Odyssey Study Guide Contents
Odyssey Book XI: Nekuia
In the 11th Book of the Odyssey, Odysseus tells the Phaeacians about going to the Underworld to hear the prophesy of Tiresias. Circe had told him to make a sacrificial offering, which he does when he reaches the place where the sun never shines and has finished pouring libations. The first shade he sees is Elpenor who explains that he was drunk and fell of the roof on Circe’s island. He needs to have his funeral rites performed. Odysseus promises to do so.
Only after tasting the blood can Tiresias truthfully reveal what Odysseus must do. He tells Odysseus that when they reach the land of the sun god Helios’ cattle, they must not raid them, but if they do, Odysseus will lose all his companions. He predicts other events all the way to the relatively peaceful death Odysseus will face in old age. Tiresias then explains that Odysseus can talk to the others in the Underworld if they stand in the blood.
The shade of Odysseus’ mother, Antikleia, tells her son that she pined away for him and his father isn’t doing very well, either. Odysseus sees many of the famous women of ancient Greece.
He then says it’s time for sleep, but Alcinous wants to hear more. Odysseus tells Alcinous that he’s happy to stay a year if that is needed to make sure Odysseus is well-provisioned for he will be better received in Ithaca if he comes with rich booty.
Odysseus talks with the shade of Agamemnon, which tells him about the betrayal by Aegisthus and his wife Clytemnestra and warns generally against the wiles of women. Agamemnon inquires about his son, but Odysseus has no news.
Then he sees Achilles' shade, which tells him it’s better to be a farm hand alive than lord of the shades in the Underworld. Achilles also wants to hear about his son and Odysseus has good news for him about his bravery in the horse made by Epeios and in debate.
Odysseus tries to talk with the shade of Ajax, but it refuses.
He sees the shades of many other creatures, including Hercules, whose body is with the gods, the golden-sceptred judge Minos, and the tortured shades of Tantalus, Sisyphus, and Tityos.
When a crowd of shades gathers round, Odysseus flees for the ship.
Book X Summary|Book XII
Read a Public Domain translation of Odyssey Book XI.
