Odyssey (Plot)

Intro

Homer begins the Odyssey in media res, calling upon a muse and the “goddess daughter of Zeus”, to recount the story of Odysseus’ journey home.

Council of the Gods

A council is held on Mount Olympus — Poseidon “Earth-Shaker” is not present as he is collecting offerings in Ethiopia, but it is explained by Zeus that he hates Odysseus for blinding his cyclops son (Polyphemus).
Athene favours Odysseus and asks Zeus to help him.

Xenia Sequence
Given permission, Athene visits Ithaca disguised as Mentes (a friend of Odysseus), who presents her with a perfect didactic xenia sequence (which is used to signify morality). She tells him to stand up to the suitors and seek information about his father.

Suitors

There are 108 suitors in the palace, depleting Odysseus’ oikos by drinking his wine and feasting on his food, being rowdy and rude.

Phemius

Phemius the bard sings of Trojan tragedies, which makes Penelope cry. Telemachus sends her to her room.

Assembly

Telemachus calls for an assembly where he asks the suitors to leave the palace — it results in him bursting into tears and throwing his staff onto the ground, showing that he is still a youth.

Omen

Telemachus appeals to Zeus for assistance in vengeance of the suitors and Zeus sends an omen of two eagles in combat with “looks foreboding death”: a sign of Zeus’ admonishment of the suitors’ actions, as the god of xenia. Halitherses warns that this is a sign of Odysseus’ return, however is interrupted by Eurymachus who insults Telemachus.

Shroud Trick

Penelope’s shroud trick (ongoing for 3 years) is revealed as Melantho tells her lover, Eurymachus. The trick was that she agreed to remarry once she completed a funerary shroud for Laertes (father of Odysseus) — but when night fell, she would unweave the day’s progress. Antinous professes this to the crowd at the assembly, describing Penelope as “queen of cunning”.

Halitherses

The prophet Halitherses contests a prophecy that Odysseus is to return in his 20th year gone — after much suffering, without his men, and unrecognised.

Sailing to Pylos

Telemachus (having been encouraged by Athene, disguised as Mentor) leaves to set sail for Pylos in search of news about Odysseus.

Sacrificial Bulls

When Telemachus reaches Pylos, another didactic scene is implemented of Nestor amongst 4,500 people are sacrificing 81 jet-black bulls to Poseidon. Processes such as gilding the bull’s horns are included in the narrative.

War Stories

Nestor shares some stories from the Trojan war — however he left with Menelaus while Odysseus left with Agamemnon, so his knowledge was stunned.

Agamemnon & Clytemnestra

Nestor shares the story of Agamemnon returning home from the war with his concubine and being murdered by Clytemnestra and her lover (Aegisthus), who then ruled Mycenae for 7 years. However, his son Orestes eventually avenges him.
Nestor says he will pray to Athene that Telemachus avenges Odysseus as Orestes did — this sets up the threat of Penelope that looms for the rest of the narrative, and the boots for Telemachus to fill.

Pisistratus

Nestor advises him to go to Sparta and consult Menelaus who may have more information (since he is Agamemnon’s brother) — he sends with him his son Pisistratus as well as providing a chariot.

Disguise

Athene transforms into an eagle before them, making Nestor realise her true identity.

• Wedding

• Proteus

• Horse

• Gifts

• Ambush

Wedding Celebrations

When the two arrive in Sparta, Menelaus and Helen are celebrating the forthcoming wedding of their daughter Hermione to Neoptolemus — the son of Achilles.

Proteus

Menelaus informs Telemachus that Proteus (a sea god) informed him that Odysseus is captured on the island of the nymph Calypso.

Trojan Horse

He also recalls tales from Troy that characterise Odysseus’ ingenuity — such as the trick of the Trojan Horse, which became the ultimatum of the war.

Xenia Gifts

Menelaus offers the gift of 3 horses & a chariot, which Telemachus refuses as Ithaca is rocky with no meadows. Instead, he offers a mixing bowl made by Hephaestus himself.

Ambush

Back on Ithaca, Antinous suggests that they ambush and murder Telemachus upon his return — as the man of the house, his death would mean that Penelope is easier to “gain”.

Assembly Pt2

The book begins with another assembly in which Zeus tells Athene to ensure that Telemachus gets home safely, and orders Hermes to go to Calypso and make her free Odysseus, as he has been on the island for 7 years. He predicts he will reach Phaeacia in 20 days.

Calypso’s Complaint

When Hermes arrives, Calypso is weaving and Odysseus is weeping on the beach. She complains that the gods are “scandalised” when goddesses have affairs with mortals, but not when male gods do the same.

