Land of the Lotus-Eaters

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Odysseus was impatient to be home in Ithaca, but soon after he set sail from Troy storms blew his fleet off course and he came to land in Thrace. With his followers he attacked and burned the city of the Cicones, putting the men who defended it to the sword, but he spared Maro, a priest of Apollo, who gave the hero several skins of sweet wine. As Odysseus and his followers rested on the beach, Ciconians from further inland launched a savage reprisal raid, killing many Greeks and forcing the others to flee by sea.

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. Eventually Odysseus and some of his followers went looking for the missing men. They too were tempted to stay and taste the fruit, but they managed to restrain themselves. Grabbing their shipmates, they dragged them back to the vessel.