"Odysseus now tells of his voyage from Troy--how many of his men lost their lives during a foolish raid on the Cicones, how Zeus punished the survivors by raising the North Wind against their ships, how they were made to drift aimlessly from place to place, for nine days. Finally, they stopped at the land of the Lotus Eaters, ( The people of Southern Europe used to make a drink from the fermented fruit of the lotus plant. The drink was supposed to produce feelings of laziness and dreaminess )"
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During Odysseus adventures at sea, he came across the Island of the Lotus Eaters, earning its name from those whom inhabited it. The Lotus Eaters offered Odysseus and his men their fermented drinks, but they left soon after, heading back out to sea.
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