Despite this, she helps Odysseus with building tools and supplies for his raft, and he leaves on the 5th day of building. The two are said to enjoy eachother on the final night, when Calypso again offers him immortality if he stays with her. He declines.

Poseidon

On the 18th day, Odysseus is spotted at sea by Poseidon, who creates a great storm in his rage at seeing Odysseus free.

Saving Odysseus

Weighed down by his clothes, Odysseus fears he will drown. The efforts of 3 gods save him:

• Ino tells him to remove his clothes and gives him a magical veil to tie around his waist

• Athene puts the idea in his head to cling to the rocks — “like pebbles stuck in the suckers of some octopus … so strips of skin torn from his clawing hands”

• A river god provides him sanctuary

Sleepy Odysseus

At the end of the book, he goes to sleep on a nest of leaves between to sacred olive trees of Athena.

Nausicaa’s Dream

Athene, disguised as a friend, appears in Nausicaa’s dream and tells her to go down to the river and wash clothes to look fetching.

Mountain Lion

While waiting for the clothes to dry, her and her maids play ball — a shriek wakes Odysseus who emerges, naked, from the shrubbery “like a mountain lion.” Nausicaa is not threatened as the gods are fond of Phaeacia.

Flirting

Odysseus’ renowned speaking skills are displayed — he compares Nausicaa to the maiden goddess Artemis, and tactfully doesn’t reveal his marital status so that he may appear a potential suitor. He also appeals for sympathy, saying he has been “swept”/”tossed” here.
Odysseus bathes and oils himself, after which Athene makes him appear taller & sturdier, as well as giving him thicker hair.

Arete

Nausicaa grants Odysseus directions to the palace, and tells him to first appeal to her mother Arete. She does not go with him as she fears xenophobia and gossip: “who is that tall and handsome stranger?”

Fantasy

There is a fantasy element to Phaeacia: they are a seafaring nation that supposedly descended from Poseidon himself, located at “the end of the earth”.

Water Jug Athene

Athene disguises as a young girl holding a water jug and guides Odysseus to the castle. She also shrouds him in a mist to protect him from onlookers.
She again advises Odysseus to appeal to Arete and the audience is informed that she is so wise that she is often invited to settle disputes amongst men. This is perhaps a reference to early Greek society, which was more matriarchal.

Arete & Alcinous

The set-up of Arete as an imposing figure goes unfulfilled: upon meeting, Odysseus follows the advice and clasps Arete’s knees in supplication, to ask for an escort to guide him home — and then sits in the ashed by the hearth to emphasise his humble status.
However, it is Alcinous who raises him and invites him to join a libation, moving his son Laodamas so that he has a seat, and announces an assembly to be held in the morning to discuss his request. (This demonstrates excellent xenia as Odysseus is still a stranger).

Interrogation

Again following xenia protocol, Arete waits until Odysseus has eaten before posing 3 questions: who he is, how he arrived, and how he got his clothes — she asks this as she recognises them as clothes that she has woven for Nausicaa, and is therefore suspicious. He tactfully answers in detail the last two questions while skirting around the first, being careful to display Nausicaa in a good light and avoid embarrassing her.

Proposal

Alcinous is impressed by Odysseus’ speaking and manners, and offers him a chance to marry Nausicaa. This act (as well as the other examples) of Alcinous (as opposed to Arete) taking charge may reflect that the Odyssey was first orally composed and thus bards may have edited the narrative as Greece became a patriarchal nation.

Fantasy Pt2

More fantasy elements to Phaeacia are described including that the palace is made of bronze with enamel walls, silver doorposts, and golden doors — all of which are impractical but lavish. By the doors it is said that dogs made from gold and silver by Hephaestus stand guard. Fruit is also said to grow year-round.

Herald

Athene in disguise as a herald spreads word amongst the Phaeacian people to attend the assembly and witness a foreigner that “looks like an immortal god”. She gives him another makeover to ensure that they are respectful.
At the assembly, Alcinous organises for a ship to be granted to take Odysseus home — although he still doesn’t know who the stranger is.

Demodocus: Trojan War

Demodocus (the blind bard) provides entertainment by singing of a Trojan War tale: the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles, which causes Odysseus to weep and proves to him that the Phaeacians do know of him. Alcinous suggests that they hold the Phaeacian Games to diffuse the emotionally charged situation. (Therefore offering outdoor entertainment as well as indoor)

Euryalus

Laodamas, winner of the boxing competition, invites Odysseus to join but he declines — Euryalus in response insults his noble status. Odysseus is enraged and insults his intelligence & manners — he is then emboldened to pick up the biggest available discus and he throws it further than anyone else.
Athene, disguised as a bystander, draws attention to this and Odysseus brags that he was the 2nd best archer in the Greek army at Troy, after Philoctetes.

