The Odyssey: Twilight of the Iliad, 1184 BC
Agenda: The 60th Setting of the Sun Since the Sack of Ilios
‘αὐτὸς γάρ τε σίδηρος ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα.’
‘For the iron itself incites to deeds of violence.’
Homer, The Odyssey
The ruins of Troy still smoulder, the city having been decimated by the forces under the command of Odysseus, the great King of Ithaca. The Greek forces set their sails homeward, weary of conflict and eager to cross the Aegean to return to the home they had set off from, a decade ago, as bold youths aching for kleos. However, the reprieve following this great reckoning, as it so often does, carries seeds of chaos. Whispers of suspicion, uncertainty, and mutiny spread fast among the ranks. A coalition once bound together with the firm bonds of cause and duty, now unravels under the strain of mistrust.
Odysseus himself, a hero held in unparalleled repute of renown and prestige, begins straying beyond the bounds of reason, inviting muted speculation. Once emanating brilliance and confidence, evoking instant admiration, he now seems to have become something of a mystery. His wit appears clouded; his fortitude, shaken; and his mannerisms tinged with unease. What seemed unquestionable about this mighty monarch, the favourite of Athena, was now weighed by veterans in shadowed corners. His ambitions, wisdom, and very sanity are matters of concern.
Delegates, representing central figures stationed across all 12 ships under Odysseus’ command, must assemble in this naval council to address, endure, and outlast all manner of crises that will arise. They will face not only the immediate challenge of traversing the treacherous waters of the Aegean Sea, alive with fierce tempests, grotesque monsters born of Poseidon's fury, and mysterious enchanted islands home to elusive oracles and cannibalistic giants, but also the more dangerous threats of suspicion, rivalry, and ulterior motives. Each delegate must wrestle with complex questions of loyalty, to a leader whose gravity might now be slipping, and to a fleet whose unity frays more every day under suspicion and competing agendas.
Unknown to the fleet, Odysseus bears a torment far deeper than war-weariness. Forty-five days into the voyage, shortly after blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, the wrathful sea god lashed back with merciless precision. A Nekrogeilos (‘Smiling Deathfish’) was sent to the shores of Ithaca, where it struck Telemachus, Odysseus’ only son. Cursed to die within the week and condemned to blindness until then, Telemachus’ fate shattered Odysseus, who received word of it through a dream sent by Hermes. It was this act of divine cruelty that moved Athena, long his guardian, to intervene: she descended to him in secret and bestowed a great and terrible prophecy, a revelation that bore insight into the true natures and fates of every soul aboard his fleet. This prophecy, delivered not as a roadmap but as a series of cryptic, shifting truths, now consumes him. His burden is no longer just to lead, but to interpret and survive the fate handed down by gods - a weight that has begun to fracture even his legendary composure.
Far from the drifting fleet, Ithaca itself teeters on a precipice. With Telemachus now doomed, and Odysseus long absent, the island’s royal succession — traditionally hereditary and male-line — has collapsed into dangerous ambiguity. The laws of Ithaca, unwritten but rooted in patriarchal lineage and divine legitimacy, offers limited precedent for a kingdom without either heir or king. Power-hungry nobles, emboldened by Odysseus' silence and Telemachus' cursed fate, press Penelope toward remarriage to claim the throne through her hand. The suitors, some bearing blood-right and others brute ambition, are no longer a mere nuisance. They are instead a proto-political class on the verge of revolution. Should Odysseus not return soon, or should news of Telemachus' death reach the citizenry, the island risks descending into civil unrest, contested rule, or outright usurpation. Delegates must therefore weigh not only their survival at sea, but the political survival of Ithaca itself. They must consider whether that future can include Odysseus and themselves at all. It is now up to the King, who once served as a pillar of stability, to return and retake the responsibilities he had so long ago sacrificed.
Deliberation within this council is no mere exercise in rhetoric, it is a theatre of strategy, where persuasion veils calculation, and every utterance may shape destinies. Delegates must not only parley, but posture; not merely argue, but orchestrate. Beneath the surface of each alliance lies a gambit, and behind every proposition, a hidden blade. What hangs in the balance is not simply the homecoming of wearied veterans, but the very fate of Ithaca.
Letter from the Director
“But when he spoke in council, his words fell like snowflakes in winter—gentle, but none dared ignore them.”
