Laestrygonians In The Odyssey

The Laestrygonians are known as the cannibalistic people that live in the area of Mount Aetna which is located in Sicily. These mythical people are ruled by Antiphates and they have a very noble achievement behind their name. Odysseus, who is the ruler of Ithaca and the leader in the Trojan War, had fellow followers with him who had possessed the great remains of the Ithacan and Cephallenian armies. Odysseus and his men were close to returning home, but they needed assistance from Aeolus who is the ruler of the winds. Odysseus began to fall asleep on the homeward journey, which turned out to be a big mistake. Odysseus’ army of men thought that he had brought the gold from Troy in the bag that he had received from Aeolus. The men lost the gold while Odysseus basked in his dreams. The result of the
Odysseus sent two sailors and a messenger out and they found a track on the Laestrygonian settlements. The men arrived at a spring that was called Artacie. At this mysterious spring, the two sailors and the messenger happened to encounter the daughter of the Laestrygonian ruler, Antiphates. The daughter of Antiphates pointed the traveler’s to her father’s house. On the travel to the house, they were greeted by the ruler’s wife who made her way to the marketplace to call for her husband. Antiphates arrived, grabbing one of Odysseus’ men, insisting on turning the man into a meal for dinner. The other two crew members dashed to the ships. Later on, Antiphates assembled his forces and they appeared at the top of every cliff. The Laestrygonians began to hit Odysseus’ fleet with giant rocks and stabbing the men, which they then took away as their meals proving their cannibalistic ways. Odysseus made an escape on his ship but only his crew and vessel survived. The Laestrygonians go down in “mythical history” for their bravery and for defeating the great