Next up, the island of Aiolos (both island and man). Treated well, Aiolos sends them off with a gift for Odyssesus: a sack containing all the winds they might need for the journey home. They sail within sight of Ithaca, at which point Odysseus finally takes a rest. His companions, thinking the gift was gold, jealously open the sack, releasing the winds, and blowing them back to Aiolos. He refuses them further aid, saying Odysseus must be cursed by the gods and he won't mess with that.
Next, the island of Lamos, home to the Laistrygones. They land and explore the island, eventually coming to the queen and king, Antiphates, giants. They kill some, and alert the other Laistrygones to strike. Most perish; Odysseus escapes with one ship remaining.
Next, the island of Aiaia, home of Circes. Odysseus goes first and find's location of Circe's palace. A team of half the remaining men set out to explore, in great fear for their lives after previous excursions. Surrounded by docile and enchanted lions and wolves, they come to Circe's palace, where they are welcomed, pampered, and fed. They're also changed into pigs, with only Eurylochos escaping back to tell Odysseus.
He returns alone. Along the way, he is met by Hermes, who gives him a potion-- "moly"-- to resist Circe's poison and told how to win her over. At the palace, the poison doesn't affect Odysseus; he lunges at Circe with his sword; she begs to be spared. Says he must be Odysseus, as Hermes foretold to her would eventually arrive on the island. Swears to hurt him no longer. She seduces him; he asks first that his companions be restored. They turn back to men, looking better than ever.
They return to the rest of the companions at the ship. Odysseus convinces them all to go to the palace, where it's safe now. Eurylochos resists, not trusting any of Odysseus's plans anymore. Odysseus considers killing him, but is talked down, still seething in resentment. They are pampered at the palace, and stay for a year. Finally the men ask to return home, and Odysseus approaches Circe. He is told he must first confront Hades and Persephone (Hades' wife), and consult with the dead prophet Teiresias for his next move. Given specific instructions as to how to find Hades, and what sacrifices to make in order to summon Teiresias. He wakes his men; Elpenor falls off the roof and dies. Once they're all back in the ship, Odysseus tells them they're not going home, they're off to Hades first. The men are miserable.
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Holy moly, perhaps?
Eurylochos certainly has a point. At the moment, Odysseus sucks.
Update: (10 minutes later) Aha! I was right!
"Direct me gods, whose changes are all holy / To where it flickers deep in grass, the moly:"
-- Thom Gunn, 20th century American poet, Moly
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