The Odyssey: Book One

[MagPiesRUs]

I've just been reading Homer's The Odyssey, and with the release of the Spartan minifig I thought it was the perfect time to make a few vignettes based on the story. This one's from Book 1: Athene visits Telemachus:

Telemachus led Pallas Athena into his home. She followed. Once they'd come inside the high-roofed house, he walked to a tall pillar carrying the spear and set it in a finely-polished rack, which held many other spears belonging to Odysseus. He brought Athena in and sat her in a chair, a beautifully crafted work. Under it a foot stool for her feet. Beside her he drew up a lovely decorated chair for him to sit in. They were some distance from the other people, in case the noise the suitors made disturbed the guest and made him hate the meal because he'd had to share the company of overbearing men. Then, too, Telemachus wanted to discuss his absent father. A female servant carried in a fine gold jug and poured water out into a silver basin, so they could wash their hands. Beside them she set down a polished table. Then the worthy housekeeper brought in the bread and set it down before them. Next, she laid out a wide variety of food, drawing freely on supplies she had in store. A carver sliced up many different cuts of meat and served them. He set out goblets made of gold, as a herald went back and forth pouring their wine.

Then, one after another, the proud suitors came. They sat down on reclining seats and high-backed chairs. Heralds poured water out for them to wash their hands, and women servants piled some baskets full of bread, while young lads filled their bowls up to the brim with drink. The suitors reached out with their hands to grab the tasty food prepared and placed in front of them. When each and every man had satisfied his need for food and drink, their hearts craved something more— dancing and song—the finest joys of dinner feasts. A herald gave a splendid lyre to Phemius, so he was forced to sing in front of all the suitors. On the strings he plucked the prelude to a lovely song. But then Telemachus, leaning his head over

close to Athena, so no one else could listen, murmured to her:

"Dear stranger, my guest, if I tell you something, will I upset you? These men here, they spend all their time like this, with songs and music—it's so easy for them, because they gorge themselves on what belongs to someone else, and with impunity, a man whose white bones now may well be lying on the mainland somewhere, rotting in the rain, or in the sea, being tossed around by waves. If they saw him return to Ithaca, they'd all be praying they had swifter feet rather than more wealth in gold or clothes. But by now some evil fate has killed him, and for us there is no consolation, not even if some earth-bound mortal man should say that he will come. The day has passed when he might have reached home.

Odysseus has been lost at sea for many years, and now suitors live at his palace in Ithaka, hoping to marry his wife Penelope. Athene comes to Ithaka to reassure Odysseus' son Telemachus. She tells him to sail to Pylos and Sparta, in the hope they may have news regarding Odysseus.

Without minifigs:

It's getting dark here now, so I'll post some more pictures later. In the meantime, comments and feedback are appreciated.

Edited November 29, 2010 by I Scream Clone

[CMP]

Nice. I like the walls, the overall scene, and how you used fleshie skin to represent Athena. I knew that color was otherwordly.

[Inconspicuous]

Nice MOC, TinyPies. I tried building a small Odyssey scene but it didn't turn out great. I've had a special place in my heart ever since I was in a play version in it (I was Antinous the suitor), and I'd love to see more of these.

Keep up the good work!

[LegoDad42]

Love how you've used some literature for your MOC. Great stuff. Great top wall details.

Look forward to more of your Odyssey story based Moc's!

[The Penguin]

A very nice MOC indeed! )

I really love the interior, the way you did the decorations. It does give the feeling Ancient Greece of a Bronze Age. )

I should also say, it was pretty clever to use a fleshy head for the Goddess Athena!

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[Admiral Ron]

very nice! It looks just as I pictured it in the poem (I am actually reading it now for Western Literature) great work!

[XimenaPaulina]

Lovely creation TinyPiesRUs! That's a very good rendition of the Odyssey excerpt. I love the details of the walls, especially the light blue-tan color scheme and the fine details above.

Edited September 30, 2010 by KielDaMan

[MagPiesRUs]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Now that I've gotten around to taking some more photos...

Without minifigs:

The palace is, as The Penguin said, based on Bronze Age Greek Architecture. The design is roughly based around these Mycenaean reference pictures:

Thanks again, and look forward to Book Two in a couple of days.

Edited October 2, 2010 by TinyPiesRUs

[Professor Flitwick]

As a person just starting The Odyssey in college, its great to see it in Lego form.

Making Athena (of the sparkling eyes ) a themed (peached) figure, giving her quite a godly look!