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What happens to Odysseus’s crew among the Lotus-Eaters?
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Odyssey: A Reader’s Guide to Homer’s Epic
Engraving of Homer by Hieronymus Wierix, 16th century; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
When Odysseus and his men arrived at the land of the Lotus-Eaters, the local inhabitants invited the crew to eat a mysterious plant. Those who consumed it were overcome by a state of blissful forgetfulness and lethargy, losing all desire to return home or continue their duties.12
To save them, Odysseus had to forcibly drag his companions back to their ships. Once on board, he chained them to the rowing-benches to ensure they would remain with the crew and continue the journey.12