FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-062

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (April 16, 2026) – This edition of Fun with Maps offers a little Greek history and great memorable characters from ancient Greece.

Mythology

Today marks the traditional date of the return to home of the King of Ithaca, Odysseus, Ulysses in Latin – April 16, 1178 BC.

His ten-year sailing journey home from the victory at Troy is described in Homer’s epic poem, Odessey.

Odysseus and his crew encounter many perils along the way, including –

The nymph Calypso who holds Odysseus captive, and is rescued by Hermes;

A Cyclops captures Odysseus and the men, but they escape as the Cyclops is blinded;

The Sirens try to plunge them to their death through their enticing songs, but they place wax in their ears so they cannot hear the Sirens.

Upon his return home, Odysseus finds that his wife, Penelope, kept many suitors at bay, and he eventually kills them all.  It all ends happily.

This map of Greece is by fries from 1541.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.