Book X · Episode 1 of 6
Aeolus and the Laestrigonians
Winds wasted, Laestrigonians wreck fleet
Scenes
- Aeolus’s Gift of Winds — Aeolus gives Odysseus bound winds
- Isle belongs to Aeolus, son of Hippotas
- Halls ring with feasting and pipe music
- King keeps him a full month
- He asks about Troy and Greeks’ voyage
- Only the west wind is left free
- Crew Opens the Bag — Crew looses winds while Odysseus sleeps
- Nine days pass with Ithaca in sight
- Odysseus had steered the ship alone
- Crew suspects hidden gold and silver
- Freed winds sweep ship back to sea
- Their own greed undoes the homecoming
- Return to Aeolus — Odysseus admits fault, begs help
- Odysseus leaves his men at the ships
- He brings only a herald and companion
- Finds the king feasting with family
- Hosts wonder what god opposes him
- He blames careless crew and his sleep
- Aeolus’s Refusal — Aeolus calls him god-hated, drives him off
- Household falls silent at his return
- Aeolus names him vilest of men
- He denies any further aid
- Men row on in sorrow
- Hope for easy return fades
- Laestrigonian Harbor — Fleet moors, Odysseus waits outside
- Six days at sea precede landfall
- Nights are short, shepherds pass each other
- Cliffs ring a harbor of calm water
- Other captains crowd inside the harbor
- He ties his cable to a rock
- Massacre of the Fleet — Laestrigonians devour scout, spear crews
- Odysseus spots smoke from a headland
- He sends two men and a herald
- The king devours one, two escape
- Boulders rain down from the cliffs
- Every other ship and crew is lost