Odyssey – Chapter 1 | Free comic to read online

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The story of Ulysses

After ten long years of war, the Greeks managed to conquer Troy thanks to the cunning of Ulysses.

All the kings of Greece returned to their homeland... except one.

Ulysses has not yet returned home. Where is he? Is he dead?

No, Ulysses is not dead. He is protected by the goddess Athena. He faced countless adventures, determined to return to Ithaca..

On Mount Olympus the gods decide his fate.

Athena, protector of Ulysses, is worried about him and turns to Zeus.

FATHER ZEUS, Ulysses is a prisoner OF A SPELL of the goddess Calypso on the island of Ogygia.

Although Calypso loves him, Odysseus longs to return to Ithaca, to his wife Penelope.

I know that Ulysses wants to return. It's not me holding him back, but Poseidon, who hates him.

Ulysses deserves my wrath! He blinded my son Polyphemus!

But it's time for this persecution to end! Ithaca needs the king of her!

I will send Hermes to Ogygia to order Calypso to let Ulysses go! even if Ogygia is very far away, Ulysses will be able to build a raft and return home!

Hermes, the messenger of the gods, leaves for Ogygia with an important assignment.

WHAT HAPPENS IN ITACA MY SISTER?

ARES YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IN ITHACA, Odysseus' family is overwhelmed with anticipation and uncertainty.

Twenty years ago, Odysseus married the beautiful Penelope.

Now, in his absence, the palace is invaded by the Suitors. Forty arrogant nobles try to marry Penelope, hoping to become the new king of Ithaca.

Telemachus, Odysseus' son, is too young to rebel.

And Laertes, Odysseus' father, is now too old. He lives in a distant farmhouse, away from the confusion.

The inhabitants of Ithaca have lost hope of ever seeing their king again.

How does Penelope not agree to the suitors' demands?

Penelope is cunning. She promised to choose a suitor only after she had finished weaving a shroud for Laertes. But every night, she undoes what she has woven during the day.

Thus, the work never ends, and Penelope gains time, hoping for Ulysses' return.

But the suitors COULD discover the trick, and Penelope COULD give an answer. This is why we need to act quickly. Ulysses must return to Ithaca.

Act, Athena. Come down to Earth and help Ulysses and his family.

Athena disappears in a golden light, leaving Olympus. With Zeus' permission, Athena prepares to guide the events that will bring Odysseus home.

Meanwhile, Hermes arrives on the island of Ogygia

hermes ?!

I greet you goddess Calypso. by order of the Olympian gods it is time to let Ulysses go. This is the will of Zeus.

So Ulysses begins to work on building the raft.

I love him, but I know his heart belongs to Ithaca… to Penelope.

Thanks for everything, Calypso. Now I have to go back to my family.

And so, guided by the gods and by his desire to return home, Ulysses begins his journey back to Ithaca.

End of the 1st Chapter

Summary of the first chapter of the Odyssey

Chapter 1: The Return Voyage of Ulysses

Many years ago, a terrible war broke out in the city of Troy, and Greece's best warriors banded together to fight. The war lasted ten long years, and in the end, the Greeks won thanks to the cunning of a king called Odysseus. It was he who devised the famous trick of the wooden horse, with which he deceived the Trojans and led Greece to victory.

After the war, all the kings of Greece returned to their homelands, welcomed with joy by their families. Everyone, except Ulysses. But where was Ulysses? Had he perhaps died on the long journey home?

No, Ulysses was not dead. After the war, he found himself facing countless adventures, meeting magical creatures, overcoming impossible challenges and sailing unknown seas. But one thing was certain: Ulysses only wanted to return to Ithaca, his island, where his beloved wife Penelope and his son Telemachus were waiting for him.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was Odysseus' protector and admired him for his courage and intelligence. Concerned about her long journey, she decided to talk to her father Zeus, the king of the gods.

“ATHENA: Father Zeus, Ulysses is still far from home, prisoner of the goddess Calypso on the island of Ogygia. Even though Calypso loves him and offers him a sweet life, Ulysses only wants to return to Ithaca, to hug Penelope again.”

Zeus listened to Athena's words and reflected. He knew that Odysseus had suffered for a long time and that Ithaca needed its king.

“ZEUS: It is not I who prevent the return of Ulysses. It is Poseidon, the god of the sea, who hates him because Ulysses blinded his son Polyphemus, the Cyclops. But now it is time for this persecution to end. Ithaca needs the king of her.”

Zeus then ordered Poseidon to stop hindering Odysseus. It was time for the king of Ithaca to return home.

“ATHENA: I will send Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to the island of Ogygia to order Calypso to let Ulysses go. Although Ogygia is very far from Ithaca and Ulysses does not have a ship, he will know how to build a raft and, like a good sailor, will find his way back."

But Athena had another task to perform. She decided to go to Ithaca to help Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, who was still too young to rule and defend the kingdom alone.

As she prepared to leave, Athena told the story of Odysseus to the god of war, Ares.

“ATHENA: Twenty years ago, Odysseus married the beautiful young Penelope, and together they had a son, Telemachus. But since Ulysses left for the Trojan War, he has never returned, and now about forty young nobles want to marry Penelope. They have occupied Odysseus' house arrogantly, feasting and making merry, waiting for Penelope to choose a suitor who will become the new king of Ithaca and inherit all of Odysseus' riches.”

Athena explained that Telemachus was still too young to rebel against the Suitors, as these arrogant suitors were called. And Laertes, Odysseus' father, was too old to intervene. Years before, he had left the palace and now lived in a distant country farmhouse, taking care of the land.

The inhabitants of Ithaca, now without hope of seeing Ulysses again, did not rebel, accepting the sad situation. Zeus, hearing the story, asked Athena:

“ZEUS: How can Penelope not agree to the suitors' requests?”

Athena responded with a smile, admiring Penelope's intelligence.

“ATHENA: Penelope managed to deceive the suitors, gaining time. She has promised to choose her suitor only after she has finished weaving the shroud for Laertes, but every night she secretly undoes what she has woven during the day. So, the work never ends.”

But the suitors could discover the deception, and Penelope would find herself in a desperate situation. She should have given an answer right away.

“ATHENA: That's why we need to act quickly. Ulysses must return to Ithaca.”

Zeus nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation.

“ZEUS: Go, Athena. Take action and come down to Earth to help Ulysses and his family."

With these words, Athena left Olympus, ready to guide the events that would set Odysseus on his way home, and to protect Penelope and Telemachus as they awaited the king.