The Odyssey of Homer by John Flaxman

First thing first: Ulysses (Roman) and Odyssey (Greek) is the same name and it is used interchangeably in this post devoted to one of the greatest epics in our history, a poem attributed to Homer, who described one's hero from the Trojan war return home no less attractive and breathtaking as the war itself.

The story is told on two main levels. The first one is a 'roadie' of Odyssey who has to fight many mythical creatures and other dangers if he wants to get home, eventually spending many years for that, making almost everybody believe he is already dead. The other is taking place right in his home, on Ithaca, where his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus try to stop Penelope's suitors who are not attracted only by her beauty but by the throne of the kingdom.

The next series of etchings present more than 30 scenes from this epic which inspired hundreds of adaptations in more than 27 (!) hundred years since it was written. Engravings are work of James Parker (1757-1805) after line drawings by John Flaxman (1755-1826). There are probably more works on the same theme because initially there was a plan for only one book with Iliad and Odyssey published together in 1805.

Later each of these monumental pieces of Western culture was published separately (in several editions and reprints), sometimes with less and sometimes with more drawings. But this selection definitely offers an accurate view of Flexman's legacy. Ironically or not, one of the most successful sculptors in the world (in his lifetime) is best remembered by his drawings, considered as just a side project.

The dimensions of originals are 259 mm x 410 mm. On-line versions can be seen here.

(The Odyssey of Homer Engraved from the Compositions of John Flexman R.A., Sculptor)

Council of Jupiter, Minerva, and Mercury

(Meantime Telemachus, the Blooming Heir of Sea Girt Ithaca Demands My Care)

The Descent of Minerva to Ithaca

(From High Olympus Prone Her Flight She Bends and in the Realm of Ithaca Descends)

Phemius Singing to the Suitors

(At Length Composed He Joined the Suitors Throng Hushd in Attention to the Warbled Song)

Penelope Surprised by the Suitors

(We Saw As Unperceived We Took Out Stand the Backward Labours of Her Faithless Hand)

Telemachus in Search of His Father

(Telemachus Already Prest the Shore: Not First ... The Power of Wisdom Marched Before)

Nestor's Sacrifice

(The King Himself Initiates to the Power)

Penelope's Dream

(Close to Her Head the Pleasing Vision Stands and Thus Performs Minerva's High Commands)

Mercury's Message to Calypso

(God of the Golden Wand: On What Behest Arrivst Thou Here, an Unexpected Guest)

Leucothea Preserving Ulysses

(All Radiant on the Raft the Goddess Stood)

Nausicaa throwing the ball

(Forth from Her Snowy Hand Nausicaa Threw the Various Ball, the Ball Erroneous Flew)

Ulysses Following The Car of Nausicaa

(With Skill the Virgin Guides the Embroidered Reign Slow Rolls the Car Before the Attending Train)

Ulysses on the Hearth Presenting Himself to Alcinous and Arete

(And Humbled in the Ashes Took his Place Silence Ensu'd)

Ulysses Weeps at the Song of Demodocus

(Concealed He Grieved the King Observed Alone)

Ulysses Giving Wine to Polyphemus

(More: Give Me More He Cried, the Boon Be Thine Whoe Er Thou Art That Bearst Celestial Wine)

The King of the Lestrigens Seizing One of the Companions of Ulysses

(One for His Food the Raging Glutton Slew)

Ulysses at the Table of Circe

(Why Sits Ulysses Silent & Apart, Some Hoard of Grief Close Harboured at His Heart)

Ulysses Terrified by the Ghosts

(But Swarms of Spectres Rose from Deepest Hell, with Bloodless Visage, and with Hideous Yell, They Scream, They Shriek: Sad Groans and Dismal Sounds Stun My Scared Ears, and Pierce Hell's Utmost Bounds)

Morning

(Here the Gay Morn Resides in Radiant Bowers, Here Keeps Her Revels with the Dancing Hours)

The Sirens

(Our Swift Approach the Siren Outre Describes Celestial Music Warbles from Their Tongue)

Scylla

(When Lo: Fierce Scylla Stoopd To Seize Her Prey, Stretched Her Dire Jaws, Swept Six Men Away)

Lampetia complaining to Apollo

(Meantime Lampetia Mounts the Aerial Way and Kindles Into Rage the God of Day)

Ulysses Asleep Laid on his own Coast by the Phaeacian Sailors

(And Gently Placed him on the Rocky Shore)

Ulysses Conversing with Eumaeus

(Enough of Woes Already Have I Known)

Apollo and Diana Discharging their Arrows

(They Bend the Silver Bow with Tender Skill and Void of Pain the Silent Arrows Kill)

Minerva Restoring Ulysses to his own Shape

(She Said & Oer Him Waves Her Wand of Gold)

Ulysses and his Dog

(Takes a Last Look & Having Seen Him Dies So closed for Ever Faithful Argu's Eyes)

Ulysses Preparing to Fight with Irus

(Then Pale with Fears & Sickening with the Sight They Draggd The Unwilling Irus to the Fight)

Euryclea Discovers Ulysses

(Deep Oe'r His Knee Inseamed Remained the Scar: Which Noted Token of the Woodland War When Euryclea Found The Ablution Ceased)

The Harpies Going to Seize the Daughters of Pandaras

(Winged Harpies Snatched The Unguarded Charge Away)

Penelope Carrying the Bow of Ulysses to the Suitors

(To the Proud Suitors Bears in Pensive State the Unbended Bow and Arrows Winged with Fate)

Ulysses Killing the Suitors

(Haste & Return Ulysses Made Reply While Yet the Auxillar Shafts This Hand Supply)

The Meeting of Ulysses and Penelope

(At Length Recovering to His Arms She Flew)

Mercury Conducting the Souls of the Suitors to the Infernal Regions

(Cyllenius Now to Pluto's Dreary Reign Convey's the Dead, a Lamentale Train)

Ulysses Departing from Lacedaemon for Ithaca

(Ulysses Departing from Lacedaemon for Itaca, with His Bride Penelope, Her Father Icarius Followed the Car Intreating His Daughter Not to Leave Him, Ulysses Offered Her the Choice of Returning with Her Father or Going with Him, She Answered Nothing But Covered Her Face with Her Veil)

Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, Paternoster Row, R.H. Evans, Pall Mall, W. Miller, London, 1805.