Sailing to the Edge of the World (Homer’s The Odyssey, Book 11 – Part 1)

[upbeat music] Eleven.

Odysseus, his descent into hell, and discourses with the ghosts of the deceased heroes.

Now when we had gone down to the ship and to the sea, first of all we drew the ship unto the fair salt water and placed the mast and sails in the black ship, and took those sheep and put them therein.

And ourselves too climbed on board, sorrowing and shedding big tears.

And in the wake of our dark-prowed ship she sent a favoring wind that filled the sails, a kindly escort, even Circe of the braided tresses, a dread goddess of human speech.

And we set in order all the gear throughout the ship and sat us down.

And the wind and the helmsman guided our barque.

All day long her sails were stretched in her seafaring.

And the sun sank and the ways were darkened.

She came to the limits of the world, to the deep flowing Oceanus.

There is a land and the city of the Cimmerians, shrouded in mist and cloud, and never does the shrinking sun look down upon them with his rays.

Neither when he climbs up the starry heavens, nor when again he turns earthward from the firmament, but deadly night is outspread over miserable mortals.

Thither we came and ran the ship ashore, and took out the sheep, but for our part we held on our way along the stream of Oceanus, till we came to the place which Circe had declared to us.

Welcome to book 11, and welcome back listeners.