If you have read or watched Homer's Odyssey, you know that all of Odysseus's crew die during the journey. A new chart visualizes the decline of the crew over time, detailing the causes of death until only Odysseus remains.
Charting the Casualties
The chart tracks the number of crew members and the events that lead to their deaths. Notable deaths include those eaten by the Cyclops Polyphemus: "He ripped them limb by limb to make his meal, then ate them like a lion on the mountains, devouring flesh, entrails, and marrow bones, and leaving nothing." Another unlucky death is Elpenor, who drunkenly falls from Circe's rooftop: "He fell down crashing headlong from the roof, and broke his neck, right at the spine. His spirit went down to Hades."
Data Sources and Estimates
Exact numbers are not given in the poem, but estimates are based on a Literature Stack Exchange answer and the text itself. Odysseus starts with twelve ships; in the Iliad, ship crews range from 50 to 120. At Circe's island, survivors likely number 46 (two bands of 22 plus leaders). Using this and the six killed by Cicones per ship gives an estimate of 52 per ship, consistent with a penteconter's oarsmen plus extra crew. The possible range based on 50 to 120 per ship is also shown.
Timeline Assumptions
The timeline is weighted: seven years on Calypso's island, one year on Circe's island, and the remaining time divided equally among other events. Associate professor Greta Hawes at Macquarie University provided feedback on an earlier version of the chart.
For more Homeric data visualizations, see Death in the Iliad and an interactive version of the catalogue of ships.