- The Iliad (Book 3)
Dear Delegates, Whisperers of Prophecy and Chosen of the Gods,
It is with immense pride, unwavering conviction and great expectations, that I, Ansh Bhansali, Director and Deputy-Secretary General of the 29th Edition of the Cathedral Model United Nations, welcome you to The Odyssey; Twilight of the Iliad, a super-specialised committee, set in the twilight of myth and memory, after the Battle of Troy, where the Gods have fallen silent, embers of war still smoulder and the fate of Ithaca lies not in the hands of Olympus but mortal men.
Days yield to night. Apollo and Artemis dance their endless waltz. The stars and the sea bear witness, each dawn indistinguishable from the last, on Odysseus’ Black Fleet - ithaca-bound. At sea, memories of the recent battles of Troy fade, but duty remains - unchanged, unyielding. It is currently the 60th Setting of the Sun Since the Sack of Ilios, and each member of the crew views the days to come ominously, finding themselves in the midst of a great dilemma; unyielding loyalty to Odysseus or facing the wrath of Poseidon. Murmurs of doubt and treachery permeate the ranks of the fleet and the weight of suspicion acts as a great encumbrance to Odysseus’ objective - safe return to Ithaca.
Delegates representing advisors to Odysseus and central figures on the 12 ships of the fleet, must convene in this naval council, on the lead trireme; discussing not only strategy to navigate the treacherous waters of the Aegean but also the plight of Ithaca. As the winds shift and as the seas grow merciless delegates will have to tackle storms, not only of nature provoked by Poseidon’s indignation but also storms of their own making - storms of mistrust, betrayal and treachery. Faced with the enchantments of Circe, the deadly appeal of the Lotus-Eaters and the dangers posed by Scylla and Charybdis, only one on the Great Council of Olympus favours their fate; A glimmer of hope in a sea of darkness, unknown to the members of the fleet, Odysseus bears the weight of a prophecy delivered to him by the Herald of Olympus, conceived by the Goddess of Wisdom, that may guide them home, safely.
Amidst the seeds of chaos that germinate o’er the Aegean, the threads of tension weave themselves around the political landscape back home in Ithaca. With Telemachus, son of Odysseus, now cursed and Odysseus, absent, the nobles of Ithaca persuade Penelope to offer her hand in remarriage, subsequently laying claims to the Throne. Delegates must thus tackle this complex tapestry of politics and the laws of succession as well, as they journey homeward.
Delegates are advised to traverse the 3 days to come with guile, tact and wary of uncertainty and deceit, for “Any moment might be our last and everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed” (in the words of Homer).
But before you set sail on this Odyssey, allow me to tell you a little bit about myself, not as Odysseus, but Ansh Bhansali - your Director. As a grade 12 student, studying in the National Curriculum, my interests lie in public policy, government, international relations, sociology, philosophy and diplomacy. MUN, Debate and Student Government are core components of my school life. Outside of academics and school, my interests lie in mythology (evidenced by this committee) or any Nolan or Quentin Tarantino movie (except the Kill Bill series). Being a die-hard fan of Suits and House of Cards, my understanding of law and policy (which I aim to pursue) has been shaped not just by textbooks or articles but by stories of Harvey Specter and Frank Underwood. Feel free to strike a conversation about any of the above or argue about anything and everything - you will find that I am largely open to conversation and exploring new avenues. When I am not immersed in intricate conversations surrounding any of the above, you will find me hanging out with friends or playing basketball. Any delegates that pull up to committee with a hot mocha or americano (for me) will surely be up-marked.
CMUN 2025, will be my fourth and final CMUN marking the end of a 5-year long MUNning journey which has spanned 2 continents, several states, various zoom calls, countless closing ceremonies, scores of speeches, unending unmods and most importantly a mosaic of memories. Being someone who is very well-acquainted with the legacy of the Cathedral School, I can assure each of you that this conference will have a lasting impact, provided you recognise the prestige and spirit of excellence that it represents. Being the oldest and largest high-school Model United Nations conference, I have savoured and basked in its glory for 4 years, and subsequently invite each of you to join me; to rise to the occasion and carve your name into the annals of CMUN; not to just witness history, but to write it; and not merely to hear of its legacy, but revel in its excellence.
Until August,
οι θεοί παρακολουθούν,
The Gods are Watching,
Ansh Bhansali,
Deputy-Secretary General,
Director,
The Odyssey: Twilight of the Iliad,
Cathedral Model United Nations, 2025.
Ansh Bhansali
Director