Dear Penelope,
I am sorry I have not come home yet in these near 20 years, but the gods have not been happy with me. After the battle at Troy we (my ships and I) forgot to thank all the gods properly. The Father Zeus sent a storm that blew us off course. We then arrived at the land of the Lotus Eaters. Then we traveled to an island where, unknown to us, Polyphemus the Kyklopes lived. There he held us prisoner, but we eventually escaped, through a plan of my making. We visited King Aiolos, the wind king, and he gave us a gift-- all the winds that would blow us off course trapped in a bag. When we approached the shores of Ithaka I fell asleep and my crew opened the bag, releasing the winds, and blowing us to the island of the Laistrygons. There all the men but the ones on my ship were eaten. We escaped and on a goddess's advice went to the land of Hades. There I heard a prophecy and saw some of the heroes of old, like Herakles. Then we passed by the island of the Seirenes and I the lone man to hear their song and live. We then traveled through the straits of Skylla and passed between the two monsters Skylla and Kharybdis. We then landed on the island of the sacred cattle of Helios, where the gods sent me into a slumber and the men killed the cattle for food. Once we left, the Father Zeus sent a bolt down from the sky to tear my ship apart. Now I am on my way home to you, my love.
Your faithful husband,
Odysseus, Son of Laertes.
I am sorry I have not come home yet in these near 20 years, but the gods have not been happy with me. After the battle at Troy we (my ships and I) forgot to thank all the gods properly. The Father Zeus sent a storm that blew us off course. We then arrived at the land of the Lotus Eaters. Then we traveled to an island where, unknown to us, Polyphemus the Kyklopes lived. There he held us prisoner, but we eventually escaped, through a plan of my making. We visited King Aiolos, the wind king, and he gave us a gift-- all the winds that would blow us off course trapped in a bag. When we approached the shores of Ithaka I fell asleep and my crew opened the bag, releasing the winds, and blowing us to the island of the Laistrygons. There all the men but the ones on my ship were eaten. We escaped and on a goddess's advice went to the land of Hades. There I heard a prophecy and saw some of the heroes of old, like Herakles. Then we passed by the island of the Seirenes and I the lone man to hear their song and live. We then traveled through the straits of Skylla and passed between the two monsters Skylla and Kharybdis. We then landed on the island of the sacred cattle of Helios, where the gods sent me into a slumber and the men killed the cattle for food. Once we left, the Father Zeus sent a bolt down from the sky to tear my ship apart. Now I am on my way home to you, my love.
Your faithful husband,
Odysseus, Son of Laertes.