Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca / Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece

nly on the north it slopes gently to the sea. On this plateau, between the Simois and Scamandros rivers, in the oldest times ther

wealth. He had many sons and daughters. It was said, indeed, that he had fifty sons who were all mar

outh and not fond of his home, as were the others. He had set his heart on travelling and seeing strange countries and cities. King Priam was extre

w friends with tastes as adventurous as his own. They embarked in a new ship well provided with all that travellers need, and set sa

as the city of Sparta. It was on the river Eurotas, and was the capital of

ging to travel. In his early youth, while he was still minding his herds on the rich p

dess of wisdom, and Zeus's favorite daughter-and Aphrodite, t

he handsomest man in the world to settle the question. This happened to be the young royal shepherd, Paris. So the three goddesses floated down to t

his promise had to be kept, being given by a goddess, but it was the source of endless misfortune, for Paris had a young and lovely wife who was tenderly atta

ris with an insane desire to forsake his parents, brothers, and wife. It was her secret guidance which led him across the seas and through the dangers lurking among the hundreds of islands of the Archipe

, where the people received him kindly and helped him on his jour