Odysseus and Penelope - a timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How old are Odysseus and Penelope in the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer?

 

The ancient Greek poet does not tell us how old they are, but we can make an estimate based on what he says about them.

 

Here is a possible timeline:

 

1230 BC Odysseus is born

1215 BC Helen is born

1200 BC Odysseus and Penelope are married 

1195 BC The son Telemachos is born

1194 BC The Trojan War begins

Odysseus leaves his home in Ithaca to go to war against Troy 

1184 BC The Trojan War ends

Odysseus begins the long and difficult journey from Troy to his home in Ithaca

1184-1181 BC The first part of the journey

Odysseus stays with Circe for one year

1181-1174 BC The second part of the journey

Odysseus stays with Calypso for seven years

1175 BC Telemachos travels to Pylos, where he meets Nestor, and to Sparta, where he meets Menelaus and Helen, who are celebrating the wedding of their daughter Herminone

He hopes to find some information about his father who has not yet returned to his home in Ithaca 

1174 BC Odysseus returns to Ithaca 

1160 BC Odysseus dies (age 70)

1140 BC Penelope dies (age 75)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Greek Myths:

The Iliad

10 episodes

(2018)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Greek Myths:

The Odyssey

10 episodes

(2020)

 

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