4.25.16

After Athena leaves him to go to Sparta, Odysseus makes his way to the home of a swineherd (who had been loyal to his family) named Eumaeus (you-may-us)
=== Eumaeus speaks of highly of his master (Odysseus) but mourns him for he assumes he’s dead. He still honors Odysseus and the king he was, and describes the suitors with disgust and raves about Telemachus. Odysseus starts to leave, but Eumaeus invites him to stay as a guest. ===

=== Eumaeus asks Odysseus to tell his story. Odysseus tells as story that has some striking similarities to Odysseus’ own tale. In his story he mentions that he has heard of great Odysseus and that he had just heard about him on the last island that “the beggar” had visited. ===

Eumaeus still doubts that Odysseus is alive, but Odysseus has given him a bit of hope.
=== As the book ends, Odysseus spins a story in which he tests Eumaeus’ generosity by asking for shelter and a cloak in a roundabout way. Eumaeus is clever and picks up on it, gives him a cloak, and invites him to stay until Telemachus gets back from Sparta. ===

Book 15:
=== Athena goes to Sparta (home of King Menalous) to inspire Telemachus to go back home again. She tells him that his mother’s being pressured by her father to marry Eurymachus and that she’s agreed. This is a lie, but it does the trick and Telemachus hurries to go home. ===

She also warns him about the suitors who are waiting to ambush him and tells him how to avoid them and to go straight to the swineherd’s hut (convenient, eh?) to avoid trouble.
=== He wants to leave at once, but Pisistratus (Nestor’s son) convinces him to wait until morning. Lavished with many, many gifts, and a clear sign from Zeus (eagle/goose=Odysseus will take revenge) they travel all the next day, spend the night Phera (royal welcome) and near King Nestor’s home. ===

=== Telemachus, aware that if he stops he will be showered with hospitality and delayed, convinces Pisistratus to drop him off at his ship where he can gather his men and sail before Nestor shows up with hosting desires. ===

His men rush to fill his ship with treasures, a stranger/prophet guy shows up and asks for passage. They swap quick stories and they all sail away…
=== Meanwhile, Odysseus is still at the swineherd’s hut (and the swineherd still doesn’t know that it’s Odysseus). Odysseus tests the swineherd’s generosity and the swineherd proves to be hospitable. Odysseus suggests the idea of going to the palace to mingle with the suitors. This allows the swineherd to launch into a rant about how terrible the suitors are, and provides Odysseus with info he needs about them and Penelope, Laertes, his mother’s death, and how the swineherd played with his sister growing up. They talk into the night and Odysseus is certain now that Eumaeus is loyal and true to Odysseus and his house. ===

This reminds Telemachus to send Eumaeus to tell his mother he is home (quietly so no one knows).
=== As soon as he goes, Athena pops in (visible only to Odyssues) tells him to reveal himself to his son, and lifts her magic. Telemachus is shocked by the change but still doesn’t know it’s his father. Odysseus finally says “it’s me” and of course Telemachus is in shock and needs some convincing. Odyssues lectures him a bit, and then it’s all tears and hugs and love. ===

=== After the tears and love they get down to business. The plan? Kill the suitors (and now we know there are about 100 of them) Also, they remind themselves that Zeus and Athena are on their side. Yeah! ===

=== They decide that Telemachus will go back in the morning to hide all of Odysseus’ weapons (minus a few for their killing purposes). While he’s doing this, Odyssues will distract the suitors as a beggar (all the while testing who is loyal or good and who is not). ===

=== Meanwhile, Telemachus’ ship and the suitors’ ships both arrive unscathed proving that the suitors failed and that they were plotting in the first place. The suitors (led by Antinous) begin plotting anew but are overheard by Penelope. She scolds them of course, but they send her away to weep. And she does. ===

=== Eumaeus returns to the hut (Athena makes Odysseus into a beggar again before he can see his true form) and informs them that Penelope knows that Telemachus is back and that the suitors ship has returned. ===

