Greek Mythology and Ulysses' Journey

Questions and Answers

Who are the three ruling gods in Greek mythology and which parts of the world does each one rule?

Hades - God of the underworld (correct)

Poseidon - God of the sky

Zeus - God of the sea

Zeus - God of the sky (correct)

Why did Aphrodite give Paris the golden apple?

Aphrodite promised Paris that he could have any woman he looked upon with desire.

Why did the Greeks attack Troy?

Paris took Helen away from her husband and took her to Troy.

Who are Penelope and Telemachus?

Penelope was Ulysses' wife and Telemachus was their son. Signup and view all the answers

How many men does Ulysses start with?

Ulysses sailed from Troy with 150 men. Signup and view all the answers

What are their boats like?

The ships are long, narrow rowboats with twenty oars on each side. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of the boats?

The sails could only be raised for fair wind, leaving them vulnerable to weather. Signup and view all the answers

How does greed lead the men into trouble in this episode?

Greed leads the sailors to attack the island for more treasures. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eurylochus want Ulysses to kill him?

Eurylochus believes that if Ulysses kills him, perhaps the Gods will be appeased. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the lotus flower?

The lotus flower makes you sleepy and induces dreams if eaten. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ulysses dream of?

Ulysses dreams of monsters, blood, death, and shipwrecks. Signup and view all the answers

How does Ulysses demonstrate strength in this episode?

He loads all his men into three ships, ties them together, and sails away. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Ulysses fear a mutiny?

He fears a mutiny because his men are hungry and blaming him. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Cyclopes.

The Cyclopes is large, has one eye, and hands as big as baling hooks. Signup and view all the answers

How is the wine useful to Ulysses?

Ulysses convinces the Cyclopes to drink it, causing him to get sleepy. Signup and view all the answers

How many men are killed in the cave?

Three men were killed in the cave by the Cyclopes. Signup and view all the answers

How do they escape?

They hold on to the stomachs of the goats and escape. Signup and view all the answers

How does Ulysses's hubris (pride) bring him trouble?

Ulysses taunted the Cyclopes, which angered him. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Aeolus?

Aeolus is the keeper of the winds. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aeolus offer to help Ulysses?

Aeolus offers help because Ulysses tells him great stories. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aeolus give to Ulysses?

Aeolus gives Ulysses a sack of winds and a nice western wind. Signup and view all the answers

How does greed interfere with this gift?

Ulysses' men thought there was gold in the bag and opened it while he slept. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Greek Mythology Ruling Gods

Zeus governs the sky, lightning, thunder, law, order, and justice; he is the chief deity among gods.
Poseidon is the god of the sea, ruling over all aquatic realms.
Hades oversees the underworld, dealing with matters of death and the deceased.

The Golden Apple and the Trojan War

Aphrodite promised Paris the opportunity to have any woman he desired in exchange for the golden apple.
The Greeks attacked Troy to retrieve Helen, who was taken by Paris, igniting the Trojan War.

Ulysses’ Family

Penelope is Ulysses' loyal wife, remaining faithful during his 20-year absence in war.
Telemachus, Ulysses' son, was an infant when Ulysses left for the war.

Ulysses’ Journey and Men

Ulysses commenced his voyage from Troy with three ships, totaling 150 men (50 per ship).

Ship Characteristics

The ships are elongated rowboats with twenty oars on each side and a ram at the bow, featuring a polished shaft with a sharp brass tip.
Square sails limit their ability to navigate; they can only be raised in favorable winds, making ships vulnerable to weather conditions and difficult to provision for long journeys.

Encounter with the Ciconians

Greed drove Ulysses' men to attack the Ciconians for more treasures despite already having ample booty, resulting in significant losses including treasures, damage to the ships, and the deaths of 18 men.

Eurylochus' Dilemma

Eurylochus suggested that Ulysses kill him as an offering to appease the gods after realizing he may have led the crew astray.

Effects of the Lotus Flower

Consuming the lotus flower induces sleepiness and dreamy states, endangering men who partake.
Ulysses dreams disturbingly of monsters, bloodshed, and shipwrecks.

Ulysses' Strength and Leadership

Demonstrating his strength, Ulysses secured all his men in three ships, tying them together for a coordinated escape.

The Cyclopes Encounter

Ulysses feared mutiny due to his men’s hunger and growing discontent.
The Cyclopes, described as gigantic and one-eyed, presents a formidable challenge.
Ulysses uses wine to intoxicate the Cyclopes, allowing escape while hiding under goats' stomachs.

Losses and Consequences in the Cave

Three of Ulysses' men are killed by the Cyclopes during the encounter.
Ulysses’ pride leads him to taunt the Cyclopes, prompting the Cyclopes to pray to Poseidon for retribution against Ulysses, condemning him to wander for years and return home in shame.

Keeper of the Winds

Aeolus serves as the keeper of the winds, able to summon and direct them.
He helps Ulysses after being entertained by tales of Ulysses’ adventures and cunning.

Aeolus' Gift

Aeolus provides Ulysses a sack containing all winds and offers a favorable westerly wind to expedite his return to Ithaca.
Greed affects Ulysses and his men when they suspect treasure within the sack, leading them to open it while Ulysses sleeps, releasing chaotic winds that hinder their journey and force them back to Aeolus for assistance.

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Description

Explore the intriguing tales of Greek mythology, focusing on ruling gods like Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Delve into the legendary story of Ulysses, his family dynamics, and the specifics of his voyage. This quiz covers key characters, events, and the iconic Trojan War.