Introduction to Classical Mythology

Dr. Michael Broder

University of South Carolina

February 14, 2012

Daily Write #10: Review

At Odyssey 17.397-398, Athena urges Odysseus (in disguise),

Go now, gather crusts from all the suitors,test them, so we can tell the innocent from the guilty.

Homer adds (17.399),But not even so would Athena save one man from

death.

Do you think the suitors really have a chance to prove their innocence, or has Athena already made up her mind? If you think Athena has already decided their innocence or guilt, why do you think she makes Odysseus go through this exercise?

Daily Write #10

• Most students thought that the suitors do not really have a chance to prove their innocence

• Most students thought that Athena had already made up her mind that they were guilty

• Many students thought Athena makes Odysseus go through this exercise so he can see the guilt of the suitors for himself

• Since it is his household and they have made themselves his enemies by abusing his hospitality, he must be confident in his decision to retaliate against them

• Thus, it is an issue of justice: Odysseus must personally determine the guilt of the suitors so that his punishment of them will be a just act

Daily Write #11

At Odyssey 19.463-464, Autolycus, father of Anticleia, tells Anticleia and Laertes to name their newborn son

Odysseus…the Son of Pain, a name he’ll earn in full.

Do you think Autolycus means that his grandson Odysseus will cause pain to others, or that others will cause pain to him? Do you think this turns out to be a fitting name for Odysseus? Why or why not? Be sure to support your answer with examples that show familiarity with the text (pain Odysseus inflicts, pain Odysseus suffers, depending on your answer).

Overview: Book 18

• The beggar Irus arrives at the palace and challenges Odysseus to a boxing match

• With the help of Athena, Odysseus beats Irus

• The suitors praise Odysseus and one suitor, Amphinomus, toasts him and gives him food

• Odysseus pulls Amphinomus aside and ask him to leave the palace, hoping to spare him from the coming slaughter. But Athena forces him to stay

Overview: Book 18

• Encouraged by Athena, Penelope appears before the suitors

• She tells them that Odysseus had instructed her to take a new husband if Telemachus grew facial hair before he had returned

• She asks the suitors to bring her gifts to help her choose a suitor as her husband, and they comply

• Athena prompts Eurymachus to insult Odysseus and throw a stool at him

• Telemachus steps in to calm the suitors down

Overview: Book 19

• Telemachus and Odysseus hide the weapons

• Melantho abuses Odysseus and Penelope rebukes her savagely

• Penelope speak with Odysseus, who tells her a story about his identity…(p. 395)

Epic Truth and Falsehood

Falsehoods all,but he gave his falsehoods all the ring of truth.

– Homer, Odyssey 19.234-235

Epic Truth and Falsehood

The Muses once taught Hesiod the art of singing verse,While he pastured his lambs on holy Helicon’s slopes.And this was the very first thing they told me,The Olympian Muses daughters of Zeus Aegisholder:“Hillbillies and bellies, poor excuses for shepherds:We know how to tell many believable lies,But also, when we want to, how to speak the plain truth.”So spoke the daughters of great Zeus…the Muses.

– Hesiod, Theogony 23-30

Overview: Book 19

• He tells her that Odysseus is alive and well and will soon return

• When Eurycleia washes his feet, she recognizes the scar he received on his thigh while boar hunting as a young man with his grandfather

• She tells the story of how he got his name…(p. 403ff)

“Odysseus” and Ancient Greek Words Related to

Painδ να odyna pain δ νη odyn pain δ νημ α odyn ma pain δ ρομαι odyromai grieve δ ρτης odyrt s complainer δ σσομαι odyssomai hate δυν ω odynao to cause pain δυναρ ς odynaros painful δυνηφ ρος odyn phoros causing pain δυνηρ ς odyn ros painful δυνοσ π ς odynospas racked by pain δυν δης odyn des painful δ νω din be in pain δ ς dis labor pains

Overview: Book 19

• Odysseus swears Eurycleia to silence while Athena distracts Penelope

• Penelope describes a dream about an eagle that kills all twenty of her pet geese and then reveals itself as Odysseus killing the suitors

• Penelope announces that she will choose a new husband by requiring the suitors to string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes

Overview: Book 20

• Odysseus and Penelope spend a troubled night

• Odysseus prays to Zeus, who replies with a clap of thunder

• The next morning, Telemachus and Odysseus meet up with Eumaeus (swineherd), Melanthius (goatherd), and Philoetius (cowherd)

• Eumaeus and Philoetius are kind to the beggar and express loyalty to Odysseus; Melanthius is rude

Overview: Book 20

• The suitors arrive with plans to murder Telemachus

• An eagle appears with a dove in its claws and Amphinomus urges the suitors to abandon their plan to kill Telemachus

• Athena keeps the suitors unruly so that Odysseus does not lose his resolve

• The suitor Ctesippus throws a cow’s hoof at Odysseus

• Athena sends an omen—uncontrolled laughter, cooked meat oozing red blood—and Theclymenus has a vision of doom

Overview: Book 21

• Penelope announces her plan to choose a husband and explains the contest of the bow

• Telemachus sets up the axes and attempts the feat himself, failing to even string the bow

• One by one, the suitors try and fail to string Odysseus’ bow

• Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus (swineherd) and Philoetius (cowherd) and asks them to fight at his side

Overview: Book 21

• Odysseus demands to try his own hand at the contest

• The suitors fear he might succeed and try to prevent him from competing

• Telemachus overrules them• Odysseus strings the bow and

shoots the arrow through all twelve axes

For Next Time

• Homer, Odyssey, Books 22-24, pp. 439-485

Introduction to Classical Mythology

Dr. Michael Broder

University of South Carolina

February 14, 2012