Penelope weeps at the sight of her son, and he gives her the information about Odysseus being alive on Calypso’s island (but not that he’s home).
=== Odysseus is abused by the bad suitors and gets some food from the good ones. He sees his old dog who was in his prime when he left but is sadly abused now. The dog recognizes him and then dies with joy. He goes around testing all the suitors for loyalty. Penelope notices him and tells Eumaeus to send the stranger to him so she can question him. Odysseus agrees to meet with her later when no one can notice that they’re talking. Penelope realizes that this is a crafty beggar and agrees. ===

Odysseus warns Amphinomous to leave (he’s a “nice” suitor”) but Athena won’t let him.
=== Athena lavishes even more beauty on Penelope and sends her down to parade in front of her suitors. Penelope begins to flirt a bit and demand gifts from them. She also takes a moment to scold Telemachus for letting a stranger (Odysseus as beggar)be mistreated in the house. ===

Penelope (still all beautiful) awaits the beggar to hear news of Odysseus.
=== They chat: he gets her to talk first and tell of her weaving scheme and the suitors in general. She reveals that she’s weary of waiting and taking away Telemachus’ rights to the house, so she’ll give in and marry soon. ===

She asks Odysseus about himself. He lies and makes up a story where he was also fighting at Troy and later he hosted Odysseus.
=== Penelope would love to believe him, but doubts him and asks for proof. She wants to know what he was wearing. Odysseus describes the very clothes that she sent Odysseus off to war with. Tears. He ends his story by assuring her that Odysseus is coming home soon (so he’s heard). ===

=== She’s still doubtful, but offers the beggar a bath and place to sleep. Odysseus wrangles it so that his old nurse, Eurykleia, will wash his feet. She comments on how much he resembles Odysseus. Odysseus brushes this off saying it “happens all the time”. He remembers a moment too late about a scar he has (boar/story) that she will recognize. Before he can avoid it, she has, but he stops her from calling Penelope, and makes her promise not to tell anyone that he’s home (or he’ll show her no mercy when the killing starts up even though he loves her). ===

=== When his feet are clean, Penelope wanders back in to tell him about her dreams and ask for him to interpret them. He does, stating that they show that Odysseus is coming back and soon and that the suitors will die. ===

He goes off to ask Eumaeus and a loyal old cowherd, Philoetius, if they would still be loyal and fight if Odysseus happened to show up. They respond: YES.
=== The suitors are still rumbling about killing Telemachus, but he’s starting to get a bit feisty now that he knows his father is home. He gives the Beggar Odysseus food and drink right in front of the suitors and talks loudly about this being Odysseus’ house. The suitors scorn him and insult Beggar Odysseus. Athena makes them even more insulting than normal to really rile up Odysseus so he’s ready to fight soon. ===

Odysseus’ bow can only be strung by someone mighty and strong, and thus to pass this test, one would have to be pretty impressive.
=== Telemachus tries his hand (not to win his mother, but to win “manliness”). He tries and fails three times, but on the fourth probably would have made it but Odysseus stops him with a shake of the head. ===

Other suitors start to try and fail. Before his turn, Antinous proposes they melt wax to soften the string (cheats!).
=== Meanwhile, Odysseus sees Eumaeus and Philoetius leave the palace (upset that Penelope’s agreement to marry means she’s given up on Odysseus) outside of the palace. He follows them and questions them again about how much they would give and how much they would fight if Odysseus were to drop out of the sky. ===

Odysseus shows them the scar that the nurse saw last night and prove to them that he is that Odysseus in disguise. Weeping. Tears. Happiness.
=== They plan a bit. Odysseus says that after all the suitors have tried to string the bow, he’ll try. When Eumaeus hears the suitors start to talk about him wanting to string the bow, he’s to bring him weapons and have the serving women lock the doors and not let anyone out. Philoetius’ job is to lock the outer gate so that no one outside can see or investigate the slaughter that is about to go down. ===

Antinous turn’s coming, but he tries to delay and call for a feast so he can go the next day.
=== Odysseus calls him out and asks for a turn. The suitors, of course insult and mock him (but are a little worried after the fight with the other beggar). Penelope hears them and demands that he have a turn. ===

The suitors collectively go silent. Telemachus goes to stand by his father’s side. It’s clear to everyone that things are about to change.
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