For Odysseus to complete his quest he must go to the underworld, the realm of Hades. Odysseus is directed to speak with the spirit of Tiresias, a blind prophet who will tell Odysseus and his men how to get home, in request of Circe, a witch- goddess and Odysseus' former lover. In the underworld Odysseus speaks to his mother who died from grief waiting for Odysseus. When Odysseus returns, the King and Queen ask him about the fallen warriors of Troy and he meets Agamemnon and Achilles who ask him questions about their deceased family. Odysseus goes to clean his face by the river and is bombarded by souls and becomes frightened and sails away.
Hades, ruler of the underworld. Persephone, Hades captured wife. Helen, half sister of Persephone. Helen was known to whisper to the Trojan warriors in the voice of their wives and lead them to death then tale them to the underworld. Helen was also known for leading Odysseus through Troy and making him betray the Trojan warriors. The underworld is a miserable place, when Achilles is in the underworld, Achilles gives his famous line, “I’d rather be a slave on earth for another man--/some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive--/than rule down here over all the breathless dead.” (Book 11).
Lopez, Mitch. "Charon The Ferryman And The Gates Of The Underworld." Gallery For. N.p., 17 Nov. 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
Lopez, Mitch. "Hades Underworld Percy Jackson." Gallery For. N.p., 18 Sept. 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
Kara, Mahra. "The Underworld in the Odyssey." Angelfire. N.p., 13 Jan. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.