B o o k Tw e l v e
Beginning in Book 9, Odysseus, following
a feast in the palace of the Phaeacian King
Alcinous, tells the tale of his wanderings
after the fall of Troy, including the loss of
his companions and ships. In Book 11, as
Circe has instructed, he visits Hades in
order to obtain directions from the soul of
the blind prophet Tiresias regarding the
journey home. Besides Tiresias, Odysseusis able to see or speak with the shades of his
companion Elpenor, his mother Anticleia,
various heroines, some heroes from the war
at Troy, and others. Odysseus is curious to
continue his encounters with men of the past,
but becomes afraid of the gathering hordes of
dead men. He and his companions board their
ship and sail back to Circe’s island, Aeaea, also
called Aea.Context