Priam’s Grief

With sorrow but no hint of bitterness, Priam pleaded for the return of his son's body. His directness touched Achilles, who now showed pity.

Achilles’ Heel

Yet Achilles own end was now near. As he pursued the Trojans again, Paris loosed an arrow at him. The god Apollo himself guided the shaft, and the poisoned tip struck the Greek in the heel, the only vulnerable part of his body.

Palladium

Troy could never fall so long as it was under the protection of the Palladium, an image of Pallas Athena said to have been cast down from heaven by the goddess herself.

The Trojan Horse

The Trojans woke to find the Greeks gone and the wooden horse towering above the plain.

Cassandra

When Cassandra was visiting Apollo's sanctuary one day, her beauty moved the god. As a mark of favor, he promised her the gift of prophecy. But in return he sought to have his way with her. Cassandra refused him. Apollo sought revenge.

Laocoon

Laocoon, a priest of Apollo, argued that the horse boded ill for Troy and must be destroyed. While the Trojans listened to Sinon's story, a pair of sea serpents, sent by Poseidon, slithered up the shore and seized Laocoon's sons. The priest tried to rescue them, but all three were devoured.

The Gates of Troy

At the same time the warriors inside the horse slipped out into the streets of the sleeping city. Hurrying to its entrances, they slit the throats of the guards and flung open the gates.

The Fall of Troy

Driven on by stories of the fabled wealth of Troy, the Greek soldiers embarked upon an orgy of rape and destruction. On soldiers and civilians alike, they took out all the frustrations built up in the course of nine years of war.

The Trojan Women

Meanwhile the women of the court were assigned as slaves to the Greek victors. Hector's widow Andromache fell to Neoptolemus, while Queen Hecuba was given to Odysseus.

Helen and Menelaus

Helen even convinced Menelaus that she did not willingly go with Paris. The two embraced, and Helen was forgiven.

Land of the Lotus-Eaters

Winds drove the fleet to the land of the Lotus-Eaters, in Libya. When three sailors went ashore to look for a supply of fresh water, the locals gave them their delicate fruit. Its heady taste made the travelers forget about home and yearn to stay put forever.

Polyphemus

After Polyphemus fell asleep, Odysseus and his men seized their chance. They sharpened a long wooden stake, heated it in the fire, and rammed it into the monster’s single eye.

Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds

The fleet sailed on and visited Aeolus, the keeper of the winds. He gave Odysseus a bag containing the east wind and sent up a westerly breeze that blew the Greeks all the way home

Circe

Protected by an enchanted flower given to him by Hermes, the gods’ messenger, Odysseus was immune to Circe’s spells. He found Circe surrounded by animals, previous victims of her magic. When her magic failed to transform Odysseus she grew fearful.

Land of the Dead

Among the spirits that swarmed around him, Odysseus was shocked to see the pale ghost of his mother, Anticlea, because he did not know that she was dead. As soon as she drank the dark blood from the sacrifice she recognized her son. Anticlea told him she had died of grief at his long absence. Odysseus tried three times to embrace her, but his arms passed through her shadowy body.

Sirens

The Sirens’ unbearably beautiful singing lured men to their deaths. Following Circe’s advice, Odysseus filled his sailors’ ears with beeswax so that they could not hear the songs.

Scylla and Charybdis

Scylla was a monster with six heads on long necks, who squatted on a cliff and snatched sailors as they passed. Charybdis sucked in a vast amount of water three times each day, creating a whirlpool capable of swallowing ships that sailed too close.

Calypso

Calypso fell in love with the handsome castaway and, after giving him food and wine, seduced him. Calypso held Odysseus captive on the island for seven years, but he soon grew tired of her and would sit staring forlornly out to sea, longing for home.

Hermes

Sea Nymph

Odysseus would have died if a sea nymph had not taken pity and helped him to shore. She gave him her shawl which protected him from drowning.

Nausikaa

Athena made the princess stand firm while Odysseus threw himself at her kness, asking for pity. She introduced herself to Odysseus as Nausikaa, daughter of Phaeacia’s king, Alcinous.

Odysseus Wept

At the feast of King Alcinous, the blind bard Demodocus stepped forward to entertain the diners with songs of the Trojan War. When the bard recounted Odysseus’ own adventures, the hero wept.

Odysseus Departs Phaeacia

The next morning, laden with gifts, Odysseus set sail from Phaeacia. He was so exhausted that he fell asleep on the voyage.

Athena Appears

When Odysseus awoke the ship was gone, and Athena appeared to tell him that he was in Ithaca. Warning him to keep his identity secret, she disguised him as a ragged beggar and sent him to stay with his loyal servant Eumaeus.

Odysseus Disguised

Again disguised as a beggar, Odysseus had Eumaeus take him to the palace to beg, which was a common practice at the time.

Penelope

Penelope confessed to having used deceit to avoid marrying the suitors. She would only remarry after weaving a shroud for Odysseus’ father, Laertes. She had made this task last for three years, unpicking at night what she sewed by day.

Penelope’s Test

Odysseus and Penelope Reunited

Realizing her husband, Odysseus, had returned, Penelope flung her arms around him. They went joyously to bed and recounted the difficulties they had endured during their long years apart.

Jason and Medea

With Medea's help, Jason managed to steal the fleece away from its guardian, a menacing dragon. Together, they fled Colchis as the sun began to rise.

Apollo and Daphne

Burning with desire, Apollo used all his considerable charm to seduce Daphne, but she rejected him. The chase went on until Daphne invoked Gaia, who transformed her into a laurel tree.