Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it.

What it means

Odysseus tells Calypso he will sail home even if a god smashes his raft. He has a heart built for suffering and has already survived waves and war. Commit to the crossing before you know how rough it will be.

The source

"Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it." Homer said it in Odyssey 5.221-222. Translated from the original Greek by Spartan Surfers.

"εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ, τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν"

Original Greek, Odyssey 5.221-222. Text read at github.com.

Who said it

Homer (c. 8th century BC). The poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the war at Troy and the long sail home. Greeks learned courage, endurance and the sea from his lines.

Questions

What does "Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it." mean?

Odysseus tells Calypso he will sail home even if a god smashes his raft. He has a heart built for suffering and has already survived waves and war. Commit to the crossing before you know how rough it will be.

Who said "Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it."?

Homer (c. 8th century BC). Source: Odyssey 5.221-222.

What is the original Greek?

εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ, τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν. Translated from the original Greek by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Wreck me on the wine-dark sea. I will bear it." (Homer, Odyssey 5.221-222, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/wreck-me-on-the-wine-dark-sea-i