were killing and spearing Odysseus' comrades to eat as if they were fish!
It's such a fitting headcanon! 👀
I have a random headcannon (not sure if I will keep it) that Odysseus never ate another fish in his life
In Greece (not sure if it is the same in other places as well) we have this old tradition that if a family loses a sailor relative at the sea they never eat fish again because fish eat dead bodies that sink in the water so in a way they honor the dead by not eating fish because "fish have eaten their loved one"
So imagine if that was a thing in antiquity or simply Odysseus made a pledge with himself and never eats another fish in his life to honor all the fallen comrades that found tragic death in the sea (especially the last ship)
Sorry! Random headcannons again!
Oh gosh perfect close for this part girl ❤️❤️✨
The way it starts with Odysseus putting his loved ones in place of the slaughtered and grieving ones 😢 Astyanax, Priam and Adromache as his own son, father and wife, gosh he really is putting himself in their shoes feeling the suffering he has caused them....
And now he curses all the people and chain of events which have brought him into this war, and made him lead this great massacre released upon the people of Troy... Such a tragic figure that now has to bear the weight of the blood that was spilled, as always you express his frustration in the best way possible!
Is Polites worried for Odysseus being alone drunk, or is there some other danger for him to be alone at this moment? Maybe seeing his great grief mixed with it all adds to the concern because Odysseus surely must be quite a messy sight at this point... The way he says he's tired of being wise...
The detail of mixing the wine with water is such a great addition, as it shows how much Odysseus wants to drown in the alcohol to forget all this nightmare for he wants to drink it all pure and strong...
Oh gosh poor guy, you surely described his post shock of the war so well, the way he can't sleep, yet he's so restless and tired... He must be seeing the bloodbath each time he closes his eyes, and the way he just falls apart in puddles of tears pulling his own, probably sweat soaked, hair 😭
Man the way he begs for his family, maybe because of all the post trauma for the war and not wanting it to be reflected on his family, but maybe also all the acts that his comrades have committed that were considered blasphemous and so he is afraid that the Gods will release their wrath upon his family as punishment? Either way gosh the way he begs and the way he keeps repeating that he just wanted to go home is so heartbreaking... The price he took for all that he has done is breaking him apart in the middle of a desperate prayer 😢😢
The way Menelaus and Agamemnon go in and start praising him immediately completely contrasts with Odysseus weak and sarcastic response! He calls himself liar schemer and trickster with sarcastic aversion! And he considers his drunken state just one more shame! The poor guy really can't stand himself at this moment which you so well and sadly pointed out by him not knowing what to tell his wife and son after this...
And I really like how you described the others so perplexed with Odysseus reaction after the plan worked so well, and yet for Odysseus it didn't work well at all, at least not as he wanted with this level of suffering and so much blood that will never leave him...
I also loved how Agamemnon tried to speak yet couldn't face Odysseus eyes right afterwards! The way he makes him remember the wrath of the Gods really put some more thought into him, as well as him being reminded of their own losses of people like Achilles in the war. I really love when the dark sides of battles are portrayed this way!
The way Odysseus asked if this was all worth it, and what the Trojans actually did to deserve such a fate really made him jump and blame all of this talk in his drunken state! But in a way it seems it's because he himself doesn't want to think about it much, that he's avoiding facing the same void that Odysseus is contemplating! And Agamemnon can't face that these people were indeed also just trying to defend themselves and their land.
Menelaus seems to be indeed much more sympathetic and soft with Odysseus which clearly helps a lot, I like it how he doesn't want him to melt away in his demons like that and that he doesn't want him to blame himself for what others have done. The way Odysseus says he will take part in the celebration seems so sarcastic as well... yet a bit soft. And the way Menelaus says he won't mention his state to anyone! Poor guy must really look bad!!
I also like how Odysseus is so dismissive of the spoils, not really denying them but saying he will accept whatever, because he really is suffering with what was done to this place and people, he's ashamed so he doesn't want to relish himself in gains... And also because of past experiences, the poor guy is even weak in his jokes now!
