The central journey of Odysseus is chronicled in the epic poem, the Odyssey, where he seeks to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. His journey spans ten arduous years and is filled with encounters with mystical creatures, divine beings, and trials that test his cunning and resolve. Odysseus' experiences symbolize the themes of perseverance, the struggle against fate, and the importance of identity and homecoming in the human experience.