The Odyssey Book Xii Summary

The odyssey book 12.

The odyssey book xii summary. Because odysseus promised elpenor in the land of the dead that he would give him a proper burial he returned to circe s island to give him his funeral rites. Circe is helpful once more providing supplies and warnings about the journey to begin the next dawn. Book 12 the cattle of the sun.

Odysseus returns to aeaea where he buries elpenor and spends one last night with circe. They gave elpenor the proper burial rites just as odysseus had promised elpenor s spirit. Odysseus continues telling his tale to alcinous and the phaeacians.

Before they departed the. Greek mythology odyssey scylla pages. When he and his men reached the entrance to the world of the dead they did exactly as circe said.

She describes the obstacles that he will face on his voyage home and tells him how to negotiate them. Odysseus resumes his narrative. There is a great heap of dead men s bones lying all around with the flesh still rotting off them.

Before odysseus and his men depart circe told odysseus that he must pass the island of the sirens who will try to lure the men to their deaths with their songs. Book 12 odysseus returns to aeaea where he buries elpenor and spends one last night with circe. First the greeks must get past the sirens whose irresistible songs lure sailors into their island s coastal reefs.

Circe gives them a feast and at night warns odysseus of the dangers his ship will face tomorrow. If any one unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the sirens his wife and children will never welcome him home again for they sit in a green field and warble him to death with the sweetness of their song. Odysseus and his men returned to aeaea from the land of the dead.