EURYLOCHUS (member of Odysseus' crew)

Eurylochus was selected by lot to visit Circe's dwelling with other crew members.^5,6,7 Hermes gave him the white flower Moly with a black root to protect him.⁸ Suspecting the woman's intentions, he refused to enter her house and remained outside while the other crew members followed the woman inside.^9,10 He warned the group that she would transform them into animals like pigs or wolves, and he blamed Odysseus's folly for the death of their comrades at the Cyclops's cave.¹¹

He entered Circe's dwelling protected by the flower and divine instruction.⁸ He arrived at the threshold of Circe's abode with his companions, and he was led through marble halls by female servants to meet the mistress.⁶ There, he repelled Circe's wand and prevented her magic with his drawn sword, avoiding being transformed into an animal by the enchantress.^8,9 He avoided drinking the potion that turned others into pigs and exchanged right hands with Circe to seal a promise.⁸ In this tense negotiation, he demanded the restored bodies of his companions as a marriage gift.⁸

Rushing back to inform Odysseus about the fate of his companions, he was so distressed by the news that he initially could not speak.^12,13 His eyes filled with tears and he sobbed and sighed before speaking, overcome with dismay regarding the fate of his comrades.¹³ The group forced him to tell them what happened to the others, and he left with twenty-two men who were weeping.^13,7 He suggested the remaining crew try to escape to save their lives, physically holding onto Odysseus to prevent him from leaving and pleading to remain behind.³ He argued that Odysseus would not return alive from the journey, believing Odysseus would not survive the ordeal.³

He suggested building a rich temple to the sun-god if they survived the journey, and the men approved of his words.^14,15,16 While the crew grilled the inward meats and tasted them after burning the thigh bones, Eurylochus held the sacrificial victims during the ritual.^16,17 He gave Odysseus an insolent answer while the crew was in despair, accusing Odysseus of being cruel and too strong to feel exhaustion.⁴ He argued that the exhausted men should land to cook a supper on the island, warning that night winds could wreck their vessel if they sailed, and Odysseus stated that Eurylochus forced him to yield because the men outnumbered him.^4,15 Eurylochus followed the group inland because he feared Odysseus's harsh scolding, and he helped bind Odysseus more tightly to prevent him from hearing the Sirens.^18,19 Eurylochus drove a snake out of an island because it was considered defiling, and his consort was Ctimene.²⁰