It's very heartwarming how Odysseus badmouths himself claiming his lack of honor yet Menelaus tells him that for him he's the greatest of Greeks, it clearly touched Odysseus too and gave him at least some comfort in the middle of all the chaos and conflicted emotions he's going through... Aww his weak smile and that fact he only needed someone to acknowledge his suffering and he himself as a person is very deep ❤️ the small words sometimes speak the loudest.
Gosh and it ends with poor Odysseus thinking that he's finally going home after so much time and struggles, such a cruel fate for this poor man!!
"Stoping a king seems impossible, God help us with two." That's great hahaha so sweet to see his humour returning a bit! This is a perfect close to the beginning of fic, for he finally is able to rest and sleep thanks to the words of his companion ❤️
The ride was fantastic dear! You always outdo yourself with your writing! Always fantastic and so expressive with the scenes and character! Amazing work ✨✨❤️❤️💖💖
I commented on this before but I love how you have chosen the version where Neoptolemus throws the baby instead and has this tension with Odysseus!! I also don't see Odysseus as a baby killer but like I said before I see Caleb so much in Odysseus that it just became a reference, so that's probably why 😂😂
Oh gosh the girl being sacrificed like that at Achilles tomb is a damn gruesome detail! Can definitely see why it seems it is from the Trojan's perspective of things 😆 her caring for his tomb instead is much softer. Poor Odysseus did try his best to spare who he could...
I did know that mixing wine with water was common practice but didn't know it was unusual to drink wine without being mixed unless it was for dipping bread, that's very interesting!
I really liked the conflict between Odysseus and Neoptolemus, the way you made them be a contrast to each other was great ✨
Oh gosh yes the beaten up arrogant, almost crippled ugly guy that probably shouldn't even go to war in the first place 😂😂 and now being used as a threat hahaha
And of course the way Neoptolemus grabbed Odysseus by the balls with the death of Palamedes!
And Adromache didn't want or needed to hear any more...
Gosh the baby calling him papa was definitely the peak of it all, it was such a good and heartbreaking addition 😭
Oh boy with that comparison to that Tudors scene I can definitely imagine her distress as she screams for her lost baby 💔
Like I said above I really liked how you made Odysseus not want to get involved with the choices of the spoils it really shows his negative feelings towards the results of this war! And the way you portrayed his friendship with Menelaus is very touching indeed with those last words of encouragement ❤️
Once again fantastic work girl, truly great ✨✨✨💖💖💖🥰🥰
Continuing from Part 2
Guilt (P3 + Footnotes)
"Odysseus" Meriones approached him, "Are you alright?"
Odysseus winced in pain. He hadn't realized he had clenched his fist so hard that it hurt him. He unclenched it.
"Yes..." he whispered, "Yes, I'm fine..."
Odysseus moaned. That baby...the look at that infant's face...Astyanax was gone...he had given his place to Telemachus. Priam's slain face was Laërtes...mourning Andromache was his wife... He grasped his head with both hands.
"Damn you Neoptolemus! Damn you Helen for starting it! Damn you Menelaus for dragging me into this... Damn you Palamedes! Damn you all! Why should I have taken this blood upon me?! Why did it have to be me?!"
He sighed.
"Polites...I want to be alone for a little while..."
"Do you think that is wise...?" Polites asked with hidden meaning.
"Wise!" Odysseus voiced like an echo, "No, perhaps not but I got tired of being wise for now..."
Polites sighed.
"At least add some water to your wine...please Odysseus"
Odysseus dismissed him with a move of his hand. He wasn't much in the mood for anything at that moment. He knew war wouldn't be pleasant but these events of just one night were taking the cake. He was exhausted; sleepless for two nights and a full day and right now the Sacker of Cities, the Man of Many Ways was terrified. He collapsed again and his tears overflowed from his eyes, wetting the table below. He grasped his wet hair with his fingers as if he was ready to uproot them.
