Approaching the Island of the Sun

And as they travelled quietly and sadly, they saw a new island. This was the island of the Sun, which Odysseus understood from what Tiresias had told him. Here were the famous cows of the Sun, the most beautiful and fattest cows in the world. They were guarded by blond fairies, but no one harmed them.

The warning of Odysseus

So Odysseus called his companions to him and told them that they would not approach this island, but would go their way. They all then begged him to stay a few days to rest from the journey and the suffering. Then Odysseus says to them:

- We should stay. But be careful not to harm these cows, for they are sacred. If you don't listen to me, a great calamity awaits us again, and it's a question of whether anyone will be spared.

The promise of the comrades

Everyone then gave their word and soon they were resting in a quiet little harbour. They went ashore and stayed there for several days to rest. But the food was saved and the wind did not blow to get away. They began to feel hunger and despair that they would die there on the foreign island.

Failure to keep the promise

And one day when Odysseus had gone into the island, evil happened. His companions thought that we will die of hunger, let us eat now, and see afterwards. They took some cows, slaughtered them, and made a meal of them.

Odysseus turns around and what to see. Angrily he scolded their companions, but evil had been done.

Odysseus loses his companions

Then he commanded and they got on the boat to leave. They came out of the harbour, and as they opened out into the sea, a wild swell caught them and turned them over the tops of the huge waves and the sea screamed to swallow them. A bolt of lightning shattered the mast, tore the ship in two, and they were at sea.

 Odysseus is saved

They all drowned. Only Odysseus, struggling for nine days and nights, managed to reach another island.