Ulysses

Also known as: Odysseus · Family: Ithaca · Role: hero · First appears: Fable 73

In fable 73, Laërtes is Ulysses’s father, while Penelope is his wife. In fable 99, after Achilles’ death, Ulysses receives his armour when the Greek chiefs adjudicate the contest, becoming a rival of Ajax. He is an enemy of Hector and Palamedes, but a friend and companion to Diomedes. During the war, he kills Dolon, Rhesus, Cœranos, Alastor, Chromius, Alcander, Halius, Noëmon, Prytanis, Thoön, Chersidamas, Charops, and Ennomos, while Hecuba becomes his slave. At Lemnos, he returns Philoctetes and Hercules’ arrows to the Greeks, helping bring the prolonged war to an end.

In fable 100, at Sicilian Ætna, Telemus prophesies that Ulysses will take Polyphemus’ single eye. In fable 102, Scylla, acting from hatred of Circe, deprives Ulysses of his companions. In fable 105, Æolus gives him the winds sealed in a leather bag, but his companions open it, sending the ship back to Æolia. At Lamus, Antiphates and his followers destroy the fleet, while Ulysses and Macareus escape.

At the isle of Circe in fable 106, Eurylochus escapes transformation and tells Ulysses what happened to their companions, prompting him to come as their avenger. Ulysses resists Circe’s potion, exchanges promises with her, and marries her, requiring the restored bodies of his companions as his marriage gift. Circe reverses the enchantment, and Macareus, Polytes, and Elpenor return to human form.