The Adventures of Odysseus
Homer

The Lotus Eaters
Chapter One

• The Adventures of Odysseus, a Greek legend adapted by Jill Muntan.

• Odysseus's journey.

• The story of Odysseus was first told in Greece almost 3000 years ago.

• Greece is a country in Eastern Europe.

• It has more than 300 islands.

• Odysseus was king of Ithaca, one of the Greek islands.

• He and his men went to war with the people of Troy.

• They won the war and filled their ships with treasure, but the journey home was long and difficult.

• Chapter 1.

• The Lotus Eaters Twelve ships sailed away from Troy.

• Odysseus stood on the first ship.

• He looked straight ahead towards Ithaca.

• We're going home to Ithaca.

• He cried.

• His men shouted and cheered.

• Soon they came to a small island.

• We must stop for some water.

• Called Odysseus.

• The men pull the ships up the beach.

• You three go and see what you can find.

• The three men set off to look for water.

• The others took down the ship's sails and went to sleep.

• Odysseus was worried when the three men did not return.

• He picked up his sword and went to look for them.

• As he walked up the beach and into the forest, he saw some little blue and yellow flowers.

• Odysseus stopped and looked again.

• Yes, he was right.

• They were lotus flowers.

• He was in the land of the Lotus Eaters.

• Now Odysseus knew why the three men had not come back.

• The Lotus Eaters were very friendly.

• They gave food and water to people who came to their island.

• But the food was always made from lotus flowers.

• And lotus flowers made you forget.

• When you ate lotus flowers, you forgot your home, your mother, your father, your children, everything.

• Soon Odysseus saw the red gold light of a fire.

• He walked through the forest towards it.

• About twenty Lotus Eaters lay around a big fire.

• They were sleepy after eating the blue and yellow flowers.

• The three sailors were there too.

• Get up, said Odysseus.

• Get up and come back to the ships with me.

• One of the men woke up and got to his feet.

• Who are you?

• He asked Odysseus.

• What do you want?

• You speak of ships.

• What ships?

• Go away and leave us alone.

• Odysseus was angry now.

• With the strength of ten men he dragged the three sleepy sailors back to the ships.

• We must leave this place, he thought, before any more of my men forget who they are.