SUMMARY:
The gods assemble in Zeus’ palace while Poseidon is accepting a sacrifice from the Ethiopians. They begin to discuss the fate of Aegisthus, who murdered Agamemnon and courted his wife, yet Athene dismisses this and instead takes the chance to mention Odysseus who she believes is more worthy of their concern. Zeus, too, expresses pity for Odysseus, and despite knowing of Poseidon’s quarrel with him sets out to devise a plan to return him home safely at last. They decide to send Hermes to Ogygia, where Odysseus is held captive by Calypso, to demand that he be released; while Athene disguises herself as the Taphian chieftain and family friend Mentes so that she may visit Odysseus’ palace and speak directly with his son Telemachus.
When Athene arrives at Ithaca, Telemachus is sitting among the suitors who are occupying his father’s palace, dreaming of how Odysseus may one day return and reclaim his Oikos. While doing so he sees the disguised Athene at the gates and rushes to let her in. The two sit down for a meal while the suitors intrude upon them, and Telemachus leans in to question Athene in secret. Athene tells Telemachus of her background, still pretending to be Mentes, and assures him that his father is in fact still alive. Though Telemachus laments the fate that has befallen his father and the palace, Athene urges him to assemble the Achaean lords and make his terms clear: he must tell the suitors to leave and return to their homes, while his mother Penelope will make a decision on whether or not to remarry. Afterwards, Athene tells him to sail to Pylos and Sparta to inquire with Nestor and Menelaus regarding the whereabouts of Odysseus, and if he is confirmed dead, arrange funeral rites and find a new husband for Penelope. Athene then quickly departs despite Telemachus’ offering of Xenia to her.
Telemachus rejoins the suitors to find them listening to a bard singing of the men who returned home from the Trojan War, and though Penelope is overcome with grief and wishes him to stop, Telemachus insists he continue. As she leaves, the suitors burst into uproar as they become increasingly eager to marry her. Telemachus calms them down and informs them that the next day he shall call them all to assembly to request that they leave the palace. Two of the suitors, Antinous and Eurymachus, speak up and question him on the visitor they saw speaking with him earlier. That night, Telemachus is escorted back to his bedroom by Eurycleia who nursed him as a child, and he falls asleep planning the journey he is to make.
QUOTES:
“How could I ever forget the admirable Odysseus? He is not only the wisest man alive but has been the most generous in his offerings to the immortals who live in the wide heaven.” – Zeus
“That crowd of suitors who spend their time in the wholesale slaughter of his jostling sheep and his shambling cattle with their twisted horns.” – Athene
“How easy it is for that gang over there to think of nothing but music and songs!” – Telemachus
“He will think of a way to return – he is endlessly resourceful.” – Athene
“The man whose son they say I am is the most unfortunate man that ever lived.” – Telemachus
“Nor is it only on his account that I am sighing and grieving, for the gods have gone on piling other troubles on my head.” – Telemachus
“He felt the change and was overcome with awe, for he realised that a god had been with him.” – Homer
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