Demodocus: Love Triangle

Demodocus goes on to sing of the love triangle between Hephaestus, Aphrodite, and Ares (providing insight into hierarchies & inter-relationships amongst the gods).

Alcinous says that each prince will give Odysseus a tunic, cloak, and gold. Euryalus also apologises and offers Odysseus a sword as a gesture of friendship. In contrast, Nausicaa tells Odysseus that he owes her his life.

Identity

Odysseus is offered to pick a song and picks the tale of the Trojan horse — presumably to confirm or set up a positive reception before he reveals his identity. He weeps again, causing Alcinous to put him on the spot and question his identity, which would be poor xenia to ignore.
This occurs due to Poseidon’s prophecy that the Phaeacians will help a stranger to return home, for which they will be punished with their ship turned to stone and a mountain created around their harbour. (Which will be fulfilled as Odysseus is Poseidon’s enemy).

Big Reveal

Odysseus reveals his identity to the Phaeacians and describes his kingdom. He also mentions that both Circe and Calypso wanted to marry him — but does not mention Penelope. He then recalls his journey thus far:

Cicones

His first stop after Troy was Ismarus (city of the Cicones) to sack it and bring home more timê, since he has been away from Ithaca for years.
Odysseus wanted to leave Ismarus ASAP — however his crew wanted to continue drinking & feasting, which gave the Cicones time to call upon their neighbours for backup. This results in the deaths of over 70 men, and a storm is sent by Zeus as punishment.

Maron

Odysseus was given a goatskin of wine from Maron — Priest of Apollo — in return for his and his family’s lives. This signifies Odysseus’ piety.

Lotus Eaters

The next destination is the island of the Lotus Eaters: their “honeyed fruit” make Odysseus’ men forget about and become uninterested in anything else. Odysseus has to rescue the journey by tying them to the rowing benches of the ship and forcing them to go “cold turkey”.

Colonialism

The crew then land on the coast of the Cyclopes mainland, which is described by Odysseus from a colonialist lens — he says it is ideal for growing vines and cereal crops, has a safe natural harbour, and a supply of fresh water.

Gifts

Signs of danger present themselves: mainland smoke from fires are visible and the voices of people and livestock are audible from the distance, and it made no sense for inhabitants to be mainland when they have a plentiful coast available. Odysseus comments that he had a “foreboding sense” that the inhabitants would be barbarous (although perhaps in hindsight).
They go mainland anyway, taking the wine from Maron as a xenia gift, and enter a cave in which they find milk, cheese, goats, and kids: the crew say to take this and run but Odysseus chooses to stay, hoping to receive more “friendly gifts”.

Lies: Deception & Escape

Odysseus shows his speaking skills by telling Polyphemus half-lies: he says truthfully that they are members of Agamemnon’s army from Troy, but lies that their ship was wrecked in an attempt to gain sympathy. Polyphemus traps the men and ends up eating two of them immediately, saving the rest for later.
Therefore “Cunning Odysseus” comes up with another escape plan — he offers the undiluted wine of Maron to Polyphemus who is therefore rendered drunk. Odysseus sharpens an olive-wood stake and hardens it in the fire, and the men drive the stake into the eye of Polyphemus while he vomits. This is described using blacksmith and sailing imagery.

Lies: Identity

Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is “Me-tis” (“Nobody”). This is cunning in two ways: it is a play on Metis, which is s Odysseus’ most common epithet (meaning cunning), but it also means that when Polyphemus yells “Nobody is attacking me”, nobody comes to help.

Revelation

The men then escape the cave, hidden underneath Polyphemus’ sheep. However, Odysseus reveals his real name & Polyphemus reveals that he is the son of Poseidon, to whom he prays for revenge. This explains the motif of the feud between Poseidon and Odysseus.
Displaying his piety once more, Odysseus sacrifices a black ram as an offering to Zeus.

Aeolia

Aeolia is a fantastical island that floats and has an unbroken bronze wall bordering it. The ruler, Aeolus, is a favourite amongst the gods and governs the winds.
The men stay for a month feasting, and Odysseus is given a xenia gift of a bag of winds that contains all the winds that may drive them off course on their journey home.

