Circe warns Odysseus that their journey will only be able to continue if they go to the halls of Hades, where he must consult with the spirit of Teiresias of Thebes.
In Book X, after fleeing Lamos, the land of the giant Laistrygonians, Odysseus and his men arrive on the island of Circe. After making a random selection, Odysseus sends some of his men, who are both reluctant and frightened, to search around. Under the...
Circe warns Odysseus that their journey will only be able to continue if they go to the halls of Hades, where he must consult with the spirit of Teiresias of Thebes.
In Book X, after fleeing Lamos, the land of the giant Laistrygonians, Odysseus and his men arrive on the island of Circe. After making a random selection, Odysseus sends some of his men, who are both reluctant and frightened, to search around. Under the command of Eurylochus, they investigate the island. The men soon hear Circe at her loom, singing. Polites tells the others that somebody inside is either a god or a woman, adding, "Then let us quickly call." When they do so, Circe comes to the shining doors and invites them in. All except the cautious Eurylochus enter, and Circe offers them a feast. When they finish eating, however, she takes a magic wand and turns the men into swine and pens them. Having witnessed the men's fates, Eurylochus hurries back to tell Odysseus.
Odysseus hurries to the men. Fortunately, on his way he is aided by Hermes, who gives him a potent herb that will protect him. Odysseus is further given instructions by the god on what to do when he encounters Circe. Odysseus follow these instructions, which include bedding Circe, but making her swear an oath beforehand that she will not plot against him. Afterwards, Circe turns the men back, and they look healthier than ever. Then, Odysseus returns and tells the other men that Circe wants them all to beach their ships and return to her. Eurylochus almost comes to blows with Odysseus because he refuses to obey; however, the others follow Odysseus. They remain on the island of Circe for a year.
Finally, Odysseus's "trusty comrades" suggest that they return to the native land. Odysseus goes to Circe and asks her, "Circe, fulfill the promise made to send me home, for now my spirit stirs...." But, as he asks, Odysseus cries because he does not know how to find his way: "But, Circe, who will be my pilot...?"
Circe then instructs Odysseus to beach his ship by the eddies of the Ocean-stream and go to the "mouldering house of Hades." There he must sacrifice a sheep to the spirit of Teiresias. She tells Odysseus,
"...he will tell your course, the stages of your journey, and of your homeward way, how you may pass along the swarming sea."
When Odysseus must tell his men that they are not going directly home, but must first visit Hades, the land of the dead, they pull their hair in anguish and weep.