Travelers Tales:
When I first got the idea of traveling to Ithaca I was really excited. Not only because I knew I would love the island's natural beauty since the Ionian islands are famous for their fantastic turquoise beaches drowned in greeneries and endless blue scapes. But also because of the great myth that connects the island of Ithaca with Homer's epic poem Odyssey. Since our school years, here in Cyprus, we were taught about Cavafy's Ithaca. So many hours spent analyzing the meanings and lessons resulting from his words. His lyrics became a life's guidance and way of thinking. Here are a few pieces from the poem translated in English (from the site: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/ithaki-ithaki-ithaka.html-0):
"But don't rush the journey at all
it better lasts for many years,
and then when you 're old to stay in the island,
wealthy with all you've gained on the way
without expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the beautiful journey;
without her you wouldn't have set out
there's nothing else to give you anymore.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't fooled you;
now that you became wise with so much experience
you should have already understood what Ithakas mean."
[Hey guys,
so you didn't actually believe that I would leave you with just one piece on the Kingdom of the Great Odysseus? Yes that's right, we are staying for one more week in beautiful Ithaca to discover and talk about the Myths that lay beneath.
When I first got the idea of traveling to Ithaca I was really excited. Not only because I knew I would love the island's natural beauty since the Ionian islands are famous for their fantastic turquoise beaches drowned in greeneries and endless blue scapes. But also because of the great myth that connects the island of Ithaca with Homer's epic poem Odyssey. Since our school years, here in Cyprus, we were taught about Cavafy's Ithaca. So many hours spent analyzing the meanings and lessons resulting from his words. His lyrics became a life's guidance and way of thinking. Here are a few pieces from the poem translated in English (from the site: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/ithaki-ithaki-ithaka.html-0):
"But don't rush the journey at all
it better lasts for many years,
and then when you 're old to stay in the island,
wealthy with all you've gained on the way
without expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the beautiful journey;
without her you wouldn't have set out
there's nothing else to give you anymore.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't fooled you;
now that you became wise with so much experience
you should have already understood what Ithakas mean."
A myth tale lover as I would like to be, I searched for clues to find out if Ithaca really is the home island and Kingdom of the Great Ulysses (Odysseus in Latin). Truth is that it's under debate. As it seems there is not enough evidence advocating more in favor or against it. But my mind was already set. This year I was going to visit for the first time Homer's Ithaca.
So who was this great man Ulysses anyway and why so much fuss around his name? And what was it that inspired Cavafy to write these lyrics? Odysseus was the King of Ithaca; a very clever and cunning man. An eloquent speaker; a charlatan. He had a mythical life. A life filled with battles, tragedy, decision-making, courage and above all filled with the blue colors of the sea. He was the son of Laertes and Antikleia. Married to Penelope with which he had a son, Telemachus. Penelope waited for Odysseus for twenty years to come back to her and remained faithful to him despite all the pressure taken by potential suitors who besieged her.
Odysseus though being reluctant to join the excursion, he fought in the Trojan war and was one of Agamemnon's greatest Generals. After the end of the Trojan war, which lasted ten years, his journey back to Ithaca was chronicled in Odyssey. It took him another ten years of misfortune and adventures to return to his family.
Odysseus journey back home began with the company of his men. Together they overcame the island of the Lotus-eaters. The Lotus-eaters did them no harm but they gave them to eat of the lotus plants. This drug was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home. So as a strong and clever leader Odysseus was, forced them back to the ships and made them leave the island.
Unfortunately in their next adventure on the island of Polyphemus, a giant Cyclope and son of the God of sea Poseidon, Ulysses awoke the God's anger towards him. Polyphemus, a savage giant attacked Odysseus men, and so the great warrior blinded him with the help of his soldiers. This made Poseidon turn even more against him. Offending him caused numerous delays in Odysseus' sea voyage back home.
After that they reached Aeolos island. Aeolos himself, God of the winds, gave him a bag. This bag had inside all the winds but the ones that would favor them back to Ithaca. But when they finally reached the island, Odysseus men opened the bag of winds causing a storm that destroyed their ships and dragged them to the island of Laestrygonians.
Their next challenge was landing to the island of Circe. Circe was renowned for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs. Through the use of these and a magic wand, she transformed her enemies, or those who offended her, into wild beasts. So she did to some of Odysseus men, and transformed them into wild pigs. Fortunately Eurylochos, one of his men who suspected her, warned Odysseus of this. Odysseus went to their rescue and managed with Hermes guidance and help to surpass Circe's enchantments and spells. Circe being attracted to Odysseus resistance, fell in love with him and released his men. Odysseus and his crew remained on the island with her for one year, feasting and drinking.
Finally though Odysseus and his men guided by Circe's instructions crossed the ocean to reach a harbor, where Odysseus sacrificed to the dead and summoned the spirit of the old prophet Tiresias to give him advice. Next he met the spirit of his mother and others who all advised them on the remaining stages of their journey.
So they skirted the land of the Sirens and passed between the six-headed monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis, where they rowed directly between the two. Finally they landed on the island of Thrinacia. There, Odysseus' men ignored the warnings of Tiresias and Circe and hunted down the sacred cattle of the sun God Helios. Big mistake of them since Helios told Zeus what happened and demanded Odysseus' men to be punished or else he would take the sun and shine it in the Underworld. Zeus fulfilled Helios' demands by causing a shipwreck during a thunderstorm in which all but Odysseus drowned.
So Ulysses washes ashore alone on the island of Ogygia, where Calypso compels him to remain as her lover for seven years. He finally escapes when Hermes under the instructions of Zeus, tells Calypso to release Odysseus. Odysseus is shipwrecked and befriended by the Phaecians. After telling them his story, the Phaeacians, led by King Alcinous, agree to help Odysseus get home. They deliver him at night, while he is fast asleep, to a hidden harbor on Ithaca. He finds his way to the hut of one of his own former slaves, the swineherd Eumaeus, and also meets up with Telemachus returning from Sparta. Goddess Athena disguises Odysseus as a wandering beggar to learn how things stand in his household.
When the disguised Odysseus returns after 20 years, he is recognized only by his faithful dog, Argos. Penelope announces in her long interview with the disguised hero that whoever can string Odysseus' rigid bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe shafts may have her hand.
When the contest of the bow begins, none of the suitors is able to string the bow of Apollo but then, after all the suitors have given up, the disguised Odysseus comes along, bends the bow, shoots the arrow, and wins the contest. Having done so, he proceeds to slaughter the suitors with help from Telemachus and two of his servants. Finally Ulysses had to fight one final battle against the relatives of the slaughtered suitors who planned to avenge the killing of the Suitors, their sons. However Goddess Athena intervenes and persuades both sides to make peace.
And so this is the end to Odysseus' Tale. A marine tale filled with anxiety and continuous obstacles. Until the very ending, reaching Ithaca, Odysseus had to prove himself and fight for his Kingdom all over again. He was a hero, a true warrior who fought in the Trojan war. A brave man who made his way past mythical creatures, enchantments, witches and nymphs and Gods' anger. But he never stopped trying to reach his destination. And although he did reach Ithaca what mattered the most was his journey back home. All the precious experiences and memories. All the knowledge gained enough to leave another ten lives. And all these make me think. Does it really matter if Ithaca is the real physical place where Ulysses' Kingdom has been? Do we really need proof? A Myth so great as the journey of Ulysses back home, has so many lessons to teach us that the truth is really an irrelevant sense. So don't be afraid to get carried away in some Myth Tale telling and feel the mystery and mythical atmosphere that the island of Ithaca has to offer every unsuspecting tourist coming to visit...
MK]
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