"Gods! Please Athena, please, I beg of you...if you love me...p-protect my son! Let the miasma fall on me! Not him! I-I...I just wanted to g-go home! I just wanted to see them again...my Penelope...my Telemachus...! I-I never meant for this to happen! P-Please...! I beg of you if you love me...p-protect my son! Don't let the gods' wrath fall upon their heads! P-Please...! F-Forgive me! I...I just...I just wanted to go home!"
He couldn't decide what to pray for first... Words cascaded out of his mouth without any coherent way or syntax. He only prayed desperately, wetting with his tears the table. Sun was already setting and Troy was taken...but at what cost...
*
Menelaus and Agamemnon entered Odysseus's hut one after the other.
"I gotta give it to you, Odysseus!" Agamemnon said, "You WERE telling the truth when you said you could take Troy in one night!"
Odysseus was collapsed upon his chair, looking at them with an unreadable expression to his face. The jug was resting empty somewhere after the feet of his seat.
"Hm..." he hummed, "That's me. I am the trickster, remember? I lie, I scheme and I trick. That is what I do"
Agamemnon raised a brow.
"Are you drunk?!" He asked in disbelief
"One more shame to add to the events of this night..." Odysseus replied bitterly.
"Shame? I do not understand. We finally sacked the city. You can finally go home."
"Home..." Odysseus whispered, "I wonder...what shall I say to Penelope when she asks? Or Telemachus? If he asks 'father what did you do and you were away?', 'I was at war, my son', 'did you fight honorably and sack many cities?'... What shall I say for what we've done...?"
"I do not understand you Odysseus. It was your idea"
"Yeah somehow I do not doubt it..." Odysseus mumbled bitterly, "I was wrong, Agamemnon. This was not what I imagined...what I planned..."
He sighed shifting his position a bit to his chair.
"Priam is dead, you know that..."
"Yeah, like we expected to-..."
"On the altar. On the freaking altar, Agamemnon..."
"Yeah I heard..."
"Imagine that happening to any of us...in our homelands. If one cannot respect the holy laws then what?"
He played a bit with his empty cup.
"Priam murdered on the altar...Cassandra raped mercilessly and now Ajax looks for shelter to the very same altar he dragged her out of, to avoid being stoned to death..." the king of Ithaca rubbed the bridge of his nose, "...death...death and fire everywhere..."
"Odysseus..." spoke Menelaus, "I understand that you are grieving, it was not easy or pleasant but..."
"The boy...he was the same age as my son! Thrown off the wall..."
"Odysseus" Agamemnon spoke again, "I honestly don't understand you. Others would fly from joy with your glory. You had a good plan and it worked. Thanks to you we can all go home."
Odysseus's eyes became bottomless. Even Agamemnon had to lower his gaze against it.
"The blasphemy put us under the anger of gods, Agamemnon. Remember that. Listen..."
Agamemnon seemed like indeed trying to listen something.
"The Trojans are not the only ones mourning. We lost many good men too. We lost Achilles. Or have you forgotten?"
Agamemnon sighed deeply.
"His loss...was tragic indeed" he finally said, "we had our differences but his loss was a great price..."
"Quite so..." Odysseus whispered, "was it really worth it? The price we had to pay to sack Troy?"
He shifted his weight to his chair lethargically. He rubbed his forehead with his free hand for a second. The dizziness bad settled for real in his brain. He leaned his head back again, earning a small cracking sound from his neck.
"And since we are at it, I have a question for you, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, the first among the Greeks... What did the Trojans REALLY do to us to deserve such an end?"
"You're drunk! You don't know what you're talking about!"
Odysseus snorted humorlessly.
"Oh, I am drunk, alright. But I know exactly what I am talking about. And you do too. They took Helen, sure, or at least one of them did. But their real crime against us was that they protected their lands...from us. That's what we would have done as well..."
Agamemnon was ready to speak again but Menelaus stopped him.
"Brother, that's enough"
He then turned ti Odysseus sympathetically.
