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New chart tracks crew deaths in Homer's Odyssey

A new data visualisation published today tracks the decline and causes of death for Odysseus's crew in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

  • The chart details how all of Odysseus's crew perish during the story, leaving only one man.
  • Causes of death include being eaten by the Cyclops Polyphemus and Elpenor's fatal fall from a rooftop.
  • The data uses estimates for crew numbers, based on twelve ships and survivors on Circe's island.

A new interactive chart released today, 30 July 2026, details the various ways Odysseus's crew members meet their demise throughout Homer's ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey. The visualisation tracks the declining number of crew members and the specific causes of death until only Odysseus remains.

Among the documented casualties are those eaten by the Cyclops Polyphemus, described as being ripped "limb by limb to make his meal." The chart also highlights more unusual deaths, such as that of Elpenor, who reportedly fell from Circe's rooftop while drunk, breaking his neck.

The data relies on estimated figures for the crew, as the exact starting number of Odysseus's men is not explicitly stated. These estimates are based on Odysseus having twelve ships, with crew sizes ranging between 50 and 120 per vessel, and survivor counts on Circe's island.

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