Bag of Winds

On day 10 since their departure, Ithaca is visible from their ship — however, Odysseus (who had been guarding the bag) falls asleep. His men believe that the bag contains gold and silver that Odysseus is not sharing with them and so they open it, releasing the winds, and blowing the ship back to Aeolia.
Aeolus refuses to help the crew a second time because he believes it clear that they are “detested by the blessed gods”.

Laestrygonians

On the isle of the Laestrygonians, day and night are said to be very close as shepherds leaving in the morning meet those retuning in the night. It is also a bottle-neck harbour.
So, Odysseus sends 11 of 12 ships (only excluding his own) into the harbour, as a precaution to enable a quick getaway should danger strike. The king of the cannibalistic giants, Antiphates, raises a hue and cry upon spotting the crew, and immediately skewers a man to eat. The rest of the boats are then attacked.

Aeaea

On Aeaea, Odysseus splits his men into two parties (one led by him, the other by Eurylochus), taking more precautions this time. Eurylochus’ party approaches Circe’s house, whom they can hear singing indoors. She is first seen weaving.
Eurylochus remains outside when she invites them in — the rest of the party are drugged and turned into pigs. He reports this back to Odysseys who goes to investigate, however he is confronted by Hermes who gives him moly, an antidote to Circe’s potion. He also instructs Odysseus to strike her with his sword and bed her.
Upon completing these actions, Circe undoes her spell and Odysseus collects the rest of the men — when Eurylochus resists, he threatens to behead him.

Circe’s Advice

The men stay with Circe for a whole year, by the will of Odysseus. When they finally go to leave, Circe instructs Odysseus to go to the Underworld to consult Tiresias, who will prophesise his journey home. She gives him a black ram and ewe to sacrifice and instructs him to dig a trench and pour the blood from the throat of the animals into it. When drank, this will enable spirits to converse with him (although Tiresias must be first).

Elpenor

Elpenor is able to speak to Odysseus as he is unburied: it is revealed that he drunkenly fell asleep on the roof and ultimately fell off, breaking his neck. He begs Odysseus to return to Aeaea to give him a proper burial so that he may pass into Hades.

Teiresias

He offers 5 pieces of prophecy in regard to Odysseus’ future:

• Poseidon will make his journey home difficult because he is angry over Polyphemus

• At Thrinacie he and his men must leave Hyperion’s cattle untouched — if they harm them, his ship will be destroyed and Odysseus will get home late & alone

• Informs him of the suitors and says that Odysseus will kill them

• Upon returning home, Odysseus must travel inland to people who know nothing of the sea and make amends with Poseidon through sacrifices and acting as a missionary

• Odysseus’ death will be “peacefully in old age, surrounded by prosperous people” (acceptable for a Homeric hero).

This contradicts what Circe said — it does not prophesise his journey home beyond advice that Circe will repeat to Odysseus in Book 12. Thus the real reason for this trip must be to garner kleos, as a hero amongst the likes of Herakles who survived the underworld.

Anticleia
Although he saw her before, he is now able to talk to his mother Anticleia who reveals that Penelope has remained loyal and still weeps for his return, nobody has replaced Odysseus, and that she died from grief over him. He tries and fails to hug her 3 times — “like a shadow or a dream”, which characterises his humane side.

Catalogue of Women

It is speculated that this was a standalone Boeotian catalogue poem that has been incorporated into the epic — it is also a section of women from Athenian mythology and used as evidence towards “Peisistratid insertions” (a dynasty founded by Peisistratus that held an annual reciting competition and wanted Athenian allusions in standard texts to boost prestige).

They are described as “the wives or daughters of the great”, which shows the lack of female power in the Odyssey & the ancient world. Some examples include Leda, mother of Helen, and Epicaste, wife & mother of Oedipus.

Heroes from Troy

1. Agamemnon: again details the story of his/his concubine’s murder, emphasising that rituals such as shutting his eyes/mouth were not carried out. He warns Odysseus to make a secret approach when he returns home as “women are no longer to be trusted”

2. Achilles: praises Odysseus for making it to Hades & challenges the ideal of a heroic death by saying he would rather have died in obscurity after a long and happy life.

3. Ajax: refuses to speak to Odysseus — regardless, Odysseus tries to placate him by saying that Zeus is to blame and that the Greeks lament over his death

Tartarus

This tour included figures such as Tantalus who attempted to test the gods’ omniscience (now “tortured by thirst”) and Sisyphus who cheated death twice (now having to push the “pitiless boulder”) and Tityos with a culture “picking at his entrails” for trying to rape Leto. These are all examples of hubris.

