A Night With… Odysseus: the Challenge of Return in a Changing World.

Join us for the new session of our discussion series “A Night With…”, where we dive into timeless myths and their universal messages.
Following our last session, where we explored the journey of Orpheus, this the time to delve into the nostos (gr. "homecoming") of Odysseus, and moreover into this complex but manifold character.

What to expect:

• I will open the meetup with a short introduction to Odysseus’ myth and share (or suggest) a few possible interpretations and connections.
• After that, the floor is yours! Bring your thoughts, reflections, and any links you see between this myth and other domains, e.g. literature, art, philosophy, psychology, history or even your own creative work.
• If you’re an artist and your work resonates with the divine twins' story, feel free to share it with the group.

Before the event:
Take 5 minutes to read the quick snippet of Odysseus’ myth (provided below👇🏽) and think of:

• A book, artwork, or personal reflection that relates to her story.
• Any modern parallels or insights you’d like to discuss.

This is a space for open dialogue, creativity, and shared exploration.

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### 🌊The story of Odysseus in Brief

🏛️ Chaper 1. Before Troy – The Mind of Odysseus
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, is not the strongest Greek hero—that is Achilles—but he is the most intelligent, strategic, and persuasive.
His defining traits:
Metis
Persuasion and diplomacy
Pragmatism:
Key early acts of wit:
1. Avoiding the war (feigned madness)
When Helen is taken to Troy, Odysseus tries to avoid joining the war. He pretends to be insane—ploughing the fields and sowing salt.
But Palamedes tests him by placing his infant son Telemachus in front of the plough. Odysseus swerves to avoid harming him, revealing his sanity.

2. Recruiting Achilles
Odysseus is sent to find Achilles, who is hidden among women to avoid war.
Odysseus cleverly lays out jewels and weapons; Achilles instinctively chooses the weapons, revealing himself.

3. The Oath of Tyndareus
Before Helen’s marriage, Odysseus had proposed a solution to avoid conflict: all suitors swear to defend the chosen husband.
This idea later binds the Greek kings together in the Trojan War.

⚔️ Chapter 2. The Trojan War – Strategy Over Strength
During the ten-year war, Odysseus becomes indispensable not for combat, but for turning points.
Key contributions:
1. The theft of the Palladium

2. The Trojan Horse (his greatest invention)

**🌊 Chapter 3. The *Nostos ***
After victory, Odysseus’ journey home takes another 10 years. This is where his intelligence is constantly tested, but also where his flaws emerge.
Main episodes:
🧠 The Cyclops (Polyphemus)
👉 This triggers Poseidon’s curse
🍃 The Bag of Winds
🧙 Circe
⚰️ The Underworld
🎶 The Sirens
⚖️ Scylla and Charybdis
🏝️ Calypso

🏠Chapter 4. Return to Ithaca
After 20 years, Odysseus returns, but does not reveal himself.
His palace is overrun by suitors. They consume his wealth and pressure Penelope to remarry.
He returns as a beggar, observes before acting, thus testing loyalty (servants, son Telemachus, wife).
Gradually reveals himself only to trusted individuals:
Telemachus and a few loyal servants
Penelope in her final attempt to stop the suitors, launches a challenge:
only the man who can string Odysseus’ bow can marry her.
None succeed. Odysseus (in disguise) strings it effortlessly. He reveals himself and kills them.

⚖️ Chapter 5. After Ithaca: Beyond the Happy Ending
The story doesn’t simply end with victory.
Families of the suitors seek revenge, and civil conflict threatens Ithaca.
Athena intervenes by imposing peace
Ends the cycle of violence.

📃📜Principal ancient sources:

• Homer, Iliad
• Homer, Odyssey
• Sophokles, Ajax, Philoktetes
• Euripides, Hecuba, Cyclops
• Ovid, Metamorphoses
• Virgil, Aeneid
• Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia - Inferno

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