Headfirst from the roof I plunged, my neck snapped from the backbone, my soul flew down to Death.

"Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, old campaigner,
the doom of an angry god, and god knows how much wine –
they were my ruin, captain…I’d bedded down
on the roof of Circe’s house but never thought
to climb back down again by the long ladder –
headfirst from the roof I plunged, my neck snapped
from the backbone, my soul flew down to Death."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 66-72. The ghost of Odysseus’ former friend and youngest comrade Elpenor tells the Greek hero how he died. During Odysseus’ stay on Circe’s island, Elpenor got drunk and slept on the roof of Circe’s palace. Next morning, forgetting where he was, he fell and broke his neck.

Homer Quotes