Greek PantheonJourney
The Odyssey
The voyage of Odysseus
Odysseus's legendary 10-year journey home from the Trojan War, facing monsters, gods, and temptations along the way.
The route
The map illustrates the story's route. Pins are not evidence of an exact historical itinerary; some places are disputed or mythical.
Troy
The legendary city where Odysseus fought for 10 years in the Trojan War. His cunning strategy of the Wooden Horse finally brought victory to the Greeks.
Construction of the Wooden Horse, Fall of Troy, Departure for home
Read Odyssey · Book 8 (opens in a new tab)
Read about TroyStop by stop
Troy
The legendary city where Odysseus fought for 10 years in the Trojan War. His cunning strategy of the Wooden Horse finally brought victory to the Greeks.
Read Odyssey · Book 8 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Construction of the Wooden Horse; Fall of Troy; Departure for home
Land of the Cicones
First stop after leaving Troy. Odysseus and his men raided the city of Ismarus, but stayed too long celebrating their victory.
Read Odyssey · Book 9 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Raid on Ismarus; Counterattack by Ciconian reinforcements; Loss of 72 men
Land of the Lotus Eaters
A land where the inhabitants ate the lotus flower, which caused forgetfulness. Some of Odysseus's men ate the lotus and forgot their desire to return home.
Read Odyssey · Book 9 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Discovery of the lotus eaters; Rescue of affected crew members; Forced departure
Island of the Cyclopes
Home of Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon. Odysseus blinded him to escape, earning Poseidon's eternal wrath.
Read Odyssey · Book 9 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Trapped in Polyphemus's cave; Blinding of the Cyclops; Escape under the sheep; Odysseus reveals his name
Aeolia (Island of Aeolus)
The floating island of Aeolus, keeper of the winds. He gave Odysseus a bag containing all unfavorable winds, but curious crew members opened it near Ithaca.
Read Odyssey · Book 10 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Hospitality of Aeolus; Gift of the wind bag; Sight of Ithaca; Crew opens the bag; Blown back to Aeolia
Land of the Laestrygonians
Home of the giant cannibals who destroyed 11 of Odysseus's 12 ships by hurling boulders from the cliffs.
Read Odyssey · Book 10 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Arrival at the harbor; Attack by giant cannibals; Destruction of the fleet; Only Odysseus's ship escapes
Aeaea (Circe's Island)
Island of the enchantress Circe, who turned Odysseus's men into pigs. With Hermes's help, Odysseus resisted her magic and became her lover for a year.
Read Odyssey · Book 10 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Men transformed into pigs; Hermes provides moly herb; Odysseus resists Circe's magic; Year-long stay; Instructions for the Underworld
The Underworld
Following Circe's instructions, Odysseus sailed to the edge of the world to consult the prophet Tiresias in the realm of the dead.
Read Odyssey · Book 11 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Blood sacrifice to summon spirits; Meeting with Tiresias; Encounter with his mother Anticlea; Seeing fallen heroes
Island of the Sirens
Home of the Sirens, whose enchanting song lured sailors to their deaths. Odysseus had his men plug their ears with wax while he listened tied to the mast.
Read Odyssey · Book 12 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Crew's ears filled with wax; Odysseus bound to the mast; Hearing the Sirens' song; Successful passage
Strait of Scylla and Charybdis
The narrow strait between the six-headed monster Scylla and the deadly whirlpool Charybdis. Odysseus chose to pass closer to Scylla, losing six men.
Read Odyssey · Book 12 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Navigation of the deadly strait; Six men devoured by Scylla; Avoidance of Charybdis
Thrinacia (Island of the Sun)
Sacred island where the cattle of the sun god Helios grazed. Despite warnings, the starving crew slaughtered the cattle, bringing divine punishment.
Read Odyssey · Book 12 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Warnings about the sacred cattle; Trapped by storms for a month; Crew slaughters the cattle; Zeus destroys the ship; All crew perish except Odysseus
Ogygia (Calypso's Island)
The remote island of the nymph Calypso, who kept Odysseus as her lover for seven years, offering him immortality if he would stay.
Read Odyssey · Book 5 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Shipwrecked and alone; Calypso's offer of immortality; Seven years of captivity; Zeus orders his release; Building of the raft
Scheria (Land of the Phaeacians)
Island of the seafaring Phaeacians, where Odysseus was washed ashore and found by Princess Nausicaa. King Alcinous heard his story and provided passage home.
Read Odyssey · Book 6 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Shipwreck in the storm; Discovery by Nausicaa; Hospitality of King Alcinous; Telling of his adventures; Gifts and safe passage home
Ithaca
Odysseus's homeland, where Penelope had waited faithfully for 20 years, fending off the suitors who sought her hand and Odysseus's throne.
Read Odyssey · Book 13 (opens in a new tab)
Events: Return in disguise; Reunion with Telemachus; The test of the bow; Slaughter of the suitors; Reunion with Penelope
About this journey
By Elizabeth Stein for Mythos Atlas. About the author. Editorial notes are grounded in the site's cited sources and can be challenged through the contact page.
Routes follow the named source; other tellings order or place the stops differently.