Have you found Ithaca yet? (Penelope, 13)

Hello Penelope,

And what an interesting question, especially coming from Penelope herself! I must say, I have not found Ithaca but I have never really been looking for it. If you are looking for the real island of Ithaca, it is located in the Ionian Sea, very close to the islands of Kefalonia and Lefkada. It is known as the legendary home of Odysseus, of his wife Penelope and their son Telemachus. It is said that it took 10 years for Odysseus to find his way back there after the Trojan War. His wife Penelope remained faithful to him and tricked all her suitors until he was back and they were finally reunited.

If however you were asking the question figuratively, in the sense: have I found MY Ithaca, my home and the place where I find the history and archaeology most fascinating, then I guess I have found several Ithacas! I have favourite archaeological sites in Italy and Greece, in Cyprus and in Ireland. And now I live in the Orkney Islands where you can find the most interesting Neolithic and Viking sites!

Odile, September 2026