Summary11

Odysseus and his crew reach the underworld and follow the instructions of Kirke. They slay the sacred ram and ewe as Odysseus pours libations of milk, honey, wine, and water to attract the dead. The first spirit to appear is Elpenor, a deceased crewmember who begs Odysseus for a proper burial. He was left on another island after he broke his neck. Then Teiresias, a prophet, appears. He tells Odysseus of his future adventures, including his hardships at the hands of Poseidon, defeating the suitors, and eventually going on another journey for Poseidon. He says that there was only one path that will take Odysseus and his crew through the journey with no harm. Odysseus also talks to the spirit of his mother, among others, who talks to him about his family. His mother tells him that his wife is still faithful to Odysseus but that he was the reason that she died. After talking to them three, lots of princesses and queens try to tell Odysseus their stories.

Odysseus now asks the king if he can sleep. The king changes the subject by asking if he saw anyone from Troy. Odysseus obliges him, relating the tale of meeting Agamemnon and his murder. He also sees Archilles, who asks him about his son. Odysseus also sees the punishments of Sisyphos, Tityos and Tantalus. Sisyphos is eternally struggling to push a boulder over a hill, only to have it roll al the way back down. Tantalus is surrounded by water and trees filled with fruit, but he can never eat the fruit or drink the water. Tityos is lying on the ground and his punishment is to be permanently stabbed and picked at by vultures and never being able to push them away. This scares Odysseus very much and he sails away.