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'''Ithaka''' (also called the '''Cradle of Snakes''') is an [[Ocean World]] and the [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]] of the [[Iron Snakes]] [[Space Marines]] [[Chapter]]^.{{Fn|1a. }} The chapter's [[Fortress-monastery]] occupies Ithaka's orbiting moon of [[Karybdis]]^.{{Fn|1b.}}

Though primarily oceanic, Ithaka does, however, possess significant landmass, including tropical islands^{{Fn|1c }} and viciously cold polar regions^.{{Fn|1d.}}

The water from its oceans is considered sacred, and is carried by the Chapter to anoint every planet that they step foot on, in what is called the '''Rite of the Giving of Water'''^.{{Fn|1e. }} When those marines return home, what remains is given back to Ithaka^.{{Fn|1f. }}

Ithaka's oceans are home to a variety of sea-life, including the giant Water-Wyrms. A ''Kraretyer'', or mature male, can grow up to three hundred metres in length^.{{Fn|1g. }} The Chapter uses these Wyrms for hunting exercises for its initiates^{{Fn|1h}}, and in the judicial ritual known as [[oethanar]]^.{{Fn|1i. }} These marine serpents can cause ''retyarion'' (or Wyrm-storm), ferocious squalls that seem to follow their movements. A retyarion also causes ''seunenae'', called the folding walls of iron, giant waves that would rise out in the deep waters and come crashing in kilometres high^.{{Fn|1j.}}

[http[Wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaca |Ithaca]], sometimes spelled Ithaka, is an island that is a part of Greece. It is suspected, though not confirmed, to be the same [http[Wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Ithaca 's_Ithaca|Ithaca]] that [http[Wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus |Odysseus]], the central character of Homer's [http[Wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey |Odyssey]], was from.

*¹: [[Brothers of the Snake (Novel)]] by [[Dan Abnett]]**a{{Endn|1a}}: Part Five:I**b{{Endn|1b}}: Part Five:II**c{{Endn|1c}}: Part Seven:I-II**d{{Endn|1d}}: Part Seven:V**e{{Endn|1e}}: Part Two:I**f{{Endn|1f}}: Part Five:I, VII**g{{Endn|1g}}: Part Five:VI**h{{Endn|1h}}: Part Three:III**i{{Endn|1i}}: Part Five:III**j{{Endn|1j}}: Part Five:V