"Look, Odysseus, I understand that it hurts and I am sorry too that I put you through that indirectly, but please do not melt away. No matter what the actions of others was not your choice."
Odysseus said nothing. He only sighed.
"Will you join us at the games later? You are the hero of the day. Your presence is asked for."
Odysseus scoffed.
"Oh I will be there, alright. I never miss a good party!"
Menelaus smiled sadly.
"Thank you, Odysseus...for everything. I really mean it... I will see you later, when you sober up a little..."
He looked at his friend and added;
"And...we shall mention none...of this" he pointed at him indicating his condition.
Odysseus soullessly nodded as if wanting to attempt some humor.
"Thanks...I appreciate it"
Agamemnon was ready to say something but apparently he decided against it. He only sighed and turned to leave before finally asking;
"Will you come to take a pick from the spoils? You deserve it given it was thanks to you we got in"
The tired king made a dismissive move with his hand.
"No. I'm fine with whatever. Just include me to the next lottery" he replied indifferently
"Are you sure? You deserve a better share"
Odysseus smiled humorlessly.
"Last time I chose and defended my choice, we lost Aias the Telamonian. I think we lost enough for one decade, don't you think?"
It was a failure of attempt for humor and he knew it but Agamemnon only sighed.
"Suit yourself" he said defeated, heading for the exit
Menelaus was about to do the same but apparently something made him stop and turn around.
"Odysseus?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you...truly... You gave me back my honor
Odysseus snorted again.
"With the cost of mine..." he whispered bitterly, "Not that anyone ever thought I had any..."
The king of Sparta, though, shook his head negatively.
"To me you will always be the greatest of all Greeks"
The man who endured all torments looked up and for the first tike a small smile rose to his dry lips. That word of kindness was what he needed for his tormented heart to feel some sort of hope. At least there was finally one who neither blamed him nor glorified him. Menelaus saw his torment and responded. That was enough.
"Thank you..." he whispered
Menelaus nodded his head in return.
"Now rest, my friend. We have a long way before us...we are going home..."
Home...the tormented king of Ithaca thought. Yes, finally they could go home. After 10 endless years they could finally embrace their families. Just few more months of journey and Odysseus could finally go home... All he had to do was to learn to live with what he did... He watched both the kings through his cloudy vision, getting out of his tent and Polites coming back in.
"I am sorry, Odysseus! I couldn't stop them!"
Odysseus dismissed him with a hand gesture once more.
"Don't sweat it, Polites. Stopping a king seems impossible. Gods help us with two!"
Polites smiled softly. At least he would gain some of his humor back, he thought.
"Help me get to my bed, Polites..." sighed Odysseus hoarsely, "I need to rest... I am very tired..."
~~~~
Oh gosh what have I done?! Hehehehe well not sorry...not really! 😆 I hope you enjoyed this ride.
As you see I tried incorporating some of the Epic Cycle to the situation but I did tamper around with the timeliness. The Epic Cycle is a lovely mess anyways and holds many contradictions with the homeric poems but it includes many things.
Now the fragmentary poem Iliou Persis is sven mentioned how Odysseus throws Astyanax off the walls but most sources have Neoptolemus donit and I do agree with those more. Now in Trojan Women by Eurypedes the messenger Talthybius tells Andromache that Odysseus schemed so that her son would be thrown off the walls and that he persuaded the Greeks they couldn't raise the baby. Odysseus doesn't strike much as a baby killer in Odyssey or even the Iliad although he is known for being cruel in his punishments (see the excecution of the 50 conspiring slave girls) but nowhere jn Odyssey does Odysseus refer to that fact even if he does speak of his regrets for other actions of his and if he HAD thrown Astyanax off the walls himself I doubt he wouldn't have made any reference to it so I believe that Iliou Persis should he treated like Telegony when it comes to the homeric poems; a bit contradictory to the homeric epics (unless there is some lost fragment that tells us how Odysseus went on a rampage he could not remember lol 😆 ) so I made a mixture of all the above to show how Odysseus "killed" Astyanax or subconsciously persuaded the Greeks to do it and I added the role of Talthybius here too.
