Chrono Quest II - Notes on the Thirteen Time Zones

                by Martin Gardiner

(1) Zones 1 to 8

The first eight time zones are based on the wanderings of the 
greek hero Odysseus in his long return journey to his home in 
Ithaca after the sack of Troy.

Time Zone 1 is the land of the Lotus Eaters, a race that eats
vegetable foods. When Odysseus reached these shores he
disembarked so as to rest and draw water. He also sent some of
his men inland to scout and make contact with the natives. They
were given some of the lotus fruit to eat. Containing some kind
of drug, it caused these men to forget about their colleagues, and
that they had a home to return to. They had to be dragged,
unwillingly, back to their ships and locked in chains until the
effects of the fruit had worn off.
 
Time Zone 2 is in the land of the Cyclops, a fertile wooded 
island inhabited by numerous wild goats. Odysseus and his crew 
landed on the island and entered a cave, not knowing it belonged 
to the Cyclops, Polyphemus. They had feasted on roast kid and 
other items in the cave and were resting when Polyphemus 
returned. He entered the cave and rolled a huge boulder across 
the entrance, thus blocking it. Soon Polyphemus spied the men 
and began to indulge in his favourite delicacy, human flesh. 
Next morning Polyphemus left the cave leaving Odysseus and his 
men trapped.
 
Soon Odysseus thought of a plan and ordered his men to prepare a 
huge stake. That evening Odysseus offered Polyphemus some of his 
special wine to wash down his meal. Three bowls of this potent 
brew later Polyphemus fell into a drunken sleep. Then Odysseus 
ordered his men to drive the stake through the Cyclop's single 
eye. Polyphemus thrashed about in anger but blinded as he was he 
was unable to find the culprits. Now at the back of the cave was 
a flock of big thick-fleeced rams. These Odysseus ordered tied 
together, three side by side. Then each man picked a set of 
rams, climbed under belly of the middle animal and hung onto the 
shaggy fleece. When the dawn came and Polyphemus opened the cave 
and let the animals out. As the animals left the cave Polyphemus 
ran his hands over their backs, not thinking to check their 
undersides. Thus the sailors escaped. But more problems were to 
follow, and not just because the Cyclop's father was Poseidon, 
god of the seas.
 
Time Zone 3 is in the floating island of Aeolia, the home of 
Aeolus, Warden of the Winds. In order to assist Odysseus on his 
journey home Aeolus gave him a leather bag in which were trapped 
elements of the four winds. Odysseus hung the bag up in the hold 
of his ship and for nine days and nights, without sleep, he 
guided his ships home to Ithaca. On the tenth day, in sight of 
their homeland, they set anchor and Odysseus fell exhausted into 
his bed. His men, imagining the bag contained a splendid haul of 
plunder, opened it. The winds rushed out and a tempest was 
unleashed upon them, and the whole fleet was driven back to 
Aeolia. But this time when Odysseus asked for his help Aeolus 

told them to be gone and that their very presence back on his 
island was proof that they had displeased the gods.
 
Time Zone 4 is in the land of the Laestrygonians, ruled over by 
King Lamus. The fleet sought shelter in the natural harbour of 
Telepylus, however the ever-cautious Odysseus moored his ship 
outside the cove. When they tried to make contact with the 
natives they discovered that they were cannibals. Odysseus' men 
were chased back to their ships which were pelted with rocks 
dropped from the cliff tops. Only Odysseus and his crew escaped.
 
Time Zone 5 is Aeaea, the Island of Dawn, home of the goddess 
Circe. After unknowingly landing here Odysseus sent out scouts, 
under the command of his mate Eurylochus, to reconnoitre the 
island. When they found Circe's palace she invited them inside 
to feast. Eurylochus, fearing a trap, remained outside and 
watched with horror as his friends were turned into hogs by 
Circe's magic. When Odysseus heard of this he grabbed his sword 
and made off to confront Circe. On his way Odysseus encountered 

the god Hermes who gave him a plant called Moly, which contained 
an antidote to Circe's magic, and advice as how to defeat her.
 