Odysseus returns to Aeaea where Circe offers three pieces of advice:

1. When passing the sirens, his men should fill their ears with beeswax. He may choose to listen but must be bound to the ship’s mast and tell his men ti absolutely not release him. Odysseus follows this but lies that Circe said he had to listen.

2. Circe advises he choose Scylla over Charybdis — even though 6 deaths are guaranteed, this doesn’t chance the deaths of everyone, as only one ship has ever survived Charybdis.

3. Advises him to skip wearing armour and instead pass by Scylla as quickly as possible, remaining close to the rock. She also says to call upon her mother who will prevent her from emerging again.
   Odysseus armours anyway and does not call on her mother.

• The crew land on Thrinacie: Odysseus doesn’t want to stop due to warnings from Teireseias and Circe, however Eurylochus objects so that they may eat on land. Each man is made to swear an oath not to harm any ox or sheep — in Ancient Greece, oaths were sworn on the gods.
  They get stuck for a month due to incompatible winds and resort to hunting fish. Odysseus goes inland to pray and falls asleep (which he blames on a god) and during this time, Eurylochus convinces the men to breath their oath but offer a sacrifice to appease the gods. However, this sacrifice isn’t fulfilled due to insufficient tools e.g. pouring water instead of wine.

• Divine intervention: portents such as the cattle on the spit mooing and the hyde beginning to crawl signify the disapproval of the gods. When they depart, Zeus (as requested by Helios) sends a storm which drowns everyone besides Odysseus — he is washed back to Charybdis where he survived by clinging onto a fig tree & is eventually washed up on Ogygyia.

Prophecy

The Phaeacian ship delivers Odysseus back to Ithaca while he sleeps — they lay him down on the sand and stack his xenia gifts around the olive tree under which he sleeps.
Upon observing this, Poseidon is enraged and wants to fulfil the prophecy upon the Phaeacians — however, in recognition of their good xenia, Zeus does not allow him to landlock them — therefore only their ship is turned into stone.

Disguise

Athene shrouds Ithaca in a mist so that Odysseus doesn’t rush to the suitors. Disguised as a young shepherd, she informs him of his location.

Cretan Tale 1

He distrusts the shepherd and again spindles half-truths, telling Athene that he ended up on Ithaca due to being exiled from Crete for murdering a prince who attempted to take royalties from him.

Revelation

Athene is amused and turns into a “tall, beautiful and accomplished” female form: she praises Odysseus for his verbally deceptive prowess, smiles at his words, and touches his arm. (This is unusual as he just lied to her, a goddess, which should be an act of hubris).

Eumaeus

She disguises Odysseus as an elderly beggar and sends him to Eumaeus’ hut (the loyal swineherd).

1. Eumaeus doesn’t recognise Odysseus, but invites him inside and gives him pork to eat

2. The swineherd goes on to praise Odysseus and denounce the suitors

   He also tells him about how he got to Ithaca, which complicates the relationship with fate in the epic: he was taken onto a ship as a boy by a woman who stole from her master and was consequently killed by the gods — despite his innocence, Eumaeus now spends the rest of his days as a slave on Ithaca and will never achieve nostos.

3. He invited Odysseus to stay the night and lets him borrow a cloak to keep out the cold

4. Odysseus predicts Eumaeus and Odysseus will be reunited very soon, but Eumaeus doesn’t believe him

5. Odysseus tells the 2nd Cretan Tale: he says that he fought alongside Odysseus at Troy and later made a trip to Egypt where he heard that Odysseus was still alive

1. Athene travels to Sparta and tells Telemachus to hurry home before Penelope remarries (claiming that she is being pressured to marry the rich suitor, Eurymachus) and warns him of the ambush planned by the suitors as well as how to avoid it. She also says to go to Eumaeus’ hut, who will tell Penelope he has arrived home.
   

2. The next day he and Pisistratus leave Sparta and an omen of an eagle carrying a goose stolen from a pen in its talons is seen and interpreted by Helen as a sign that Odysseus is about to return home and enact revenge.
   

3. At Pylos, Telemachus returns to his ship and Theoclymenus asks to come aboard, which he accepts.
   

4. At Ithaca, Eumaeus’ xenia limits are tested by Odysseus as he offers to leave in the morning, but Eumaeus refuses this proposal.
   

5. When Telemachus reaches Ithaca another omen is seen of a hawk flying by with a dove in its talons, interpreted by Theoclymenus as a favourable sign of strength for the household of Odysseus.