Iliou Persis seems to also be the most violent form when it comes to the Greek side such as that they offer Priam's daughter Polyxene to Achilles's tomb as a sacrifice, thus causing the rage of Athena (I swear the thing was written by a Trojan lol 😆) Eurypedes mentions how Polyxene was offered as slave to Achilles symbolically so she should serve his tomb. I also added the detail of Odysseus trying to persuade Neoptolemus to choose her as his price to speak Andromache but his attempts are a failure.
Drunkenness was severely discouraged in ancient geeece thus the concern in Polites's words when Odysseus uses it as a coping mechanism for the traumatic events of the night. Moreover the Greeks always mixed their wine with water (thus having the modern name for wine in Greek κρασί which comes from the verb in ancient greek which means "to mix") the wine that was not watered was called άκρατον and it was qlmost never consumed unless dipped in bread. The analogy between wine and water depended.
In this story I depict Neoptolemus as somehow a nemesis to Odysseus. Similar to what Agamemnon or Hector were for Achilles. I have no idea why but the idea stuck with me especially since the two are the two candidates for the murder of Astyanax. Somehow I imagined them again as the polar opposites thus the two of them having tension.
Odysseus mentions Thersites who was beaten really badly by him in the Iliad. In other sources it is mentioned that Odysseus has him stoned to death after Theraites attempts treason. In this story Thersites was already dead.
I know that for Palamedes the most famous version of his end comes from Hygenius who writes how Odysseus frames him for treason. However Pausanias mentions from the Epic Cycle that Palamedes drowned at a fishing expedition and that "he believes the murderers were Odysseus and Diomedes". 🤔 somehow I wanted to use a lesser known version plus give a bit room to doubt for instance did Palamedes really fell by accident and Odysseus is guilty for not helping? Or perhaps Odysseus pushed him? Maybe he held him under? Dunno. Leave it to your imagination. I know is not so spicy as the framing story but bare with me hehehe
Talthybius here simply hears "it was Odysseus who planned it" thus sending that information yo Andromache without the rest of the details..
Astyanax uttering a word was totally random. If he were an infant a few months old or almost a year old in Iliad that means he would be around 1 to 1.5 years old when Troy fell so I thought it would be more impactful if the poor baby uttered a word before his end.
The interaction with Andromache was placed there for the dramatics and the impact. When Andromache screams "MY BOY!" I was inspired by the series "The Tudors" when Anne Boleyn laments her final miscarriage (by the way I think Natalie Dormer would make an amazing Andromache!)
The story with Palamedes was also added to make the connection between two mothers and their impact to Odysseus. Plus I thought it would make more sense if Odysseus was furious not only for being embarrassed or that he has to go to war but because Palamedes put his son in danger. (Of course Penelope would be part of that scheme!)
Odysseus refusing to participate at the choice of spoils was just a random detail but as a general rule from Eurypedes it seems that he eats the old Ekavi (Hecuba) as his slave (probably she would be to serve Penelope( so I imagined Odysseus wouldn't want to choose but getting whatever would be lucky for him to further implicate that he wouldn't want anything further to do with the war. He also mentions the incident when Telamonian Aias (aka the great Ajax) went mad when Odysseus won Achilles's armor from him and then he killed himself in shame.
I also wanted to portray the friendship between Menelaus and Odysseus which seems to be really strong since Menelaus always talks with the warmest words for Odysseus.
For further questions and analysis please ask me to the comment section or reblog etc!
I wanna also tag some of my best friends commenters rebloggers etc! Thank you guys! Sorry if I forget anyone!
@loco-bird @aaronofithaca05 @tunguszka20 @doob-or-something @jarondont @prompted-wordsmith @simugeuge @fangirlofallthefanthings
View between villages. Posting it here because apparently the YouTube video is unavailable in some regions agajsbs
