7th+Ody-Baby+Mo+Mos+Bk+10

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** //[|The Odyssey of Homer]// ** ======

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** Characters: ** Circe, Odysseus, Aeuolus, Hermes, Eurylochus, and Odysseus' "comrades" **Main Plot:** After leaving the house of Aeulous, Lord of the Winds, Odysseus and his crew come so close to Ithaca that they came "so near that we [the crew] could see men tending fires" (Homer X. 30) Unfortunately, Odyssus' crew ruins a gift that was given to Odysseus by Aeulous, and the crew is expelled further into the sea. There, they meet several foes, such as the [|Laestrygonians]. Laestrygonians were giants, ruled by their king Antiphates. They attacked Odysseus after several days of travel. They destroyed 11 of Odysseus' ships and only left a small crew. Later, the comrades encounter [|Circe], who, after turning the crew into pigs, becomes an ally to Odysseus and his men. They leave to pursue their travels to the underworld, residence of Hades and Persephone. ======

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**Justice of the Gods:** When Odysseus's men open the bag of wind, Aeulous does not give them another bag and bans them from his island, ultimately leading to the death of all but one ship of Odysseus and his comrades. Also, Circe comes into play. Circe gives the crew full directions to the land of the dead. She also gives them animals to sacrifice to Hades. ======

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Also, in order for them to have a safe trip back, they must go to the land of the dead to consult with the spirit of the prophet Tiresias. They need animal sacrifice for it to be successful, showing justice of the gods. If they had no sacrifice, they would probably not make it back to Ithaca. ======

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**Importance of Prophecy:** Circe instructed Odysseus and his crew to go to the underworld and consult with Tiresias, the prophet. Though he desperately wanted to head home, Odysseus agreed to listen to his prophecy about the rest of his journey. Odysseus understood that the prophecy could be vital for his survival, unlike the suitors who disregarded Halitherses's prophecy in Book III. The suitors' negligence of the warning results in their deaths. ======

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**Sacrifice**: Circe commanded Odysseus to sacrifice a black ram to Tiresias before meeting with him. Afterward, he had to sacrifice a ram and a black ewe to Hades and Persephone to bring out the souls in the underworld. Odysseus also had to promise to sacrifice a heifer to honor his dead companions and to thank the gods. The sacrifices would earn him the gods' favor. After the Trojan War ended, Odysseus failed to offer a sacrifice promptly, provoking Poseidon's wrath. Offering sacrifices was necessary to preserve good relationships with the gods. ======

(Circe)

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Circe was a powerful witch who used herbs, muttered incantations, or prayed to her gods. She had the ability to turn men into animals or create unsubstantial images of beasts. Circe could darken the heavens by hiding the moon or the sun behind clouds and destroy her enemies with poisonous substances. In her presence, and because of her enchantments, the woods could move, the ground rumble, and the trees around her turn white. But as witchcraft may make a victim also of him or her who practices it, Circe lived in fear during the night because of the uncontrolled visions that filled her house. For example, the walls and chambers of her palace could seem to be bathing in blood, while fire could seem to devour her magic herbs. That is why it was a relief for her when daylight came, and she could bathe and clean her garments, forgetting the scaring nightly visions. ======

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The witch, whose hair resembled flames, lived in Aeaea, an island which could be located off the western or eastern coast of Italy (now called Mount Cicero), where she was brought by her father Helius. The name of this elusive island is what some call a palindrome, for it is the same when read backwards or forwards. ======

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In Greek mythology, Circe was a sorceress or an enchantress (she was also considered a goddess because she was immortal). She was the daughter of Helios (the Sun god) and the oceanid Perseis. Her brothers were Aeetes (the one from the story of the golden fleece) and Perses and her sister was Pasiphae. Circe is mentioned in many books such as __The__ __Lightining Thief__ and __Hercules__ ======