Reunion

Athene, waiting outside Eumaeus’ hut, alerts the dogs who run away and whimper. Outside, she restores Odysseus’ original appearance so that he and Telemachus may reunite.
This is described in a Homeric simile in which they cry together “like vultures or eagles” whose nest was robbed of their young — both birds of prey which foreshadows the later battle with the suitors.

Battle Plan

They then make a battle plan: Odysseus will signal for Telemachus to gather the weapons on display in the hall, who will then stash them upstairs, using the excuse that the smoke from the hearth is damaging them.

Antinous

Antinous is angry that their ambush was evaded and remarks that he must have been brought home by a god — despite this, he continues the murder plot, which therefore then becomes an act of hubris.

Amphinomus

Amphinomus tries to dissuade everyone from the plot. We are also informed that Penelope enjoys conversing with him. Both of these characterise Amphinomus as the “good” suitor.

Xenia Bond

Antinous is confronted by Penelope and it is revealed that Odysseus once saved his father from being lynched — therefore, his behaviour breaks a longstanding xenia bond which would be incredibly shocking to an archaic audience.

1. Odysseus is reunited with the old dog Argos, who has been neglected since his departure. Upon recognising Odysseus, he passes away in peace.
   

2. Odysseus goes to the palace, again disguised as a beggar, to beg for food from the suitors who continue their daily feasts.
   

3. The suitors reluctantly grant Odysseus a portion of food — however Antinous is particularly insulting towards him.
   

4. Odysseus insults Antinous in return, and Antinous therefore very shockingly throws a stool at Odysseus. Even the other suitors are disgusted by this.
   

5. Report of this cruel treatment reaches Penelope, who requests the beggar’s company so that she may offer him hospitality.

Irus

Irus is a resident beggar that is perturbed by Odysseus’ new presence, so he challenges him to a boxing match. Antinous sees this as good entertainment and proposes a small food item & the right to join the suitors at dinner as a prize, which is rather tantalising given their status as beggars.

Amphinomus: Toast

Odysseus easily wins the fight so Amphinomus drinks a toast to his health & future prosperity, and converses with him. Odysseus therefore tells him to go home and warns him that Odysseus will return soon — unfortunately however, Athene already fates him to the hands of Telemachus. (Although he is not amongst their worst, he still shares the responsibility of breaking xenia conventions).

Athene Makeover

Athene puts the idea in Penelope’s head to appear before the suitors and therefore gives her a makeover, given her blotchy complexion from consistently crying. She cleanses her face with Aphrodite’s face cream & makes her “taller” and “fuller”, with whiter skin.

This makes the suitors “weak in the knees” and she, in response to a compliment from Eurymachus, informs the crows that Odysseus told her to remarry once Telemachus grows facial hair. However she does say “Zeus has destroyed my happiness”, which shows that she is still loyal to Odysseus despite this.

Penelope’s Plot

Penelope wittingly notes that the sutiors would normally present gifts to her during the courting process, and shames them into doing so.
This delights Odysseus as she simultaneously further delays remarrying and also increases the wealth of his oikos.

Melantho

Melantho is the mistress of Eurymachus, who taunts Odysseus by calling him work-shy and unemployable. Melantho also jeers at him. Odysseus again says that Odysseus will return soon. Eurymachus then also throws a stool at him.

Telemachus’ growing confidence is demonstrated as he instructs them to go home to bed — although he isn’t very persistent.

Puns & Tricks

When talking to Penelope, Odysseus adresses her as “gyne”: this is cunning as it uses double-entendre as in Greek it meant either “lady” or “wife", and therefore Odysseus simultaneously hides and reveals his identity.
Penelope laments over the trickery she has been using to hold back the suitors (e.g. the shroud trick) which ends the threat of the parallels with Clytemnestra for Odysseus.

3rd Cretan Tale

Odysseus claims to have never met Odysseus — he says he was on the path to Troy but stopped in Crete due to wind. He then says that he invited Odysseus into his palace and wined and dined him.

Clothes Test

Penelope tests him by asking what clothes Odysseus was wearing (as she would have weaved them all). He details Odysseus’ purple cloak and tunic that “shone like the Sun”. He says that all the women were fascinated by it, thus cunningly charming his unknowing wife.

Eurycleia

Eurycleia recognises Odysseus as she washes his feet by recognising a scar on his leg. In response she drops his foot in shock which knocks over the water pall, and she then gently touches his face (remember she would have raised him!). Athene therefore distracts Penelope and Odysseus grasps her throat and threatens to kill her, should she share this revelation with anyone.

