"So nothing is as sweet as a man’s own country,
his own parents, even though he’s settled down
in some luxurious house, off in a foreign land
and far from those who bore him."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 38-41. Odysseus’ deep desire to return home to his family in Ithaca is reflected in this speech to King Alcinous. Despite being many years separated from it, Odysseus’ longing to be in his native land is as strong as ever.