Long ago, on a small island, lived a Greek king named Ulysses. After fighting a distant war for ten years, he and his men finally set sail for home.
On their journey, they visited Aeolus, the king of the winds, who lived on an island surrounded by a bronze wall. Aeolus could command the winds to be calm or fierce.
To help Ulysses, Aeolus sealed all the stormy winds in a large ox-hide bag, fastened with a golden chain, leaving only the gentle west wind to guide them home. He warned Ulysses to guard the bag carefully.
For nine days and nights, Ulysses kept watch. His men, suspecting the bag held treasure, grew jealous. On the tenth day, as their homeland came into view, an exhausted Ulysses fell asleep. His men untied the chain, releasing the furious winds. A great storm arose, blowing their ship far out to sea.
Awakening to the tempest, Ulysses despaired but vowed to keep trying. Eventually, the storm drove them back to Aeolus's island. However, the angry wind king refused to help them again, blaming their folly. Ulysses was forced back to sea, and many more years passed before he saw his home again.