55- Odysseus and Friends

In the quiet before the storm of the Trojan War and its immediate causes, we introduce two major characters today. The first is Odysseus, great-grandson of Hermes and creator of oaths that blow up in his face. The second is Achilles- descendant of Zeus and an ancient Greek example of play dress-up to run away from your problems.

Sources for this episode:

• Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann.
• Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft.
• Statius (1928), Statius. Volume II: Thebiad V- XII and Achilleid. London and New York: William Heinemann, Ltd. and G. P. Putnam's Sons.