Penelope’s [weirdass] Dream

Penelope dreams that an eagle murders 20 of her geese — the eagle speaks and says that the geese are the suitors and he is her husband, once more returned.
The book ends with Penelope announcing that the competition for her to remarry has been decided (which again alludes to her cunning as it ends up being a feat only Odysseus could achieve — remember he said he was the 2nd best archer at Troy — and she is therefore testing his presence and again avoiding remarrying).

1. Penelope has another dream in which she shares a bed with Odysseus, who looked just as he did before leaving for Troy.

2. Odysseus has a disturbed night of sleep due to the disloyal maids going to meet the suitors — he requests an omen and in response Zeus sends an affirmative thunderclap.
   

3. Eurycleia explains that the suitors will arrive early in the day as it is a feast day of Apollo; an omen of an eagle carrying a trembling dove in its talons appears before the suitors, which Amphinomus interprets as a sign that the plot against Telemachus will fail.
   

4. Ctesippus throws a cow’s hoof at Odysseus (ironic as he’s later killed by the cowherd Philoetius), however he ducks and it misses. Mockingly calls it a gift — mocks xenia conventions. Telemachus says that if it had hit him, he would have stabbed Ctesippus down with a spear.
   

5. A portent appears of blood spattered over the walls and suitors, which Theoclymenus takes as a sign of inescapable doom, and he therefore flees the palace.

Everyone Crying

Inspired by Athene, Penelope goes to the storeroom to collect Odysseus’ old bow and quiver. She, Eumaeus, and Philoetius all weep when they see it — to which Antinous calls them “snivelling peasants”.

Telemachus makes An Attempt

Telemachus sets up the axes — 12 in a row, the head of which the suitors must attempt to shoot a bow through — and tries to string the bow 3 times. On the 4th attempt (when he is about to succeed), Odysseus shakes his head to stop him — as this would ruin the reveal of his identity.

Setting Up

Leodes the priest wants to try, however he has delicate hands so Antinous sends Melanthius to get tallow that can be used to grease the bow.
At the same time, Odysseus slips outside with Eumaeus and Philoetius to test their loyalty. When he is satisfied he shows them his scar to reveal his identity and shares the plan with them: Eumaeus must bring the bow to Odysseus and tell the women to lock the door to the quarters, and Philoetius must bolt and bar the gate into the courtyard to stop the suitors from escaping.

Give the Beggar a Go

Eurymachus tries and fails, so Antinous suggests everyone tries again tomorrow. However, Odysseus requests to try and so Antinous insults him by comparing him to Eurytion the centaur, saying the wine has gone to his head. The suitors worry that the beggar will succeed but Penelope assures that she would not marry the beggar anyway, but will give him gifts such as sandals and a sword.
Telemachus ushers the women away and claims that the bow is men’s (and especially his, as heir to the throne) business.

BIG OH SHIT ODYSSEUS REVEAL

The bow is handed to Odysseus who checks it carefully to make sure it is not damaged or warped. He strings it as easily as a “skilled musician stringing a lyre”, and tests the string by plucking it.
He then easily shoots the arrow through the axes and nods to Telemachus — this signals the beginning of the battle.

All-Out Massacre

Odysseus first shoots Antinous; the suitors assume it was an accident so he further reveals himself by listing their crimes against him.
He then murders Eurymachus and is attacked by Amphinomus — Telemachus therefore kills him with a spear in the back, and goes to collect armour.
It is revealed that Melanthius has been taking weapons to help the suitors so Eumaues and Philoetius are instructed to hang him.

Athene takes the form of a swallow in the rafters and assures the suitors miss when they launch spears at Odysseus.
The corpses of the suitors are compared to fish that lie in masses on the sand waiting for the sun to end their lives.

Begging for Mercy

• Leodes the priest is sentenced to be beheaded

• Phemius the bard is spared as Telemachus says he was innocent and merely acted due to brute force and numbers, and that he has a gift from the gods

• Medon the herald is spared upon Telemachus’ request

The Disloyal Maids

Eurycleia lets out the sacrificial olylyge cry at the death of the suitors. She is sent to fetch the 12 disloyal maids — meanwhile the men carry the corpses out and scrape the floor with spades. After this, the women are forced to clean the tables and chairs.

Odysseus tells Telemachus to slay them with a sword —instead, he simultaneously hangs them. They are killed because they had sexual relations with the suitors and were disrespectful. Having sex was seen as stealing from Odysseus’ oikos, as their bodies were his property, and therefore their fertility was, too, in extent of this.

