Yesterday Odysseus was
tragically blown off course in sight of his beloved home, Ithaca.This must be
heart-breaking for our hero who was so close to being reunited with his wife, Penelope and
young son, Telemachus.
Only a few days before Odysseus’s fleet had enjoyed the company of
King Aeolus on his floating island. For a month his weary men had rested there, looked
after by his six daughters and six sons. The king agreed to help Odysseus and gave him a
precious gift.
Aeolus is a friend of the gods and keeper of the winds. The gift he
gave our hero was a leather bag containing all of the winds except the west wind which was
to blow Odysseus and his fleet home. All went well and Ithaca’s coastline appeared on
the horizon. Then, catastrophe!
