The Odyssey Trivia Quiz

Answer: 12 Months

Telemachus is Odysseus' son who deeply misses his father. Mentes (who is really Athena in disguise) tells him if he returns and Odysseus isn't back he can give up on his father. He returns in Book 16 and is reunited with his father. They immediately plan revenge against the suitors.

Answer: Ogygia

This is mentioned early in the story. Circe lives on Crete. Andros is another Greek island and Corinth is a Greek city. Odysseus stays on Ogygia for seven long years with Calypso. In Book 5, with help from Hermes, Zeus and Athena he can leave Ogygia forever.

Answer: Atlas

Mentioned in Book 10. Zeus is the son of Cronus and Prometheus and Epimethius are the Titans who created mortals. Circe is a lover of Odysseus who transformed his men (but later untransformed) into pigs. She returns in Book 12 to tell Odysseus about the Sirens, Scylla and the whirlpool. Atlas is a Titan who is forced to hold up the sky until Perseus turns him to stone.

Answer: Amphitrite

This is said when we first see Scylla. Scylla is a vicious monster comprised of many different creature. Yes, Scylla has a mother but Amphitrite is the breeder of the species. Aphrodite, Dionysus and Persephone are other Greek gods and goddesses. Amphitrite is also Poseidon's wife.

Answer: Elpenor

Elpenor falls off a roof while trying to catch up with Odysseus. He is given a proper burial with his armor on Crete in Book 12. Eurylochus and Notus die in Book 13 after turning on Odysseus and eating Helios' cows. Charybdis is the dreaded whirlpool who sucks in the ship in Book 13.

Answer: Fig

He mistakenly sails to the whirlpool in the middle of Zeus' storm. When the whirlpool is sucking in the boat Odysseus sees a tree and clings on for dear life as the whirlpool wants to take him in too. He clings on until the whirlpool spits parts of his boat back up. He grabs the mast then he floats to Calypso's shore.

Answer: Shawl

Ino is the goddess of white waves and feels sympathetic for Odysseus. Odysseus spends two days swimming at sea but keeps afloat with the shawl. He removes the shawl as soon as he arrives on the Phaecians' island.

Answer: Turns it to stone

There was a prophecy that stated Poseidon would do this. Poseidon also threats to surround the Phaecians' island in mountains. He does this because the Phaeicians escorted Odysseus to Ithaca and he gave Odysseus far too many gifts. Zeus approves this to show respect for Poseidon. King Alcinous says they will try to reverse the curse with prayer and sacrifice.

Answer: Wolf

Six wolf heads that devour whatever is in sight. She eats six of Odysseus' men alive when they sail by. Odysseus tries to fight Scylla but knows from the start he has no chance. She does have snake like necks and a fish like body.

Answer: Hermes

Odysseus goes to retrieve his men after Eurylochus tells him Circe gave the men a feast and he knows something horrible happened to them. Hermes gives it to him before he enters Circe's palace. Circe doesn't know about the herb; she tries to use her magic against him but it doesn't work.

This makes Circe think he's the perfect man. Circe untransforms his men and promises never to plot evil schemes again.