Student Question
What mistakes were made on the Island of Ismarus in The Odyssey?
Quick answer:
On Ismarus, Odysseus made the mistake of allowing his men to linger after their victory over the Cicones, despite his urging to leave quickly. This delay allowed the Cicones to regroup and counterattack, resulting in the loss of 72 of Odysseus's men. However, Odysseus wisely spared the life of Apollo's priest, Maron, who later provided him with wine crucial for escaping the Cyclops. These events underscore the consequences of ignoring strategic retreat.
In Book 9 of Homer's Odyssey, the title character begins to tell the Phaeacians about his adventures. After leaving Troy, Odysseus sailed to Ismarus, a city that belonged to a people known as the Cicones. [By the way, I believe Ismarus is a coastal town, not an island.]
Odysseus and his men attacked and defeated the inhabitants of Ismarus, but Odysseus' men spent too much time celebrating their victory, despite Odysseus' desire to leave as soon as possible:
Then as you might imagine I ordered us to slip away quickly, but my foolish followers wouldn’t listen. They drank the wine, and slaughtered many sheep and shambling cattle with twisted horns. (A.S. Kline translation)
Thus, while Odysseus' men are wasting time, the Cicones regroup and attack Odysseus and his men. This time, the Cicones gain the victory and kill 72 of Odysseus men (6 from each of the 12 ships). After suffering this loss, Odysseus and his men sail away.
One mistake Odysseus does not make at Ismarus is, as we soon learn, that he spares the life of Apollo's priest Maron, who gave Odysseus the wine that he uses to get the Cyclops drunk.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.