What does Tiresias tell Odysseus?

Tiresias predicts that Odysseus will suffer much hardship on his journey home, but if he can restrain himself and his companions when they reach the Thrinacian island, he may be able to make it back to Ithaca. However, if he harms the flocks of the sun, he will face destruction of his ship and his men. Even if he survives, he will return in bad shape and find trouble in his house, with people devouring his substance. He will then take revenge on the suitors and, after killing them, must carry a well-made oar on and on. Furthermore, Ulysses will face danger from the suitors as they attempt to murder him on his journey home. Despite this, Minerva assures Penelope that Ulysses will eventually make it back to Ithaca, although it will be a long and difficult journey.

Here are the top passages from The Odyssey related to the question:

“Then came also the ghost of Theban Teiresias, with his golden sceptre in his hand. He knew me and said, ‘Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, why, poor man, have you left the light of day and come down to visit the dead in this sad place? Stand back from the trench and withdraw your sword that I may drink of the blood and answer your questions truly.’

“So I drew back, and sheathed my sword, whereon when he had drank of the blood he began with his prophecy. “‘You want to know,’ said he, ‘about your return home, but heaven will make this hard for you. I do not think that you will escape the eye of Neptune, who still nurses his bitter grudge against you for having blinded his son. Still, after much suffering you may get home if you can restrain yourself and your companions when your ship reaches the Thrinacian island, where you will find the sheep and cattle belonging to the sun, who sees and gives ear to everything. If you leave these flocks unharmed and think of nothing but of getting home, you may yet after much hardship reach Ithaca; but if you harm them, then I forewarn you of the destruction both of your ship and of your men. Even though you may yourself escape, you will return in bad plight after losing all your men, [in another man’s ship, and you will find trouble in your house, which will be overrun by high-handed people, who are devouring your substance under the pretext of paying court and making presents to your wife.


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