Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca / Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece

e Odysseus was delayed by the fair nymph Calypso on her island, where she made her home in a cool and beautiful grotto. There he wept and mourned,

god fell on him and he was wrecked. One day all the other gods had assembled in the hall of Zeus, on Mount Olympos, when Athena, the favorite daughter of Zeus a

y from home, and suffers greatly; for a nymph lives on the island, the daughter of great Atlas, and with sweet words she strives to make Odysseus

ickly. He bound his winged sandals to his feet, and, taking his golden wand in his hand, flew like a meteor over land and sea till he reached

ter bubbling, and the fragrance of strange flowers filled the air. When Hermes had gazed upon these wonders he entered th

nectar and ambrosia, invited him to eat and drink. After he had finished his repast, Hermes told her that Zeus had sent him to her with the com

, my unhappy friend, do not waste thy life any longer in sorrow. The end of thy grief has come. Arise and prepare to depart for thy home. Build thee a raft of the trunks of trees which thou

hought in thy mind, and that thou dost not wish to send me home when thou biddest me sail over this stormy and dangerous sea. I

r is well made. I will pledge thee a solemn oath, by the heavens and the earth, and the waters of the Styx, that I

t down on his throne and the nymph brought him rich food and wine. Then she took a seat opposite him, and her attendants

e he could reach his native land. While she was relating these things the sun sank down, and da