After
spending an entire year with Circe, Odysseus begs to go home, but Circe informs him that he must
first travel to Hades's land of the dead and speak with the deceased blind seer Teiresias. In
book 11, Odysseus and his crew make the harrowing journey to Oceanus, where they proceed to make
sacrifices to the dead as the horrifying shades come out of a hole and attempt to drink the
blood. Odysseus is forced to draw his sword and prevents the shades from consuming the blood
until he speaks with Teiresias. After Odysseus speaks with Elpenor's shade and the shade of his
mother, Teiresias's shade arrives holding his golden staff.
Teiresias's shade
proceeds to drink the dark blood and informs Odysseus that there is no way he can avoid
Poseidon's wrath. Teiresias then tells Odysseus that his journey home will continue to be
treacherous and difficult, but he will eventually arrive at Ithaca. Teiresias then
tells Odysseus that once he and his crew arrive at the island of Thrinacia, they should not harm
the cattle and rich flocks of Helios. The shade of the blind seer goes on to tell
Odysseus that if they harm Helios's beloved cattle, his entire crew will be destroyed.
He also informs Odysseus that unscrupulous suitors inhabit his home and are attempting
to woo his wife. Teiresias then instructs Odysseus to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon after he
kills the suitors and says that Odysseus will go on to live a peaceful life and eventually die
far from the sea.
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