Summary

After being given help and guidance by Circe, Odysseus and his men sail to the River of Ocean where the living world meets the entrance to the Underworld where the dead live. Odysseus offers libations and then sacrifices some sheep, pouring their blood into a trench. This attracts the spirits of the dead, which begin to flood up from the Underworld in great numbers. Odysseus stands guard with a drawn sword, not letting any of the ghosts drink until Teiresias has appeared. He sees the spirit of Elpenor, who asks for proper burial, which Odysseus promises to carry out.

Teiresias tells Odysseus that he and his men will come to Thrinacie, the island where the Sun-god keeps his cattle. If they eat the cattle then all his men will be killed, and...