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The Odyssey - One of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer
Auteur(s) Homer (A01)
Editeur(s) CULTUREA
Rayon(s) Oeuvres classiques, LITTÉRATURE GÉNÉRALE
Ean :
9791043131189
Date de parution :
04/02/2026
Résumé : Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, chronicles the arduous ten-year journey of the Greek hero Ulysses (Odysseus) as he strives to return home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. The narrative begins with Telemachus, Ulysses's son, guided by Pallas Athena, embarking on his own quest to Pylos and Sparta to find news of his long-lost father, who is revealed to be held captive by the nymph Calypso on her island. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, a multitude of suitors consume Ulysses's estate and pressure his wife, Penelope, to remarry. Telemachus consults with Nestor and Menelaus, who recount their experiences during and after the Trojan War.Ulysses's own journey begins with his departure from Calypso's island. After a shipwreck caused by Neptune, he is rescued by the sea-nymph Ino Leucothea and lands on the island of Scheria, home of the Phaeacians. There, he is discovered by Nausicaä and welcomed by King Alcinoüs and Queen Aretè, to whom he recounts his incredible adventures. These include perilous encounters with the Ciconians, the intoxicating Lotus-Eaters, and the brutal Cyclops Polyphemus, whom he blinds. He also details his visit to Aeolus, god of winds, whose gift is squandered by his crew, leading to a storm, and a devastating encounter with the cannibalistic Laestrigonians. Ulysses recounts his year-long stay on Circè's island, where she transformed his men into swine before restoring them, and his journey to the Land of the Dead to consult the prophet Tiresias, where he conversed with the souls of his mother, Agamemnon, and Achilles. Further perils include navigating the treacherous Sirens, the monstrous Scylla and Charybdis, and the destruction of his crew after they slaughter the Sun's sacred cattle, leaving Ulysses as the sole survivor.Upon finally arriving in Ithaca, disguised as an old beggar by Athena, Ulysses reunites with his loyal swineherd Eumaeus. Telemachus, having returned from his journey, meets his disguised father, and they begin to plot their vengeance against the suitors. Ulysses endures insults from the suitors and servants in his own palace, is recognized by his old dog Argus (who then dies), and later by his old nurse Eurycleia through a distinctive scar. Penelope, unaware of his true identity, expresses her grief and questions the disguised stranger.The climax unfolds as Penelope proposes a bow contest, which only Ulysses can win. Revealing his true identity, Ulysses, aided by Telemachus, Eumaeus, Philoetius, and Pallas Athena, slaughters all the insolent suitors. The disloyal household staff are punished, while loyal individuals are spared. The epic concludes with Ulysses's long-awaited reunion with Penelope, who tests his identity with the secret of their immovable bed. He then recounts his arduous journey and adventures to her, and later reunites with his aging father Laertes. When the Ithacans, led by Eupeithes, seek revenge for the slain suitors, Pallas Athena intervenes to stop the conflict and broker a lasting peace, finally restoring order to Ithaca and Ulysses's household.
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