MT. OLYMPUS Beginning End Click on the pictures in the order of
Telemachos Journey to learn more about each stop! After learning
about each stop, click the green box on the bottom left corner to
return back to this map so you can decide where he went next.
Slide 4
Our heros journey begins on Mt. Olympus where all the Gods are
conversing, except for Poseidon who holds a grudge against
Odysseus, Telemachos father. This grudge is hindering Odysseus
return home. Telemachos is beginning to lose faith that his father
will ever return home. There are men courting his mother and
ravaging his home, making the situation worse. Telemachos journey
truly begins when bright-eyed Athena comes down to Ithaca taking
the form of an old family friend Mentes to instil some confidence
into the boy. Go back to the mapback Mt. Olympus
Slide 5
Ithaca Telemachos, the son of Odysseus, meets Goddess Athena
who is disguised as Mentes, a family friend. She tells Telemachos
that he needs to go find his father in order to get rid of the
countless numbers of suitors pestering his mother Penelopeia. She
advises to call a meeting for all the men in town to tell them to
let his mother make her own decision about her wedding. Athena then
tells Telemachos that he should organize a fleet of ships and set
sail to find information on his fathers whereabouts and get help
from the king of Pylos, Nestor. She also says that he will need to
kill all the suitors upon his return. After Athena leaves,
Telemachos follows Her advice with more confidence than before. Go
back to the mapback
Slide 6
Pylos When Telemachos and Athena, who is disguised as one of
the wise men of Ithaca, arrive at the palace of Nestor, they are
given a warm welcome. Nestor reveals that he knows Odysseus had
stayed at shore with half of the ships when the first half left.
Nestor had left with the first half so he does not know what
happened to Odysseus afterwards. He encourages Telemachos to man up
and kill the suitors because they are in his and his fathers way.
Nestor offers Telemachos and Athena a place to stay, but they
refuse. Athena flies off as a sea-osprey demonstrating her support
of Telemachos to Nestor and the others. Also, Nestor has his son
Peisistratos accompany Telemachos to his next stop in his quest.
Athenas support and Nestors sending Peisistratos show that
Telemachos is beginning to make a positive name for himself. Go
back to the mapback
Slide 7
Sparta Telemachos goes to Menelaos, the king of Sparta who had
significant impact on the Trojan war. Menelaos is hosting a feast
for his children when Telemachos and Peisistratos arrive. As
dictated in Greek culture, Menelaos welcomes them into his palace
to join his feast. There Menelaos talks about Odysseus and his trip
from Troy. Menelaos praises Odysseus cleverness and their
friendship. Helen, Menelaos wife, also adds to the talk about
Odysseus. She mentions how he had disguised himself as a beggar and
entered the walls of Troy. Their stories amaze Telemachos and give
a glimpse of his real father. They cry for his return, but
Peisistratos tells them to stop and enjoy their dinner. The next
morning, Telemachos learns from Menelaos that Odysseus was last
captured by Calypso, a nymph living in the sea. Telemachos has
earned himself a great name in Sparta as well and has impressed
many with his words and manners. Go back to the mapback
Slide 8
Back in Ithaca While Telemachos is at his last stop, the
suitors are scheming back in Ithaca. Antinos and Eurymachos are the
leaders of Penelopeias suitors who are convinced that Odysseus is
dead. A young man named Nomon asked Antinos about Telemachos trip
to Pylos. The suitors had underestimated Telemachos courage and
expected him to be somewhere in the farms. Nomon explains how he
lent Telemachos his ship, and how Telemachos set off with the best
men in town to Pylos. Antinos decides that he will set sail on a
boat with twenty men to find Telemachos and kill him. Telemachos
courage results in a deeper conflict with the suitors than before.
His maturity has surprised them and could also be the cause of his
death. Go back to the mapback
Slide 9
That is the end of his journey! Find out more by reading the
book!