The Odyssey: retelling

Odysseus and Calypso

At the peak of Mount Olympus, amidst the grandeur and splendor, the Olympian gods had gathered for a weighty discussion. It seemed that humans, in all their audacity, were pointing fingers at the divine realm for their own unfortunate circumstances. Take, for example, the Trojan War that raged on below—the mortals were quick to assign blame to the gods for their own foolish choices. Zeus, the mighty ruler of the gods, sat upon his majestic throne, a somber expression etched upon his face. With a heavy sigh, he let his frustrations be known.

"By the power of my lightning, mortals have become even more insufferable!" Zeus exclaimed, his voice dripping with exasperation. "It is not our doing that they choose war over peaceful resolutions. They are the architects of their own folly and will bear the consequences of their ignorance." As he spoke, Zeus took one last sip from his golden goblet, his gaze never straying from the floor beneath his feet.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, could not keep silent any longer. "But father," she interjected, her tone filled with disappointment, "Is it not unjust that those who still hold us in reverence must suffer the same fate? Consider Odysseus, the wise king of Ithaca, whose every step on his journey home is fraught with misfortune." Athena's brows furrowed at the thought of her beloved warrior's plight. Stranded on the island of Ogygia for seven long years after a treacherous shipwreck, Odysseus was held captive by the Nymph Calypso, who yearned for him to be her husband.

Zeus let out a grunt of frustration. "Oh, come now, my daughter. Are you suggesting that I am to blame for Odysseus' unfortunate circumstances?" He arched an eyebrow, attempting to maintain a stern countenance while a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Let us not forget that it was my dear brother, the sea god Poseidon, who orchestrated Odysseus' predicament."

Athena's mind whirled with thoughts as she contemplated her father's words. There was a truth to his statement, she couldn't deny it. It was Odysseus' own foolishness that had landed him in this mess with Poseidon. But even so, Athena couldn't bring herself to abandon the mortal king.

Just as the silence settled, Dionysus, the god of revelry, chimed in with his usual exuberance. "Hey, where's uncle Posy these days?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Apollo, the god of music, shrugged nonchalantly. "Last I heard, he's off gallivanting in Ethiopia. No idea what he's up to, though."

Zeus, the mighty king of the gods, cleared his throat, commanding the attention of all. "Alright, let's get back on track," he declared. "Athena, you've made a valid point. It wouldn't be fair to leave a man like Odysseus, who truly fears the gods, to suffer like this." Zeus paused, letting his words sink in before adding, "So, I pose this question to all of you: shall we lend our aid to Odysseus?" He scanned the room, observing the nods of agreement.

With a sense of satisfaction, Zeus spoke once more. "Very well then. It is settled. We shall help Odysseus on his journey home."

Athena's face lit up with pure joy as the council reached a unanimous decision. Finally, she could lend a helping hand to Odysseus without any nagging worries about violating divine laws.

"Well done, dear father," Athena beamed, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I shall make my way to Ithaca without delay. Telemachus, Odysseus' son, needs to know what lies ahead for him." And just like that, in the blink of an eye, Athena vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

Zeus shifted his gaze to Hermes, who was slouched lazily on his throne, almost on the verge of nodding off.

"Hermes!" Zeus clapped his hands in front of Hermes' face, jolting him back to reality. The mischievous god blinked, disoriented and still half-asleep, surveying the room with a dazed expression.