Book XII · Episode 1 of 5
Circè’s Counsel
Odysseus buries Elpenor, Circè warns
Scenes
- Funeral and Return — Crew buries Elpenor, Circè arrives
- Men fell trees and weep over him
- They burn his corpse with his armor
- Mound rises with his oar atop
- Circè senses their return unprompted
- She brings maids with bread, meat, wine
- Circè’s Farewell Feast — Circè feasts them, pledges to warn
- She calls them fated to die twice
- She vows to chart their course
- Crew eats and drinks until sunset
- That night, Circè draws Odysseus aside
- He recounts his journey to her faithfully
- Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis — Circè describes Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis
- Sirens lure sailors from a bone-strewn meadow
- Men’s ears get sealed with wax
- He alone lashes himself to the mast
- Scylla snatches one sailor per ship
- Charybdis whirlpool swallows the sea itself
- Circè’s Final Warnings — Circè warns to spare Helios’ cattle
- Circè rebukes his wish to fight Scylla
- She calls the monster unconquerable
- Arming himself only invites more losses
- Nymphs Lampelia and Phaethusa guard the herds
- Sparing them ensures safe passage to Ithaca