The Odyssey Figures

Who is holding Agamemnon by the hair while stabbing him? (Figure 1.1)

Aigisthos

Who is covered by a diaphanous robe and being stabbed? (Figure 1.1)

Agamemnon

Who stands behind Aigisthos urging him on? (Figure 1.1)

Klytaimnestra

Who attempts to stop the murder? (Figure 1.1)

Agamemnon’s daughter, Elektra

Who is fleeing to the far right? (Figure 1.1)

A handmaid

What's happening here? (Figure 1.1)

Aigisthos murders Agamemnon with Klytaimnestra’s encouragement while Elektra tries to intervene.

Who stands to the left holding two spears, reproaching his mother? (Figure 2.1)

Telemachos

Who sits mournfully on a chair, head bowed and legs crossed? (Figure 2.1)

Penelope

What is shown on the partially completed weaving? (Figure 2.1)

Winged horses, a winged god, and a sphinx

What's happening here? (Figure 2.1)

Telemachos confronts Penelope as she weaves and mourns Odysseus.

Who holds her helmet in her left hand and a spear in her right? (Figure 2.2)

Athena

What's happening here? (Figure 2.2)

Depiction of Athena holding her armor, wearing the aegis.

Who raises his sword over Priam? (Figure 3.1)

Neoptolemos

Who sits on the altar of Zeus, bloody and pleading? (Figure 3.1)

Priam

Who lies dead on the lap of Priam? (Figure 3.1)

Astyanax

Who clings to the image of Athena on the far left? (Figure 3.1)

Kassandra

Who is raping Kassandra? (Figure 3.1)

Oïlean Ajax

Who stands behind Priam holding a basket? (Figure 3.1)

Polykaste

What's happening here? (Figure 3.1)

The sack of Troy—Priam and Astyanax are slain, and Kassandra is assaulted by Ajax.

Who holds a helmet and two spears, greeting the old man? (Figure 3.2)

Telemachos

Who supports himself with a staff and wears a veil? (Figure 3.2)

Nestor

Who stands behind him with a basket of food? (Figure 3.2)

Polykastê

What's happening here? (Figure 3.2)

Telemachos visits Nestor seeking news of Odysseus.

Who peers out from the windows in the horse’s body? (Figure 4.2)

Greek soldiers

Who walks on top of the horse with two spears and a shield? (Figure 4.2)

A Greek warrior

What's happening here? (Figure 4.2)

The Greeks hide inside the Trojan Horse preparing to attack Troy.

Who clings to the idol of Athena? (Figure 4.3)

Kassandra

Who is raping her? (Figure 4.3)

Oilean Ajax

What does the idol of Athena hold? (Figure 4.3)

A shield and spear

What's happening here? (Figure 4.3)

Oïlean Ajax desecrates Athena’s temple by attacking Kassandra.

Who holds a wand and a scale weighing two souls? (Figure 5.1)

Hermes

Whose souls are being weighed? (Figure 5.1)

Achilles and Memnon

What's happening here? (Figure 5.1)

Hermes weighs the fates of two warriors after death.

Who seizes the woman by the wrist? (Figure 5.2)

A man abducting her (unidentified)

Who holds a wreath in her left hand? (Figure 5.2)

The abducted woman

What's happening here? (Figure 5.2)

A man abducts a woman onto a Homeric-era ship with many rowers.

Who presents a box tied with a sash? (Figure 5.3)

Kalypso

Who sits on a rock holding a sword and looking pensive? (Figure 5.3)

Odysseus

What's happening here? (Figure 5.3)

Kalypso provides Odysseus supplies to leave her island.

Who holds a branch to cover himself? (Figure 6.2)

Odysseus

Who stands near the edge of the picture turning but unmoving? (Figure 6.2)

Nausicaa

Who stands between them, wearing a helmet and aegis? (Figure 6.2)

Athena

What's happening here? (Figure 6.2)

Odysseus meets Nausicaä, with Athena mediating the encounter.

Who is bearded and wears a traveler’s cap, plunging a stake? (Figure 7.1)

Odysseus

What's happening here? (Figure 7.1)

Odysseus blinds the Cyclops Polyphemos.

Who holds the cup of wine? (Figure 9.2)

Polyphemos

Who thrusts the stake into Polyphemos’ eye? (Figure 9.2)

Odysseus and two of his men

What's happening here? (Figure 9.2)

Odysseus blinds Polyphemos after intoxicating him.

Who clings to the belly of a sheep? (Figure 9.3)

Odysseus

What's happening here? (Figure 9.3)

Odysseus escapes Polyphemos’ cave by hiding under a sheep.

Who stands naked stirring a potion? (Figure 10.3)

Kirke

Who approaches her with sword drawn? (Figure 10.3)

Odysseus

Who is turning into a boar, ram, and wolf? (Figure 10.3)

Odysseus’ companions

Who escapes on the far right? (Figure 10.3)

Eurylochos

What's happening here? (Figure 10.3)

Kirkê transforms Odysseus’ men into animals while Odysseus confronts her.

Who sits on a rock with a sword and sheep skins underfoot? (Figure 11.1)

Odysseus

Who stands to the left with cloak and traveler’s cap? (Figure 11.1)

Elpenor

Whose head rises from the ground? (Figure 11.1)

Tiresias

What's happening here? (Figure 11.1)

Odysseus performs necromancy to speak with the dead.

Who lies naked on a sword fixed in sand? (Figure 11.2)

Ajax

What's happening here? (Figure 11.2)

Ajax commits suicide in shame.

Who is tied to the mast? (Figure 12.1)

Odysseus

Who rows the ship? (Figure 12.1)

His crew

Who falls from the cliff? (Figure 12.1)

A Siren

What's happening here? (Figure 12.1)

Odysseus resists the Sirens’ song by being tied to the mast.

Who holds a trident? (Figure 13.1)

Poseidon

What's happening here? (Figure 13.1)

Poseidon is depicted with his signature weapon, the trident.

Who meets Odysseus on Ithaca pointing to the ground? (Figure 13.2)

Athena

Who wears a cloak and carries a spear? (Figure 13.2)

Odysseus

What's happening here? (Figure 13.2)

Athena reveals Ithaca to Odysseus.

Who is washing Odysseus’ feet? (Figure 19.2)

Eurykleia

Who holds a staff and pouch? (Figure 19.2)

Odysseus

What's happening here? (Figure 19.2)

Eurykleia recognizes Odysseus by the scar on his leg.

Who wears a lion’s skin and carries a club? (Figure 21.1)

Herakles

What's happening here? (Figure 21.1)

Depiction of Herakles, the legendary Greek hero.

Who pulls back a bow while dressed in rags? (Figure 22.1)

Odysseus

Who stands behind him anxiously? (Figure 22.1)

Two slave girls

What's happening here? (Figure 22.1)

Odysseus prepares to kill the suitors disguised as a beggar.

Who tugs at an arrow in his back? (Figure 22.2)

A suitor on the left

Who defends himself with an overturned table? (Figure 22.2)

A suitor in the middle

Who holds up his hands in surrender? (Figure 22.2)

A suitor on the right

What's happening here? (Figure 22.2)

Odysseus slaughters the suitors after revealing himself.

Who carries a naked Achilles over his shoulder? (Figure 24.1)

Ajax (Big Ajax)

Who lies dead, suspended over Ajax’s shoulder? (Figure 24.1)

Achilles

What's happening here? (Figure 24.1)

Ajax rescues Achilles’ body from battle after his death.