Odyssey 17 20 Book XVII Telemachus arrives home

Odyssey 17 -20

Book XVII

• Telemachus arrives home first to speak to Penelope about his travels • Theoclymenos predicts that Odysseus is already on Ithaca and “he breeds evil for all the suitors”. • Odysseus and Eumaeus meet Melanthios the goatherd of the house • Odysseus and Eumaeus arrive at the door and Argos recognizes his master, then dies • The suitors treat Odysseus badly

Book XVIII – Beggars’ Quarrel

• Odysseus and Iros (another Ithaca beggar) fight to the amusement of the suitors • Penelope appears, beautified by Athene • Suitors send for gifts to give her • Melantho, maid who sleeps with a suitor, insults Odysseus

• Odysseus’ evening conversation with Penelope • Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus by his scar (and the story of how he got it) • Gates of Dreams—Horn and Ivory • All go to bed

Book XIX Eurycleia, Penelope’s aged servant, recognizes Odysseus by his scar, but he keeps her from crying out.

Book XX – Morning

• Athene reassures Odysseus that she will stand by him • Eumaeus returns with pigs for day’s food • Goatherd Melanthios brings in food for suitors • Herdsman of oxen, Philoitios, comes – he proves loyal to Odysseus • Athene encourages the suitors to further outrages • Suitors laugh and Theoclymenos sees a vision of tears and blood, and he leaves the house