The Odyssey-Book Eleven

Book Eleven

Odysseus arrives at the River of Oceans and performs a sacrificial ceremony as he was instructed to do by Circe. Odysseus performs this ritual by digging a hole, and in that hole he first pours milk and honey then wine and water. Over this he then pours white barley meal. He then promises the dead that when he returns to Ithica he will sacrifice a female cow, laden with many gifts. He also promises Tiresias the best black ram that he has. Souls begin to appear and speak to him. A few of the souls that appear include Elpenor, who wants Odysseus to go back to Circe's island and bury him properly. He then learns from Tiresias that Poseidon is punishing he and his men for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus' eye. Next, Odysseus is told that he will return home only to see his wife, son, and to get rid of the suitors, but then he must travel to another island to please Poseidon. Odysseus is warned to not touch "the flocks of the sun" when he arrives in Thrinacia because if he does, he will go through many more hardships and face challenges that will eliminate all of his remaining men. Odysseus then speaks to his mother, Anticleia, who first fills him in on the happenings in Ithica since he's been away, and then tells him how she died of grief waiting for his return to Ithica. Odysseus speaks to many other heroes and famous men as well. When in Hades, Odysseus meets many different souls. Achilles, who inquires inquires after his son. Ajax who refuses to speak to Odysseus on acount of the incident when Ajax lost a competition/contest against Odysseus, this which led Ajax to kill himself. Many spirits begin to ask him many questions, and Odysseus is frightened by this. He runs back to his ship and sails away at once.