Homer’s Odyssey
Endgames and The Greek Element
Books XXIII-XXIV
This art is
NOT
Greek, yet
it appears
to tell a
similar
story.
Did the
Odyssey
Have
Earlier
Origins?
Book XXIII
• Eurykleia tells Penelope that Odysseus has
returned
• Eurykleia laughs
• Penelope doesn’t buy it
– “Dear nurse, the gods have made you mad!”
• Eurykleia describes the slaughter, and laughs
• Tells Penelope the sight of the corpses would
warm her heart
Book XXIII
• Penelope doesn’t
know what to do
• “It is hard to
comprehend the
counsels of the gods
that are forever.”
• Off to see the
suitors…and
Telemakhos
Odysseus and Penelope
• Telemakhos shows
his manhood by
upbraiding his mom
• Penelope Polytropa
• “We have signs
which we two alone
know, signs hidden
from others.”
Penelope’s Test
• After Od. cleans up, and a big party
thrown, Penelope tests her husband
• Tells Odysseus that the wedding bed
will be made up for him IN THE
HALLWAY
• Odysseus is outraged
• “You make my stern heart know that I
am yours.”
The Tree Bed
• Odysseus had carved
the bed from a huge
olive tree
• Inlaid with gold, silver,
ivory
• Covered with a bright
purple ox-hide
• One of the few
examples of material
wealth in Odysseus’
house
REUNION
• They have a good
cry
• Ship-land metaphor
to express
Odysseus’ joy at
seeing Penelope
• All is not joy yet, as
“we have not yet
come to the end of
our trials”
“When the two had their fill of the joy of love,
they took delight in tales speaking to each
other.”
First recorded
instance of
pillow talk
And Now For Something
Completely Different…
• Agamemnon and Achilles in the Underworld
• Tangent, but important
• Brings back the theme of fidelity (Penelope
contrasted with Klytemnestra)
• Plural authorship?
Book XXIV
• Odysseus goes to meet
his father
– With a bevy of armed
guards, including
Telemakhos
• Laertes not very kingly
– Reverses the meeting of
Odysseus and
Telemakhos
• Again, Odysseus can’t
resist another tricky
exchange
• Bad moon rising….
The Families of
the Suitors Plot Revenge
• Rumor flies over Ithaka
• Eupeithes, Antinoos’ father, want
revenge
• Dolius not among them
– Father of Melanthius and Melantho
• Dolius not among them
• Athene helps again…with Laertes
Athena’s Intervention
• “Now halt – stop
this bitter sparring;
end your slaughter
Ithakans and seek
peace.”
• Naturally, everyone
just stops, even
Odysseus
(eventually)
What does it all mean?!?!
Themes revisited:
• Chastity and fidelity of Penelope
• Cunning of Odysseus and Penelope
• The gods take an active role in human affairs
• The evolution of Telemakhos is complete
• Revenge taken and honor restored
• BUT….
The Problem of Book 24
• Was it a later addition?
– Achilles and Agamemnon
– Entrance of suitors into Underworld
conflicts with Book 11 (Elpenor needs
burial)
– No fight with Dolius
– Odysseus doesn’t carry out Teirisias’
instructions to sacrifice to Poseidon