Thus prepared Odysseus entered Circe's palace. Circe was so 
shocked that her magic did not affect him that she fell weeping 
at his feet begging him not to kill her. Odysseus exacted a 
solemn oath from Circe not to plot any further mischief against 
him. Furthermore Odysseus would not respond to her amorous 
advances until she consented to free not only his men but all 
other sailors enchanted by her. Once this was done, he gladly 
stayed in Aeaea with her. Eventually he and his crew became 
restless, and Circe agreed to let them continue their journey
home. But she told Odysseus that he must first consult the soul
of Teiresias, the blind Theban prophet, in the halls of Hades.
 
Time Zone 6 is set in Hades, the Underworld, the Greek Land of 
the Dead. On the advice of Circe and following her directions 
Odysseus reached the Land of the Dead. Following her 
instructions they dug a trench, sacrificed a young ram and a 
black ewe, and let the blood flow into the trench. Almost 
immediately a mixed crowd of souls gathered clamouring for a 
drink of the blood. But Odysseus kept them at bay as Circe had 
advised until Teiresias appeared and had drunk his fill. 
Teiresias advised Odysseus that he should not be tempted to 
steal the cattle of Hyperion, the Sun-Titan. Odysseus was warned 
that he could expect great trouble in Ithaca and was further 
advised as to certain actions he should carry out to appease the 
gods in order that he might regain Ithaca and live to an old 
age. After the prophet had departed various souls of family, 
relatives and friends visited Odysseus offering information and 
advice.
 
Time Zone 7, the Sirens, Charybdis, and Scylla. Odysseus left 
Hades and returned to Aeaea in order to stock up with 
provisions. Once more Circe offered Odysseus advice, this time 
on the subject of the Sirens who lured sailors to their death, 
bewitching them with their voices, and also of the monsters 
Charybdis and Scylla, and of the path that he must choose 
between them. So as his ship approached the Sirens' Isle 
Odysseus ordered his men to block their ears with wax and had 
them bind him tightly to the mast. Once clear the men 
unblocked their ears and untied Odysseus. The next danger lay in 
passing between two cliffs, one of which harboured Charybdis, 
and the other Scylla, her fellow-monster. In trying to avoid 
Charybdis, Odysseus steered a little too close to Scylla who 
snatched up six of his men, one in each mouth, and devoured 
them.
 
Time Zone 8, is set in Thrinakia, home of Hyperion the Sun-
Titan. Odysseus being warned by both Circe and Teiresias to 
avoid this island wanted to pass it by, but his crew being 
tired, and still shocked by the loss of their companions to 
Scylla, demanded that they be allowed to rest on dry land.
Odysseus reluctantly agreed to his mens' demands and made them 
promise not to touch any of the livestock on the island and to 
eat only from the provisions that Circe had given them. So they 
landed and for a whole month adverse winds prevented them from 
setting sail again. Soon Circe's provisions were gone and the 
men began to starve. Odysseus journeyed inland to find a quiet 
place to pray to the gods. When he did so he made his 
supplications, but all they did was to cast him into a pleasant 
sleep.
 
Meanwhile, driven by hunger, Odysseus' men had taken some of the 
cattle, and after offering prayers in a hope to appease the 
gods, had slaughtered them. It was as his men began to roast 
their kill that Odysseus awoke. On his return and realisation of 
what had happened he cursed the gods for lulling him into that 
cruel sleep and for tempting his men. Hyperion on hearing of the 
killing of his cattle implored upon Zeus for vengeance, who 
replied that the culprits would eventually pay for their crime. 
So for six days Odysseus' crew fed upon the cattle, and on the 
seventh the winds changed and they set sail again.
 
Before they had gone very far a hurricane enveloped them and 
Zeus struck the ship with one of his lightning bolts. The ship 
was split asunder and the crew thrown overboard. Odysseus 
managed to lash some wreckage together, and was the only 
survivor. He drifted for nine days before he was washed up on 
the Isle of Ogygia, the home of Calypso, another voluptuous 
goddess. Calypso detained Odysseus, for her pleasure, for some 
time before she was persuaded to release him. But that is 
another tale! It was soon after this that Odysseus reached his 
home in Ithaca.
 
For further reading material I would suggest Homer's "The 
Odyssey" which is available on the Penguin Classics label, this 
fully covers Odysseus' journey home. There is also a two volume 
set by Robert Graves on the Pelican label called, "The Greek 
Myths".

@~See the next file for the rest of this article.