The People v. Odysseus

Homeric Mock Trial of Epic Proportions

The People of Ithaca v. Odysseus

Introduction:

Due to a translator’s error of the original Homeric text, the facts have been skewed! The suitors, while nearly fatally wounded, did not all die. Those suitors who survived and the bereaved families of Ithaca are seeking their revenge in court against the cunningly deceptive and tenaciously violent Odysseus.

We will put Odysseus, the raider of cities and returned King of Ithaca, on trial for the following charges:

Charges: Odysseus of Ithaca is charged with:

  1. Trespassing on the Island of the Cyclops

  2. Assault with a deadly weapon

  3. Murder in the First Degree — 108 counts for the Suitors, 12 counts for the Maidens

Assignment:

BOTH witnesses and Jury members will need to produce a pre-trial written statement. See the directions below based on your chosen role in the trial.

Primary Trial Roles:

Defense

• Defense Attorneys (2-3)

• Odysseus, the Son of Pain and Pillager of Cities

• Penelope, mourning Queen of Ithaca

• Telemachus, intrepid Prince of Ithaca

• Athena, Goddess and Defender of the Achaeans

• The Shade of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, murdered by his queen, Clytemnestra

• Eurynome, housekeeper to Penelope

Prosecution

• Prosecuting Attorneys (2-3)

• Polyphemus, cyclops and son of Poseidon, blinded by Odysseus

• Poseidon, God of the Sea and inveterate enemy of Odysseus

• Antinous, leader of the suitors, suffering from multiple -- nearly deadly -- wounds

• Eupithes, father of Antinous, suffering from severe head wound at the hand of Laertes

• Eurymachus, co-leader of the suitors, suffering from multiple -- nearly deadly -- wounds

• Arnaeus (aka “Irus”), house beggar, assaulted by Odysseus

• Melantho, housekeeper and harlot to the suitors, hung by the throat until presumably dead, but narrowly survived

• Melanthius, disloyal goatherd, whose nose was cut, whose genitals were removed and fed to the dogs, and whose hands and feet were cut

Directions for the Witnesses of the Odyssey Trial

Hear me, O traveler of Homeric memory!
You have stepped forward to take the stand in The Trial of Odysseus.
Your role is not merely to repeat the story — you are to embody one of its voices: a god, mortal, monster, sailor, or soul who knew the man of twists and turns.

Before the courtroom opens, you must prepare a Pre-Trial Witness Statement, proving that you understand your character and the truths (or half-truths) they carry.

This statement is due before the trial and will count as your preparation grade.
Use your own voice — not an oracle’s, not a chatbot’s, and certainly not the AI Muse of Apollo. The gods favor effort and originality above borrowed words.

Your Task

Write a 1–2 page typed or handwritten statement in character, divided into the three sections below.

Part I – Who I Am

Introduce yourself as your chosen witness.
Explain your connection to Odysseus — how you met him, what you think of him, and what your life has been since those events.
Give enough background that the jury can picture your perspective and emotions.

Creative rule: Speak in your character’s voice. A god may sound proud, a monster bitter, a crewmate weary, a goddess reflective. Avoid modern slang but don’t worry about sounding “old-fashioned.” Real emotion matters more than fancy words.

Part II – What I Saw (or Suffered)

Describe one major event involving Odysseus that shapes your testimony.
Tell it as a story, from your eyes. What did he do? What did you notice, feel, or lose?
You may embellish slightly for dramatic effect — this is your sworn statement.

Creative rule: Do not quote directly from the book or copy online summaries. Summarize the scene as if you lived it. Add sensory details — what did you hear, smell, or fear?

Part III – Why I Stand Here Today

End your statement with your purpose in the trial.
Do you come to defend Odysseus’s honor, to accuse him of cruelty, or to seek your own justice?
Write a closing line that feels like the start of a testimony, something you might say under oath.

For example:
“Let the court of Ithaca hear my truth: the hero’s cunning left me adrift in shadow.”
or
“Though he angered the gods, I will speak of the man who led us home.”

Directions for the Jury of Ithaca: Preliminary Reflection Before the Odyssey Trial

Welcome, Juror.
By decree of King Alcinous (and your instructor), you have been summoned to sit in judgment at The Trial of Odysseus.
Before you may hear the pleas, oaths, and outbursts of the accused and their accusers, you must prepare a Preliminary Reflection — your personal statement of understanding and intent as a juror.

This reflection is due before the trial begins and will count toward your preparation grade. It will also show that you have read, thought, and wrestled with the story independently — not through the lips (or code) of any oracle, chatbot, or “AI Muse.” The gods of plagiarism are unforgiving.

Your Task

Write a 1–2 page handwritten or typed reflection (no AI, no paraphrasing tools) that includes the following three parts:

Part I – The Character of Odysseus

In your own words, describe how you see Odysseus based on what you’ve read.
Is he a hero, a liar, a survivor, a manipulator, a patriot, a wanderer cursed by fate — or all of the above?
Use 1–2 brief references from The Odyssey to support your view (you may summarize scenes — no need for quotes).

Creative rule: You may not copy or paste from any website. You must describe Odysseus as if you were gossiping about him to another juror over a campfire on Ithaca.

Part II – Justice in the Age of Gods and Men

Imagine what justice means in this ancient world.
Does a man answer to the laws of mortals, to divine will, or to his own conscience?
Explain what kind of justice you believe should be applied to Odysseus’s actions in the trial — and why.

Creative rule: Compare it to a modern situation (without naming modern people). For instance, “If a soldier today did what Odysseus did on the island of the Cyclops, would we call him brave or cruel?”

Part III – The Oath of a Juror

Finish your reflection with a short oath — a few lines pledging how you will approach the trial.
Make it sound ancient, poetic, or dramatic. For example:

“By the wine-dark sea and the wrath of Poseidon, I swear to weigh truth above rumor, courage above charm.”

Or write your own original juror’s creed.