Melanthius

Melanthius is tortured: his nose, hands, feet and ears are cut off, and his genitals are ripped off and fed to the dogs. He therefore bleeds to death.
the men then immediately was their own hands and feet, emphasising the horror of the act.

Purification Ritual

The battle ends with Eurycleia being instructed to burn sulphur in the hall to clear the pollution (physical and metaphorical) and to summon Penelope and the loyal maids.

Penelope is Unsure

Eurycleia goes upstairs to inform Penelope of Odysseus’ return and recounts the battle to her, and how she recognised Odysseus’ scar.
Penelope is unsure and insists that one of the gods must have killed them — perhaps fearing that she is being tricked into disloyalty.
When she goes downstairs she sits opposite Odysseus and Telemachus shames her for being “hard hearted”, “unmotherly”, and “perverse”.

Blood Feud Problems

Odysseus shares his fears regarding a bloodfeud; he has killed 108 sons and the usual protocol is revenge or exile (as was the fate of Theoclymenus).
So Odysseus creates a plan for eveyone in the household to wash and wear their best clothes; Phemius should play lively music on the lyre also, so that passers-by will assume a wedding feast is commencing. Therefore the spreading of the news is prevented for some time.

Eurynome

Eurynome bathes Odysseus, rubs him in oil, and clothes him in a cloak and tunic, repeating the description from Book 6 about Athene enhancing his hair and height (perhaps due to the oral composition of the epic?).

Marital Bed & Revelation

Odysseus asks Eurycleia to prepare a bed for him to sleep in alone, and Penelope asks her to move their marital bed outside the bedroom.
This makes Odysseus angry; he says how the bed is built around an olive tee, using it to form one of the bed posts, and so for someone to move it they would have to cut through the tree.
Penelope accepts this secret knowledge as infallible proof of his identity and blames the gods for their unhappiness and for the Trojan War.
Odysseus holds her and cries, being compared to a shipwrecked sailor who has managed to swim to land despite being battered by the wind and sea.
Athene extends the night so that they have more time together.

End of the epic???

Eurynome leads them to bed — in antiquity it is inferred that this is where the epic actually ends, and the rest is the work of a mimicking, inferior poet.

The couple make love and share stories — Odysseus stresses how Calypso “never won him round” and tells her about Tieresias’ instructions and the prediction of his death.

After sleeping, Odysseus says that the people must pay compensation to restore his flocks and that he is going to visit his father at the orchard farm — Penelope is to remain upstairs in the women’s quarters and “see nobody and ask no questions”.

Hermes and Hades

Hermes takes the souls of the suitors to Hades where they encounter heroes such as Achilles, Patroclus, Ajax, and Agamemnon. (Why are they in the Elysian fields rather than Tartarus?)
Agamemnon and Achilles are arguing over who had the better funeral.

Amphimedon

Amphimedon (whom Agamemnon had a xenia bond with) describes to him how they all ended up in Hades despite being young and superfluously repeats the tale of the shroud trick; however he does confirm how they found out. Agamemnon praises Penelope for her loyalty & has no sympathy for their unheroic deaths.

Testing Laertes

Odysseus goes to see Laertes on the orchid farm and tests him, claiming to be the son of the king of Alybas (a made up place) and comes to see Odysseus. Laertes is so distressed to be reminded of him that he pours earth onto his head (a symbol of grief) so Odysseus hugs him and reveals his identity, proving it via the scar on his leg, and telling him about a memory from his childhood relating to the fruit trees.

The farmer’s wife bathes Laertes and Athene gives him a makeover. The farmer (Dolius) and their sons return, and everyone eats lunch together.

Rumour

While they eat together, rumour spreads of the deaths of the suitors — Antinous’ father Eupeithes says Odysseus has murdered 2 generations of men.
Medon argues that he had the support of the gods as an immortal disguised as Mentor stood by his side — meaning that it would be hubristic to seek revenge. Halitherses says that the suitors are to be blamed for repeatedly ignoring warnings.
Half of the crowd side with Eupeithes.

Everyone gets Divine Dementia

Athene asks Zeus if he will allow such a fight, but it is left to her.
He offers to put a memory charm on their families and says a treaty should be made to establish Odysseus as king in perpetuity.
Odysseus and his 11 supporters prepare to fight but Athene (Mentor) appears, telling Laertes to pray to Athene. She ultimately goes to intervene when Laertes and Odysseus become violent, causing the families to retreat.
Odysseus goes to follow them but Zeus throws a thunderbolt as a signal not to pursure.
The epic ends: “and Pallas Athene … established peace between the two sides”.